Replacing less productive crops with herbal medicines has proven to be an effective direction for many localities in Hoa Binh province.
In 2018, the Big Farm herbal cooperative leased 10 ha of mixed garden land from farmers in Men village, Yen Hoa commune (Da Bac district) to start growing several types of herbal plants.
Yen Tri commune in Yen Thuy district is one of the "bright spots" in herbal medicine development. Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Bui Phi Diep said that when embarking on the new-style rural area building scheme, the first challenge for the local authorities was how to increase the income for local residents. He added that the orientation of switching to herbal medicine cultivation on areas of less productive crops and mixed gardens aimed for this goal.
To achieve the highest effectiveness, the local authority selected high-value herbal plants and precious indigenous medicinal plants, and encourages residents to cultivate these as replacements. At the same time, it has proposed the district collaborate with herbal medicine centres and pharmaceutical companies to develop a production linkage model.
Cultivating medicinal plants generates economic value approximately three times higher than rice cultivation, helping to improve the incomes of many households in Yen Tri. The area dedicated to herbal plant cultivation in the commune has expanded to about 35 ha, attracting 45 households in the Yen Tri Agricultural Cooperative, and 100 other households to join.
Besides Yen Tri, the cultivation and development of medicinal plants have been implemented in many localities. So far, Hoa Binh has approximately 2,350 ha of medicinal plants, including 197.6 ha where the plants are intercropped on forest land.
Some of the main medicinal plants including lemongrass, solanum procumbens, and celastrus hindsii, with yearly average outputs of 11,000 tonnes, 1,200 tonnes and 1,620 tonnes, respectively. Additionally, there are various naturally harvested medicinal plants, such as cordyceps, passionflower, Paris polyphylla smith, and anoectochilus.
In recent years, the provincial authorities have issued many mechanisms and policies to encourage investment in planting and processing of medicinal plants. Projects and socio-economic development programmes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas and the "One Commune, One Product" programme have helped promote and encourage economic sectors to invest in the cultivation and and processing of medicinal plants.
Currently, the province has 13 facilities and enterprises engaged in the purchasing and preliminary processing of medicinal plants, along with 10 small-scale processing establishments run by enterprises and households. These efforts have initially created stable outlets for medicinal plants in the province.
According to the leadership of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the coming time, based on natural conditions, market demand, economic value, and export potential, the locality will develop a list of prioritised medicinal plants for development. Additionally, it will establish mechanisms, policies, and support plans for the cultivation, development, and harvesting of medicinal plants in special-use forests, protective forests, and production forests; as well as renting land for medicinal plant development; in line with forest management regulations and the provisions of the Land Law in 2024.
During the two days of November 14th – 15th, at the Provincial Cultural Palace, the Department of Industry and Trade organized a conference to connect the product consumption of the ethnic minorities and the mountainous areas in 2024. There was the attendance of the representatives of leaders of a number of departments, branches, businesses, manufacturers and distributors inside and outside the province.
The One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme is reshaping the rural economy of Lac Son district, helping improve living standards, particularly among the ethnic minority communities in remote areas of Lac Son district.
The Van Mai dam xanh (Bangana lemassoni) fish has long been famous for its unique and delicious flavour, earning a spot on the menus of many restaurants and attracting food connoisseurs. In recent years, residents in Van Mai commune, Mai Chau district, have expanded their fish farming areas and striven to build a strong reputation for their product. They are also working to establish it as an OCOP (One Commune, One Product) item to increase their income.
Outstanding rural industrial products of Hoa Binh province in 2024 were recently honoured and granted certificates, becoming a source of pride for producers and also a boost for local economic development. The honourees are all deeply imbued with the local cultural identity and boast considerable commercial potential, helping popularise the image of Hoa Binh to domestic and international consumers. This is also a solid stepping stone for rural industrial establishments to develop.
In the first 10 months of 2024, Hoa Binh city made significant progress in job creation and labour exports, sending 112 workers abroad through partnerships with authorised recruitment firms.
An award ceremony to announce the official certification for Mai Chau district’s Bangana lemassoni fish, a specialty of the locality because of its unique flavour, was held recently in the district.
