A number of medical plant models have been developed together with ecological tourism initiatives in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts in the northern mountainous province of Son La by courtesy of its climate advantage.
Moc Chau, located on a limestone plateau with altitudes ranging from 800 to 1,000 metres above sea level, boasts a temperate climate, giving it the opportunity to develop temperate and sub-tropical plants, especially precious medical plants such as artichoke, Bai Zhu, Radix Angelicae, Radix Scrophulariae, jiaogulan, and cordyceps.
The Cao Nguyen Joint Stock Company has implemented models for cultivating cordyceps, a rare and valuable genus of ascomycete fungi, in Bun village, Moc Chau district since April 2014. The high-value product is sold at 20 million VND (952 USD) per kilogramme.
In addition, vegetable and mushroom planting models using state-of-the-art technology have also been applied in the district.
Meanwhile, the Binh Minh Technology and Trading Co., Ltd has been growing medical plants across 148 hectares in newly-established Van Ho district.
The company has trained 55 local residents in cultivating techniques and encouraged households in Van Ho and Chieng Yen communes to plant medical plants in combination with developing ecological tourism.
According to the provincial People’s Committee, the medicinal cultivation has made great contributions to optimising the region’s advantages, bringing increased and sustainable incomes to residents, reducing poverty and facilitating the development of “new style rural areas”.
Looking to 2020, the province intends to accelerate the planning of medical plant fields towards large scale production as well as gene preservation and development based on advanced technology in order to foster economic growth in line with tourism development and investment attraction.