Tuong Duong encourages people to protect bamboo trees.

Bamboo is a non-timber forest product that is quite common in Tuong Duong district. According to data provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tuong Duong district, there are currently about 353 hectares in the district. Communes with large bamboo areas include: Tam Quang, Tam Thai, Tam Hop, Xa Luong, Luong Minh, Yen Tinh, Nhon Mai, Huu Khuong...

The highlanders have long considered the “forest gift” given by nature because the tree has many uses such as: the cotton is used to make brooms, whitewash; can be used as cushions, pillows; the leaves are used as food for buffaloes and cows. In addition, in some localities, the trunk of the tree is used by people to weave handicrafts;…

Due to its many uses, the demand for bamboo in the market is very high, sometimes the supply cannot meet the demand. Therefore, the exploitation and collection of natural bamboo is increasing rapidly and is increasingly depleted.

Ms. Mac Thi Lanh, residing in Lung village, Tam Thai commune (Tuong Duong) had to travel to Tam Hop commune to buy bamboo shoots to make brooms. Photo: Dinh Tuan

As one of the families that has specialized in making brooms for sale for many years, every year, Ms. Mac Thi Lanh's family, residing in Lung village, Tam Thai commune, has to buy 3-4 tons of fresh brooms to dry to make brooms. However, this year, brooms are scarce, so she has to go all the way to Pha Lom village, Tam Hop border commune to buy them.

Ms. Lanh said, “This year, the price of fresh bamboo shoots ranges from 40,000 to 50,000 VND/yen. Compared to previous years, this year, although the price is higher than last year, it is still difficult to buy and there is nothing to buy. This year, my family had to go all the way to Tam Hop commune to buy, and after buying, we had to hire a transporter. The price is high and it is difficult, but if we don't buy, there will be no bamboo shoots to make.”

Every year, Mr. Kha Van Hoi's family, residing in Lung village, Tam Thai commune (Tuong Duong), sells 400 - 500 brooms to the market, so every year they have to buy 2-3 tons of brooms. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Tuong Duong is a mountainous district with many high, steep hills, far from residential areas. If you plant timber trees such as acacia, xoan, and lacquer, the cost is high, the effort is great, it takes many years to harvest and it is very difficult to harvest. Therefore, many areas of land are abandoned by people.

In order to do a good job of forest protection and at the same time promote the advantages of valuable forest trees in the locality, in 2021, Tuong Duong district will provide technical and financial support to households who want to participate in zoning, protecting natural bamboo resources and planting bamboo to increase income.

Mr. Phan Duc Son - Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district said that the bamboo trees cover the bare hills well, the soil is less eroded, the output is stable and the income is quite high. Therefore, this year the district will direct specialized departments and offices to propagate and mobilize people in the whole district to protect the existing natural bamboo resources and encourage people to plant bamboo.

The district will support planting and care techniques and funding to buy barbed wire to enclose the protected area, if any household has a need. Besides, people do not have to worry about the output of the bamboo shoots, the district will direct the district Agricultural Service Center to purchase them for people.

Through research, it is known that the bamboo is easy to grow, and the seeds are available in nature, so people do not have to invest money to buy seeds. In fact, the soil conditions in Tuong Duong district are very suitable for bamboo. Therefore, zoning off natural bamboo and planting more bamboo will be a way to help people, especially in remote areas, develop their economy and soon escape from poverty.