Nghe An betel leaves exported to Taiwan

(Baonghean.vn) - Betel is a long-standing crop in Nghi An commune (Vinh city). After a period of decline, this crop has been restored and developed by many local people. In recent years, betel has brought high economic value: 200 million VND/sao/year.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa in hamlet 5, Nghi An commune has nearly 2 sao of betel that have been harvested.

Betel trees have been present in Nghi An for a long time. In the past, almost every household planted a few hundred betel trees. When the number of betel chewers decreased, this plant also declined. However, in the past few decades, the demand for betel has increased, so this traditional plant has gradually been restored and developed.

Previously, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa in Hamlet 5, Nghi An Commune, only planted a few betel plants to occasionally pick and sell at the local market, earning a little money for household expenses. Now, she is the owner of a 1,300m2 betel garden. Of which, 900m2 of the garden has been harvested for many years. Ms. Hoa said: her betel garden sells about 100 betel leaves (20 leaves each) every day. Each leaf is sold for 10,000 VND. On weekends, holidays, and weddings, the amount of betel leaves harvested increases several times.

Nghi An currently has 2 hectares of betel leaves.

The whole Nghi An commune currently has about 100 households scattered in hamlets growing betel trees for sale, most concentrated in hamlets 5, 7, and 8. Many households grow several sao of land, while the least grow a few meters of land. The total area of ​​this plant in the whole commune is approximately 2 hectares. Every day, people bring harvested betel leaves to meeting points in the commune to import wholesale to traders. In addition to supplying the domestic market, since the 8th lunar month of this year, Nghi An people have had an additional source of import for traders exporting betel leaves to Taiwan.

Every year, Nghi An residents earn billions from this little-known crop. "My family has raised two children to be educated and has also saved billions thanks to growing betel leaves," said Nguyen Hong Thai in Hamlet 5, Nghi An Commune.

Betel leaves served at weddings.

Betel trees have high economic value, but not everyone can grow them on a large area to sell goods. Betel trees are planted from August to October of the lunar calendar. The soil must be moist, not flooded. Fertilizer must be decomposed manure. Limit the use of chemical fertilizers as much as possible.

The betel garden must be fenced off to block the hot summer sun and the frost in the cold winter. Care must also be taken to ensure that the betel leaves grow evenly, not too big or too small. Betel leaves sold for incense, weddings or export must be intact and free of holes. Betel plants are susceptible to fungal diseases. If just one plant gets sick, the entire garden will die.

Every day, households pick betel leaves and go to the market. Each bundle of betel leaves is sold for 10,000 VND.

Mr. Pham Huy Thong - Chairman of Nghi An Commune People's Committee said: Betel tree has a very high economic value but is difficult to grow, only experienced people can grow a lot. The output for betel tree is not really stable, however, we are also very happy for households with high income from betel.

Nhat Tuan