Old Mong farmer and native tree farm on Puxailaileng mountain
Thanh Phuc - Khanh Ly•April 30, 2025 08:11
In the middle of the Na Ngoi mountain range of Ky Son district, Nghe An province, halfway up Puxailaileng mountain, Mr. Gia Tong Thu, a Mong ethnic, still quietly clears each plot of land every day, bringing in new varieties of plants, and creating a complete integrated farm model. Every inch of land here, with his calloused hands, is yielding profits every day...
The comprehensive farm in the middle of the mountainside of Mr. Gia Tong Thu, in Buoc Mu 2 village, Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son) is like a picture covered with thick layers of green, spreading over nearly 6 hectares of forest land, which he converted from poor, infertile land. The low layer at the foot of the field is 3,000 peach trees, which each year produce thousands of branches to sell during Tet. Photo: Thanh PhucUnder the peach tree canopy, he nurtures more than 500 wild orchid pots, selecting precious varieties such as Kim Diep, Phi Diep, and Lan Truc, to supply to the market. This is a new direction to help increase income and preserve native orchid varieties that are gradually disappearing. Photo: Khanh Ly Taking advantage of the high humidity along streams and creeks, he successfully planted 7-leaf, 1-flower ginseng - a rare medicinal herb on an area of hundreds of square meters. Photo: Thanh PhucThis is an endemic tree that used to grow only naturally. Now he propagates and preserves it right on his family's farm. Photo: Khanh Ly In addition, his family is intercropping ginseng, ground ginseng, angelica... in an organic way, both to preserve the land and create a long-term livelihood. Photo: Thanh Phuc Medicinal herbs are purchased on-site by traders, with a fairly stable output. In the photo: Angelica sinensis is purchased at 60,000 VND/kg. Photo: Khanh LyIn the sloping land, the newly green rows of arrowroot are a supporting layer of plants that help improve the soil, retain water, and prevent erosion. Arrowroot is also a food crop with good output, used by local people to make traditional vermicelli. Photo: Thanh Phuc The family of Mr. Gia Tong Thu is the first household in Buoc Mu 2 village to bring Shan Tuyet tea to plant on 3.4 hectares of fields. Thanks to the cool climate all year round and proper fertilization techniques, the tea grows well. It is currently in the first bud picking season of the year. Photo: Khanh Ly Shan Tuyet tea also has high medicinal properties. Because it is harvested by hand, the price of tea buds is also more expensive than other types of tea. This is a positive sign for the new main crop in the border commune of Na Ngoi. Photo: Thanh Phuc Thousands of sa mu trees were planted by him in mixed forests, both creating a long-term livelihood and contributing to the regeneration of precious wood resources in the middle of the forest. Photo: Khanh LyWith the hard work and foresight of an entrepreneur, Mr. Gia Tong Thu has pioneered in turning this difficult land into a model. On average, each year, after deducting expenses, his family earns a profit of 80-100 million VND, a considerable sum in this remote area. Photo: Thanh Phuc
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