Vietnamese cinnamon cassia: A poverty-reducing crop in Trung Sơn (Phú Thọ Province)

Across the endless hillsides, the deep green color of cinnamon forests stretches in straight rows, rising amid the vast mountains. The gentle aroma of cinnamon carried by the wind spreads throughout the landscape. It brings not only the essence of the mountains and forests but also a sustainable economic development pathway for residents of Trung Sơn Commune.

In Trung Sơn Commune, Phú Thọ Province, more than 4,000 hectares of land are allocated for forestry. Mountainous terrain accounts for most of the area. The local soil conditions, featuring deep soil layers and high moisture levels, along with a mild climate throughout the year, provide favorable conditions for cinnamon trees to grow and thrive. Beyond its natural advantages, Trung Sơn is also a locality with a long-standing tradition of cinnamon cultivation.

Over generations, local residents have accumulated valuable experience in planting, caring for, and harvesting cinnamon. This has created a solid foundation for developing the crop on a commercial scale. From scattered cultivation in the early days, cinnamon has now become a key crop. It plays a crucial role in Trung Sơn’s hill-forest economic development strategy. The commune currently has 1,442 cinnamon-growing households with a total cultivation area of more than 2,800 hectares.

Among the pioneers who introduced cinnamon cultivation to Trung Sơn is Đinh Thị Linh, Secretary of the Nhồi Cell Party. Linh recalled that during 1988–1989, local people faced severe economic difficulties. They relied mainly on shifting cultivation with unstable livelihoods. “My family was among the first households encouraged by the State to grow cinnamon and provided with 300 seedlings. Initially, we intercropped cinnamon with cassava to generate short-term income while waiting for the trees to mature. By 2012, when our 2 hectares of cinnamon reached harvesting age, our family earned around VND 300 million,” she shared.

Recognizing the clear potential of cinnamon, Linh’s family continued expanding the cultivation area to 5 hectares. They also encouraged other households in the area to switch to cinnamon farming. Today, more than 80% of households in Nhồi are engaged in cinnamon cultivation. Many families that once practiced nomadic farming have now achieved stable production and gradually escaped poverty. The area currently has more than 85 hectares of cinnamon. The crop not only generates income but also improves community awareness of forest protection.

If Nhồi represents the starting point of cinnamon development, Đâng is considered the “cinnamon hub” of Trung Sơn. Here, the crop has demonstrated its economic effectiveness most clearly. Đâng currently has 95 households with 370 residents from three ethnic groups: Mường, Dao, and H’Mông. Notably, 100% of households in the area grow cinnamon, with a total cultivation area of more than 200 hectares. Around 100 hectares have already provided stable harvests. Average income from cinnamon reaches approximately VND 200 million per hectare. Some households cultivate 2–3 hectares, while larger farms cover dozens of hectares. Thanks to cinnamon, Đâng now has only five poor households. This makes it the area with the lowest poverty rate in the entire commune.

Đinh Văn Nghị, Deputy Secretary of the Cell Party and Head of Đâng Area, said that cinnamon has fundamentally transformed local residents’ lives. When cinnamon trees reach 3–5 years old, farmers can prune branches and earn VND 300,000–500,000 per day. During the main harvest period, bark, leaves, and cores can all be sold. This means almost no part of the tree is wasted. Fresh cinnamon bark currently sells for more than VND 20,000 per kilogram. Leaves and bark are used for essential oil distillation, generating high economic value. Meanwhile, cinnamon wood cores serve as raw materials for pressed wood processing facilities.

With stable consumption markets and traders regularly coming directly to farms for purchasing, residents can confidently maintain production. In addition to economic benefits, cinnamon also plays an important role in protecting the ecological environment. With dense foliage and deep root systems, cinnamon trees help retain soil, prevent erosion, and increase forest coverage. The development of cinnamon cultivation is closely linked with forest management and protection. It also limits forest clearing for shifting cultivation and gradually creates sustainable livelihoods for highland communities.

Recognizing the strengths of cinnamon, the Trung Sơn Commune Party Committee issued Resolution No. 10-NQ/ĐU dated September 4, 2025, on developing the hill-forest economy. Cinnamon was identified as the key focus for the 2025–2030 period. The resolution sets out clear goals to build a concentrated and sustainable cinnamon-growing region. It also aims to link economic development with forest resource protection and improve residents’ living standards.

Trung Sơn Party Committee Secretary Đinh Hải Nam said that cinnamon development is not only an economic issue but also a long-term political task. When local residents gain stable incomes from forests, they will voluntarily protect and preserve forest resources. This is the foundation for sustainable development. To turn the resolution into reality, Trung Sơn is implementing a range of comprehensive solutions. These include planning and managing more than 3,050 hectares of protection forests, maintaining production forests, and planting around 100 hectares of new cinnamon forests annually. The goal is to reach 3,000 hectares of cinnamon by 2030.

Alongside expanding cultivation areas, the commune is promoting the transfer of scientific and technical advances. It is also selecting high-quality cinnamon varieties and providing training on sustainable planting, care, and harvesting techniques. At the same time, Trung Sơn is gradually investing in forestry infrastructure, building roads to forest areas, and encouraging the establishment of cooperative groups and cooperatives. The commune is also creating favorable conditions to attract businesses involved in essential oil processing and cinnamon-based products. These efforts aim to establish a closed production chain and increase the added value of cinnamon products.

The practical experience in Trung Sơn demonstrates that when policies are appropriate, resolutions closely reflect local conditions, and communities reach consensus, the hill-forest economy can generate not only material wealth but also confidence and motivation for ethnic communities to improve their lives. Today’s vast green cinnamon forests are not only economic assets but also symbols of innovative thinking and a harmonious relationship between people and nature.

With its long-standing production traditions and strong leadership from local authorities, cinnamon is becoming and will continue to be a key pillar of Trung Sơn’s economic development. The crop is contributing to the commune’s gradual transformation into a greener, wealthier, and more sustainable hill-forest region.