Ginseng helps to reduce poverty

For a long time, when talking about Ngoc Linh ginseng, consumers often think that this national treasure is grown in Quang Nam, Kon Tum... However, after many years of research, testing, and studying, Mr. Nguyen Chi Long - Director of Thanh Long Construction Investment Company Limited (sub-area 19, Hat Lot town, Mai Son district, Son La province), has proven that Ngoc Linh ginseng grown in Son La grows well and the quality is not inferior to Ngoc Linh ginseng grown in Nam Tra My district, Quang Nam province.

Mr. Long said that for over 20 years, he has been researching, researching, and innovating; boldly investing to bring Ngoc Linh ginseng to grow on the high mountains of Son La province. After many failures, he has now succeeded.

The company currently has about 9,000m2 of ginseng (of which 6,000m2 are concentrated); about 20,000 ginseng plants 4-5 years old, 40,000 2-year-old plants, 100,000 newly planted seedlings. The oldest ginseng is over 10 years old. The total value of ginseng plants is about 100 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Long - Director of Thanh Long Construction Investment Company Limited
Instructions on how to care for ginseng plants for ethnic people. (Photo - NCL)

The company sells fresh ginseng for 60-80 million VND/kg, depending on the type. Currently, it is hiring 6 full-time workers with a salary of 6 million VND/person/month (excluding food allowance) and hiring 50-60 seasonal workers.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Long said, after many years of working with farmers, agriculture, and rural areas in the Northwest, I have always wondered about one thing: How to make the mountainous areas with many difficulties, and ethnic minority areasethnic minorityachieve the highest farming efficiency, the best revenue, create high-value agricultural products to eliminate poverty and enrich legitimately; create a distinctive brand for the landSon La.

"The value of Ngoc Linh Ginseng is huge. Each square meter, if invested carefully, can bring in hundreds of millions of dong in revenue," said Mr. Nguyen Chi Long.

Currently, many districts of Son La have requested Thanh Long Construction Investment Company Limited to implement a ginseng growing model for local people to learn and follow. Currently, many Mong ethnic people have participated in growing ginseng at the Company, bringing in good income.

Creating livelihoods for people

After nearly ten years of being accepted by Mr. Nguyen Chi Long to work at Thanh Long Company with the task of directly participating in planting and taking care of Ngoc Linh Ginseng, Song A Trang - Mong ethnic group, Sam Ta village, Chieng Chung commune, Mai Son district, not only has a higher and more stable income but also has gained many valuable experiences in agricultural production in general and production with Ngoc Linh Ginseng in Son La in particular.

Ngoc Linh ginseng helps Song A Trang couple and ethnic people in the ginseng growing area have a stable income, ensuring their lives.
(Photo - NCL)

"As a farmer, if you don't know how to do it, your stomach will always be hungry, your clothes will always be torn, and your daily joy will only be cassava and corn," Song A Trang confided.

At the same time, he said that when he was hired to directly grow Ngoc Linh Ginseng for Thanh Long Construction Investment Company Limited, and was given enthusiastic guidance, he gained many new and profound understandings. I see that Ngoc Linh Ginseng can absolutely live and grow very well in Son La as well as some other highland areas of the Northwest.

“Although this ginseng plant is very precious, it will not disappoint the grower if he loves and takes good care of it. With careful guidance and instruction, any Mong or Thai person can grow this plant to improve their lives,” said Song A Trang.

Ngoc Linh Ginseng not only opens up a development direction for Son La agriculture but is also a very good livelihood for farmers, especially ethnic minority farmers.

According to Mr. Nguyen Chi Long, the successful cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng in Son La opens up a very bright development direction for Ngoc Linh ginseng. In other words, the national treasure Ngoc Linh ginseng can completely become a national resource and a livelihood for the people.

Mr. Long hopes that with the attention and support of Party committees at all levels, the government, functional sectors as well as each citizen, Ngoc Linh ginseng will develop strongly in Son La, becoming an agricultural product of particularly great value, supporting the health of the sick and helping the poor improve their lives, becoming a lever for Son La's agricultural economy and promoting the development of Son La tourism.

"With that aspiration, the Company continues to research, explore, learn, experiment and has so far succeeded in processing Ngoc Linh ginseng products into high-value goods: Ngoc Linh ginseng extract, Ngoc Linh ginseng wine... Those products not only help to facilitate the consumption of agricultural products from Ngoc Linh ginseng but also contribute to the diversification of Son La agricultural products; helping everyone, every household have more conditions to access and enjoy the special source of nutrients from the National Treasure Ngoc Linh ginseng. Many of our Ngoc Linh ginseng products have become OCOP products of Son La and are always trusted by customers" - Mr. Long shared.

According to the People's Committee of Son La province, the province always encourages and supports collectives and individuals to develop medicinal plant growing areas, including ginseng. Based on the results of evaluation and testing from professional agencies, Son La will propose to replicate the Ngoc Linh ginseng growing model on a large scale. At the same time, it will assign professional agencies to prepare procedures in accordance with regulations to build a brand as well as geographical indications for Ngoc Linh ginseng grown in Son La.

Xuyen Chi