Quy Chau: Expanding the area for growing fragrant root.

(Baonghean) - Tan Huong 1 and 2 hamlets are areas with a large area of ​​fragrant root plants in Quy Chau town in 2014. At this time, households in the hamlets are urgently and actively harvesting their fragrant root products.

Mr. Le Hong Quan, residing in Tan Huong 2 hamlet, stated: "This year, my family planted 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) of fragrant root, an increase of 2 sao compared to last year. Previously, we planted sugarcane on this land, but the yield was low. So, when the district implemented a policy to convert crops, I boldly decided to plant fragrant root. Due to suitable weather conditions and soil quality, the fragrant root has grown and developed well, yielding significantly higher productivity than sugarcane. The root is fragrant and contains many essential oils. Currently, my family has harvested half of the area, and I intend to create seedlings for the remaining half for next year's production."

Residents of Tan Huong 2 block are harvesting fragrant root plants.

The town of Quỳ Châu has 233.5 hectares of agricultural land. Since 2012, with support from the Porit project, 2.6 hectares of agarwood roots have been planted, yielding high economic returns. Therefore, the district has decided to expand the planting area to other wards within the town. Mr. Đậu Công Hà, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quỳ Châu town, stated: In 2014, the town planted 3.3 hectares of agarwood roots, bringing the total area to 10 hectares with 25 participating households. This is mainly concentrated in Tân Hương 1, Tân Hương 2, Hòa Hải wards, etc. The main conversion is from less efficient sugarcane cultivation to agarwood root cultivation to create a local raw material for incense production. The estimated yield is 40 quintals/hectare (theoretically 37 quintals/hectare). The current selling price of agarwood roots is quite high: 15,000 VND/kg for fresh roots and 45,000 VND/kg for dried roots. According to the local people who make incense, the roots of the agarwood tree grown in Quy Chau have a distinctive aroma compared to other regions. The town has conducted the first inspection (in April) and the second one will be conducted soon after the harvest to accurately assess the effectiveness of growing agarwood roots, and based on that, will provide support to the people at 300,000 VND per sao (approximately 1000 square meters) per household.

Incense roots have been cultivated in Quy Chau since 2012, according to Decision No. 10 on agricultural and rural support policies issued by the District People's Committee. The purpose is to create a local source of raw materials to serve incense-making villages in the district (currently there are 4 villages, 3 of which are engaged in this craft). Over the years, the area planted with incense roots has steadily increased: from 10 hectares (2010) to 57.5 hectares (2014), mainly expanding in areas on the outskirts of the town such as Tan Huong 1, 2, Chau Tien, and Chau Phong. Mr. Sam Van Thai, Head of the District Agricultural Extension Station, said: To encourage people to plant incense roots, the district has a mechanism to support 60% of the seed cost; at the beginning of the production season, training courses on scientific and technical methods are organized to guide farmers on how to plant, care for, and control pests and diseases. Currently, to reduce seed purchase costs, the station is experimenting with a model for cultivating fragrant root seedlings at the household of Mr. Ho Viet Thang in Tan Huong 2 block. If successful, it will enable them to self-supply seedlings, significantly increasing income for the local people.

Evaluating the effectiveness of expanding the area for growing agarwood roots in Quy Chau, Mr. Lo Thanh Son, Head of the District's Agriculture Department, affirmed: "Growing agarwood roots, on the one hand, brings income to people per unit area, and on the other hand, it is a new direction to develop the traditional incense production village of Quy Chau according to a closed-loop model. In 2015, the district is expected to continue expanding the area for growing agarwood roots to many other localities such as Chau Binh, Chau Binh, Chau Hoi...".

Dang Van