Prospects of 'royal' specialties in Tho Hao land - Thanh Chuong

RESTORING PRECIOUS GINSENG VARIETIES

In 2017, the Tho Hao ginseng variety was restored and tested on Thanh Ha land (Thanh Chuong). Photo: Thanh Phuc

Sam Tho HaoAlso known as Bo Chinh ginseng, it originated in the ancient Tho Hao commune, now Thanh Giang, Thanh Ha, Thanh Mai, Thanh Tung communes (Thanh Chuong). It is a precious medicinal herb, considered a "royal specialty". However, over time, this type of ginseng was exhausted and gradually became extinct.

In 2017, Tan Hung Thinh Cooperative researched, collected and restored this ginseng variety right on the old land and by 2020, the Cooperative, together with the Department of Science and Technology and the Farmers' Association of Thanh Chuong district, conducted a pilot trial on an area of ​​2 hectares in the communes of Thanh Ha, Thanh Giang, Thanh Tung, Thanh Mai with 10 participating households. Accordingly, participating households were supported with seeds, fertilizers, were instructed on the care and harvesting process and committed to consuming the product.

Mr. Tran Van Trung's ginseng garden in Hamlet 3, Thanh Ha Commune is growing well and is about to be harvested. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Dang Huu Bien - Chairman of Thanh Ha Commune People's Committee (Thanh Chuong) said: "It is a restored native plant, so it is suitable for the soil and climate here; care is not too difficult, and people can access it quickly. After 6 months of pilot planting, 6 sao of ginseng of 3 households in the commune all grew and developed well, promising high productivity".

According to calculations, each sao can grow from 1,200 to 1,350 trees. Each tree, when mature enough, will reach from 100gr to 150gr, so the yield ranges from 1.2 - 1.5 quintals/sao. According to current market prices, it is about 250,000 - 350,000 VND/1 kg, giving an income of 25 - 40 million VND/sao. Currently, the output of this precious ginseng variety is provided by Tan Hung Thinh Cooperative.commitment to buy allset.

As a native plant, Tho Hao ginseng is easy to grow and suitable for the soil and climate here. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Tran Van Trung, a ginseng grower in Hamlet 3, Thanh Ha Commune (Thanh Chuong) said: "Previously, this land only grew cassava or elephant grass for livestock farming, with low efficiency. When piloting ginseng cultivation, it was found that ginseng grew and developed well, according to preliminary calculations, it will bring in income ten times higher than other crops."

The restoration of this precious ginseng variety opens up new prospects in transforming the crop structure for hilly and highland areas in communes of the former Tho Hao commune; contributing to increasing income and improving the lives of local people.

According to estimates, each sao of ginseng, if it achieves productivity and quality, will bring in an income of 40-50 million VND/sao. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The origin of Tho Hao ginseng is associated with Doctor Pham Kinh Vy - a general of both literature and martial arts during the Le Trung Hung period, who was also a son of Tho Hao commune, Tho Hao canton, Thanh Chuong district in the first half of the 18th century. Legend has it that Doctor Pham Kinh Vy, while fighting in the North, was told by a god in a dream to use this plant to save his life. He then brought it back to his hometown to plant, so it is also called Hao Sam or Tho Hao ginseng.

Tho Hao Ginseng is a specialty presented to the king as recorded in historical books. Specifically, in the book “Thanh Chuong Huyen Chi” by author Bui Duong Lich, it is stated: “Hao Sam is a specialty traditionally presented to the king”.

EXPECTATIONS ABOUT OCOP PRODUCTS AND ECO-TOURISM

The highland area used to grow cassava and corn with low efficiency has now been replaced by the Tho Hao ginseng field, which not only brings economic efficiency but also has historical, cultural and human values. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to Mr. Hoang Kiem - Director of Tan Hung Thinh Cooperative, restoring a crop variety is also preserving a specialty associated with the cultural history of a land, a product, the essence of a cultural region. "As a product of indigenous origin, a specialty for the king, grown on a land of talented people, where there are many beautiful landscapes, combining this product withecotourism experience"is a positive direction," said Mr. Kiem.

Currently, some households in Thanh Ha commune are piloting the "3S" farm model, which includes ginseng, lotus and sim right in their home gardens to serve experiential tourism.

Mr. Lam Van Hanh's family tested 3S tea made from sim-lotus-ginseng according to a folk recipe. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Lam Van Hanh, a household participating in the model, said: “Currently, on an area of ​​5 hectares, I have 2 hectares of sim trees, a pond of nearly 0.7 hectares of lotus trees, raising fish, and 2 sao of Tho Hao ginseng trees. Sim trees, lotus trees, and ginseng trees all have beautiful flowers for people to take pictures, stroll around, and row boats to pick lotus trees; there are fruits, tubers, etc. for people to experience harvesting, processing, and enjoying on the spot. We are currently testing “3S” tea made from wild sim trees, Tho Hao ginseng flowers, and lotus rice. Hopefully, it will be researched and developed into a more refined product, as souvenirs for tourists.”

According to research, Ginseng is a precious medicine, has a cold nature, is good for nourishing the body, fighting weakness, nourishing yin, nourishing the lungs, fighting stress, helping to sleep... Ginseng products can be used in all 3 forms: Food that can be cooked, made into soup, porridge...; processed into functional foods such as ginseng pills, ginseng powder for beauty and as medicinal herbs such as medicines used to support the treatment of insomnia, nourish the lungs, nourish yin.

From there, according to the district's plan, in the coming time, it will coordinate with relevant parties to process OCOP products from Tho Hao ginseng such as: Ginseng pills, 3 in 1 ginseng powder and ginseng tea bags...

From the Tho Hao ginseng plant, OCOP products will be created: ginseng tea, ginseng pills, ginseng powder... with extracts from ginseng roots, ginseng stems and ginseng flowers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Le Dinh Thanh - Vice ChairmanThanh Chuong District People's Committeesaid: “In the near future, we will organize an evaluation of the model, based on productivity, output, economic value and actual market demand to expand. If positive, we can move on to the next steps such as: growing ginseng combined with developing local tourism. Visitors to Tho Hao area will be able to visit historical sites: Vo Liet Communal House, Bach Ma Temple, Bich Thi Communal House... and other temples, shrines and shrines in the area; combined with scenic spots such as waterfalls and abysses. At the same time, take photos with ginseng flowers, sim, lotus; experience ginseng exploitation, ginseng processing, enjoy Thanh Chuong hill chicken ginseng soup; ginseng tea...; buy OCOP products from ginseng as gifts...".