Back to the land of Lang Son’s star anise

Lang Son province has more 43,370 hectares of star anise. This area accounts for 70% of the total star anise cultivation area in Vietnam. Of this, more than 28,000 hectares of Lang Son’s star anise are in stable harvest. The annual quantity will reach 16,000 tons, worth at 1,700 billion Vietnamese dongs.

Lang Son’s star anise is a high-value specialty product of Vietnam, primarily grown for export. It has wide use in the fields of medicine, perfumery, cuisine, and handicrafts. Star anise enjoys a broad market both domestically and internationally.

In recent years, Lang Son has focused on promoting the development of star anise cultivation. The province has set a target to develop and maintain around 35,000 hectares of harvestable star anise by 2030. Additionally, Lang Son will take efforts to care for and improve the productivity and quality of 24,000 hectares of star anise. At the same time, the province is working with relevant agencies to gradually establish high-tech seed sources.

According to Mr. Chien, Director of the Lang Son Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province encourages seedling production facilities to upgrade their research and develop technical procedures for Lang Son star anise cultivation and intensive farming, aiming to improve productivity and quality. Agricultural experts have come here to help farmers through a hands-on, step-by-step approach.

In addition, the province has promoted international cooperation to enhance cultivation and processing techniques of Lang Son’s star anise. In the meanwhile, the province will propose and implement numerous scientific research projects to rehabilitate aging, low-yield star anise forests. These efforts aim to establish intensive farming practices that deliver high yields and quality, meeting export standards.

There are many organic star anise farming models, which aim at improving productivity and product quality, are available in several districts. The total area of these organic models reaches 705 hectares. Notably, many farming households have proactively adopted new technical practices in cultivation. As a result, yields have increased by 15–20%, and the trees are growing well and less pests and diseases.

Mr. Quyen, a resident from Van Quan district, shared: “My family is currently tending 5 hectares of Lang Son’s star anise trees. With guidance from the district’s Department, we carry out annual maintenance such as clearing underbrush, pruning branches, and supplementing nutrients for the trees. As a result, the star anise trees have less pests and diseases, and both yield and quality have improved, helping to stabilize our family’s income.”

Thanks to quality of Lang Son star anise, many domestic and international companies have come to buy in large quantities. The star anise market has seen positive growth, gradually establishing its brand both domestically and internationally. In the past, during times of good harvest, prices dropped significantly. However, since 2022, prices have risen to 150,000 VND per kilogram.

There are two star anise product value chains in Lang Son province, covering more than 1,000 hectares. Spice export companies guarantee to collectively purchase over 3,000 tons of fresh star anise annually for processing and export. The formation of these value chains has helped increase product value, stabilize market access, enhance competitiveness, and move toward building a sustainable consumer market.

Thanks to the application of advanced technology, Lang Son’s star anise has met the stringent requirements of demanding markets. These markets required hundreds of regulations covering cultivation, harvesting, processing, and preservation. As a result, star anise from Lang Son is no longer dependent solely on the traditional Chinese market. Also, it has expanded globally, helping to stabilize market demand and increase product prices.

Since 2020, the price of Vietnamese star anise has fluctuated 100,000 to 250,000 VND per kilogram. Accordingly, the annual value reached 1,700 billion VND. Lang Son’s star anise products are now available in many countries, including India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Japan, and Germany.

“Lang Son’s star anise and essential oil” is recognized as one of Vietnam’s top 10 best natural specialties. Notably, since 2020, Lang Son star anise has been among 39 Vietnamese geographical indications recognized and protected by the European Union.

In the coming time, Lang Son province has identified star anise as one of its key forestry crops. Star anise trees help local people improve their livelihoods and reduce poverty. The province is gradually striving to increase product value, aiming for the sustainable development of this specialty crop. Thereby, it contributes to strengthening the brand of Vietnam’s star anise in the international market.

Vietnamese source: https://nhandan.vn/ve-mien-hoa-hoi-xu-lang-post876926.html