These days, farmers in Bắc Kạn are urgently harvesting star anise. This year’s crop has brought great excitement as the trees have achieved both high yields and favorable prices. Star anise is becoming a poverty-reducing and wealth-generating crop for many highland communities in the province.
In Bạch Thông District, Sỹ Bình and Vũ Muộn communes are considered the “capital” of star anise cultivation. The crop thrives in local soil conditions, delivers high productivity, and has become a key agricultural product. This is because these highland communes have limited rice-growing land and large areas of protected forests under strict conservation regulations. Along the newly paved roads that have replaced the old rough routes filled with potholes, traders can easily be seen coming to purchase star anise these days. The pleasant fragrance of star anise spreads through the air along the roads leading into Sỹ Bình and Vũ Muộn.
Taking advantage of sunny weather during the harvest season, Nông Thị Uyên from Village 1B, Sỹ Bình Commune, is busy mobilizing workers to collect star anise in her forest. She said her family currently owns 10 hectares of star anise, with 80% of the area already producing harvests. Since the beginning of the season, her family has collected more than two tons. The products were sold at around VND 30,000 per kilogram, generating VND 60 million in revenue. Uyên was delighted because star anise had never reached such a high price before. The current price is nearly double the level recorded in 2018.
Lý Thị Chuổng from Village 1A, Sỹ Bình Commune, also has 2 hectares of star anise currently being harvested. Her family has already collected 500 kilograms and expects the total seasonal output to exceed three tons. This could generate nearly VND 100 million in revenue. Chuổng said that taking advantage of the high prices, she has hired six to eight workers each day for harvesting. Each person takes on a different task, with some climbing trees to collect the flowers. Others gather and pack them into bags below.
Not only sellers but also star anise buyers are enjoying the benefits of a successful harvest and favorable prices. Bế Văn Hoàn, a trader from Bình Gia District, Lạng Sơn Province, said that Bắc Kạn’s star anise-growing areas have high productivity and good quality. This is why traders purchase products not only in Lạng Sơn but also travel to Bắc Kạn. He personally buys five to six tons of fresh star anise every day. Prices initially ranged from VND 25,000–27,000 per kilogram. However, they recently increased to VND 30,000 per kilogram. This means both farmers and traders benefit from the higher prices.
Thanks to star anise, the livelihoods of people in Sỹ Bình and Vũ Muộn have improved significantly. The two communes currently have around 400 hectares of star anise, mainly planted between 1990 and 1997 through government programs such as Projects 327 and 661. Half of this area has already entered the harvesting stage. Average prices typically range from VND 15,000–20,000 per kilogram. However, this year’s record-high prices have brought great excitement to growers.
Sỹ Bình Commune Chairman Nguyễn Duy Trọng said that the commune has 200 hectares of star anise, including 120 hectares currently producing harvests. Each hectare contains around 350–400 trees, with average productivity reaching 50–80 kilograms per tree. Thanks to star anise, local residents have gained stable employment and income. Many households now have opportunities to improve their economic conditions.
The busy harvesting atmosphere is also taking place in Bình Văn, Yên Hân, and Yên Cư communes of Chợ Mới District. Nguyễn Thị Dịu from Khuôn Tắng Village, Bình Văn Commune, owns a star anise orchard of more than 1.5 hectares, including trees nearly a century old. She said her family earns a stable annual income of VND 50–100 million from the orchard. Traders now come directly to her home to purchase the products. This eliminates the need for the family to transport them for sale as before.
Today, all seven villages in Bình Văn Commune grow star anise. Each household harvests an average of seven to eight tons per season. Many families own larger areas, such as Nguyễn Trọng Toán in Bản Mới Village with nearly 4 hectares and Ma Phúc Thắng in Thôm Bó Village with nearly 6 hectares. Even households with smaller plantations own dozens to hundreds of trees.
Currently, Chợ Mới District has around 600 hectares of star anise, with more than 300 hectares already producing harvests. Many areas have trees over 50 years old. According to Bùi Nguyên Quỳnh, Head of the District Agriculture Division, star anise prices this year reached nearly VND 50,000 per kilogram at certain times. Traders have continuously come directly to farms for purchases. Farmers are highly encouraged by the strong market prices.
Chợ Mới District identifies star anise as one of its key crops. Therefore, the district has focused on encouraging and guiding farmers to expand cultivation and apply proper technical practices. It also aims to renovate old and inefficient plantations, seek stable consumption channels, and establish product purchasing agreements. According to estimates, star anise can generate income of up to VND 400 million per hectare. Therefore, Chợ Mới District has set a target of expanding its star anise cultivation area to 1,000 hectares by 2020. This will create a concentrated commodity production zone in the eastern economic area. The district is also attracting investment to build a local star anise essential oil processing plant.
To date, Bắc Kạn Province has developed more than 4,600 hectares of star anise. These plantations are all over 15 years old and produce regular harvests. They provide stable income sources for growers.
Nguyễn Ngọc Cương, Deputy Director of the Bắc Kạn Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the current average selling price of star anise flowers across the province is around VND 30,000 per kilogram. This is the highest level ever recorded. As a result, growers are expected to earn significant profits this year. However, he noted that this price level is unusual and seasonal. Star anise products still lack stable markets, depend heavily on traders exporting to China, and have not yet undergone deep processing locally. Therefore, in the coming period, the agricultural sector will focus on promoting investment and attracting businesses to star anise processing under policies encouraging agricultural and forestry investment. The goal is to increase value-chain development and build a stronger local brand.
Vietnamese source: https://nhandan.vn/bac-can-duoc-mua-duoc-gia-hoa-hoi-post365716.html
If you are interested in Vietnamese-origin rice, please contact us:
Company: Agrideco Vietnam Co., Ltd.
Address: No 02, Alley 325 Kim Nguu, Vinh Tuy Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel/Kakao Talk/Whatsapp: +84 989 649 804
Website: https://agridecovietnam.com
Email: agridecovietnam@gmail.com