'As scheduled', the whole village woke up early to hunt for 'yellow leaves' in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - Every July, hundreds of people in Nghi Loc district (Nghe An) wake up early to rush into the forest to hunt for pine needles to plant chives. Although there is a large pine forest area, wherever pine needles fall, people collect them thoroughly.
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| After the growth cycle ends, pine needles begin to change color from bright green to dark brown and fall, covering the forests. Photo: Quang An |
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| However, in the forests of Nghi Lam, Nghi My, Nghi Kieu communes... of Nghi Loc district, there are no thick layers of pine bark as often seen because all fallen pine leaves are thoroughly collected by people to use for growing chives. Photo: Quang An |
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| These days, in the western communes of Nghi Loc district, it is not difficult to see people driving their vehicles into the forest to transport pine needles, only returning when the vehicles are full. Photo: Quang An |
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| Mrs. Bui Thi Nhung, in Nghi Lam commune (Nghi Loc) shared: Every July, we go into the forest to find pine needles. The weather is hot, so we have to go from 4 to 5 am to work while it is still cool. Photo: Quang An |
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| If people cannot afford to go into the forest to collect pine needles, they have to buy pine needles for 1.5 - 2 million VND/cart. In the photo: Pine needles after being collected are piled up in the fields by people to serve the planting. Photo: Quang An |
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| Dry pine needles are covered on each row of shallots. People cover the needles thickly or thinly depending on the density of the seeds. Photo: Quang An |
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| According to local people, clean pine needles have high porosity, which significantly increases the productivity of crops, especially chives. Therefore, although Nghi Loc is a locality with a large pine acreage, it is still often lacking dry pine needles to grow chives. Photo: Quang An |
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| Thanks to its "golden leaves", Nghi Loc district's chives always grow well, have large bulbs, and are popular in the market. Chives have also risen to become the crop with the highest economic value in the western communes of Nghi Loc district in recent years. Photo: Quang An |