Quy Hop: 1 billion VND to develop vetiver plants

(Baonghean.vn) - The vetiver planting project, which was implemented from 2015 to 2017, has now ended in Quy Hop with a total cost of 1 billion VND.

Vetiver growing model in Chau Cuong - Quy Hop. Photo: Thu Huong

The project, funded by the Global Environment Fund for Small Projects in Vietnam, has just organized a review and evaluation to replicate the model.

The project of planting vetiver trees in 3 villages, namely Nha village, Khi village and Teo village, with an area of ​​nearly 7 hectares, has now increased to more than 13 hectares and expanded to 4 more villages, namely Dong Tien, Muong Ham, Nguong village and Ha Dong.

In 2015 alone, vetiver trees were harvested, with a yield of 13 to 14 tons of fresh roots/ha, earning an income of 66 to 72 million VND/ha, 7 times higher value than acacia plantation.

Along with technical support for seeding, planting and caring for the Thai ethnic people in Chau Cuong commune, the project also organized 6 field trips and opened 8 training classes to transfer the science and technology of growing vetiver for 200 people to participate. In addition, the project also organized 2 training classes on incense making for 50 students in 7 hamlets with vetiver planting areas.

The vetiver tree has become a sustainable poverty reduction tree in many communes of Quy Hop.

Currently, farmers in Chau Cuong commune have implemented a closed process from growing agarwood roots to processing agarwood products and selling them to the market, which has been well received by people inside and outside Quy Hop district, contributing to raising awareness of market access and increasing income for farmers.

The success of the project will be a bridge for Chau Thanh, Chau Quang and Chau Thai communes to expand the variety of vetiver plants for planting, contributing to the goal of developing sustainable livelihoods for ethnic communities in the area.

Thu Huong