Escaping poverty through the business of cultivating forest tree seedlings.

(Baonghean) - The forestry seedling nursery business has brought practical economic benefits to many people in Ngoc Son commune (Quynh Luu district). From these nurseries, millions of seedlings are sold, contributing to the greening of the forest and helping local people increase their income.

Due to the local characteristics of the hilly terrain and abundant water resources, the profession of cultivating forestry seedlings has long been a primary occupation for many households here. This year, despite the prolonged hot weather, the seedling nurseries in Ngoc Son commune remain lush and green thanks to proper care and water management.

While tending to seedlings in her nursery, Ms. Ho Thi Loan from Hamlet 2 said that this year, her family is cultivating 3 sao (each sao is 500m2) of seedlings, estimated at over 500,000 trees of various types such as eucalyptus, Dalbergia tonkinensis, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, acacia, and Melia azedarach. Since the beginning of the season, her family has proactively invested in building an automatic irrigation system, purchasing a generator, tillage equipment, and a water filtration system. Therefore, despite the hot weather, the seedlings are still growing well. "If everything goes smoothly, after selling them, we can expect a profit of 50-60 million VND," Ms. Loan happily shared.

The tree nursery of Mr. Ho Sy Nam's family in Hamlet 3, Ngoc Son Commune (Quynh Luu District).

Previously, nurseries in Ngoc Son commune primarily used seed propagation techniques, but recently, with the application of technological advancements, they have gradually switched to cutting propagation. This method allows seedlings to grow faster, yield more timber, and is less prone to breakage during storms. Many households have also boldly borrowed capital to expand their nurseries and apply technical measures to the care process, resulting in seedlings that are popular in the market. Seedlings produced in the commune have supplied forest planters throughout the region, from Nghe An to Thua Thien Hue.

Ngoc Son commune currently has nearly 40 households engaged in seedling cultivation, mainly in hamlets 2 and 3, covering an area of ​​nearly 3 hectares. They primarily produce seedlings of acacia, melaleuca, eucalyptus, Dalbergia tonkinensis, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, and other species. Each year, they supply tens of millions of seedlings to the market, significantly contributing to the increased income of the local people. These nurseries have helped to green the forests and provide additional income for the residents.

From the seedling nursery business, many families in Ngoc Son commune have risen out of poverty and become wealthy right on their homeland. We visited the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ho Sy Nam in Hamlet 3. In their spacious multi-story house, Mr. Nam happily shared: "Previously, our family mainly relied on agricultural production, so our economic conditions were difficult, and even trying many different jobs didn't help us escape poverty. Recognizing that this land was suitable for forestry seedling nursery, my wife and I boldly borrowed capital to invest. In the early days, we faced many difficulties with limited capital, lack of experience, and technical skills... Especially when the seedlings grew well, we couldn't find a market. But the hardships passed, and as many places needed seedlings for reforestation, this business gradually developed…"

Each year, Mr. and Mrs. Nam's nursery sells four batches of seedlings, each batch containing approximately 200,000 to 300,000 seedlings of various types. Current prices include: 2,000 VND/seedling for Lagerstroemia indica, 5,000 VND/seedling for Dalbergia tonkinensis, 600 VND/seedling for Acacia mangium and Melia azedarach, and 3,000 VND/seedling for Custard apple… In addition, the family also buys seedlings from other villagers to supply their regular customers. “After deducting expenses, the family earns about 60-70 million VND per year. Thanks to this, my wife and I have built a house, our children have received a good education, and the nursery not only enriches our family but also provides employment for 10-12 local workers with a salary of 1.5-2 million VND per month,” Mr. Nam shared.

Over the years, many families in hamlets 2 and 3 of Ngoc Son commune have become wealthy from the model of forestry seedling nurseries. They harvest 3-4 crops a year, with each crop averaging 15-20 million VND per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), depending on the season. This result not only contributes positively to poverty reduction but also helps Ngoc Son commune achieve the "employment and income" criterion in its rural development plan for 2015.

Hoang Thuy

(Quynh Luu Radio Station)