Valuable information for cinnamon growers.

(Baonghean) - On VTV6, Vietnam Television recently presented viewers with information that, for those familiar with cinnamon cultivation in Nghe An, this can be considered valuable.

Mr. Vu Huu Le in Yen Bai province has invented a system for distilling cinnamon essential oil from cinnamon leaves. This system recovers 7 kg of export-quality cinnamon essential oil from 1,000 kg (1 ton) of cinnamon leaves. The selling price of each kg of cinnamon essential oil ranges from 600,000 to 700,000 VND. Thus, after distilling 1 ton of cinnamon leaves (which were previously almost useless), the revenue from selling the essential oil exceeds 4 million VND. This allows cinnamon trees in Yen Bai to sell both their bark (the main product), cinnamon wood, and cinnamon leaves. As a result, cinnamon growers will have a higher income compared to when they only had cinnamon bark to sell.

Nghe An province is famous for its Quy cinnamon (originating from Quy Chau and Que Phong districts). For a time, cinnamon was considered a key crop in these two districts. However, cinnamon cultivation became less profitable due to market demand and the inability to utilize the wood and leaves for commercial products. As a result, cinnamon almost completely lost its former prominence, and the title or brand of Quy cinnamon became a thing of the past. What a sad fate for our province's cinnamon!

In both cinnamon-growing districts of Quy Chau and Que Phong, the primary timber tree, mainly hybrid acacia, is currently the most popular choice for forestry. Hybrid acacia takes 7 years to grow. Cinnamon trees also take 7 years or more to harvest. However, during those 7 years, growers can harvest cinnamon leaves annually – if they have facilities for essential oil distillation. After harvesting the bark, the cinnamon wood can still be sawn into planks for sale. Income per hectare from cinnamon bark, leaves, and wood after a 7-year cycle is certainly higher than income per hectare from a traditional forest. The people in these two districts have been cinnamon growers for generations, possessing extensive knowledge of seed propagation, planting, care, and harvesting.

Perhaps it's time for our province to restore the position of cinnamon trees in the forest land of both Quy Chau and Que Phong districts.

Truong Cong Anh