Cao Bang cinnamon: The green gold on the journey toward sustainable poverty alleviation

Cao Bang is a mountainous province of Vietnam, with majestic mountain ranges bordering China. In recent years, Cao Bang cinnamon tree has not only been a crop for poverty reduction. Also, it has become a symbol of the aspiration for change in the highland border region. It represents the aspiration to rise through their own efforts, with the sweat and intellect of Cao Bang farmers.

Along the hillsides of Minh Khai Commune, residents of Na Con and Tan Lap hamlets are diligently tending each row of Vietnamese cinnamon trees. They are mounding soil, weeding, and checking for pests and diseases. On plots of land that were once left unused, cinnamon trees have now taken root. This opens up hope for a prosperous and sustainable future for dozens of poor and near-poor households in the area.

In 2023, the province started the program for investment and support in production development for Cao Bang cinnamon. The program associated with the consumption of Vietnamese cinnamon products. Minh Khai Commune and Tan Giang Ward were the two localities selected by Cao Bang province as pilot areas.

The program had a total budget of VND 2 billion, of which the government provided VND 1.5 billion. Also, it has supplied 136,864 cinnamon seedlings and over 62 tons of organic fertilizer. These resources have benefited 99 poor and near-poor households. The program has also provided technical training in cultivation, care, and plant protection.

After one of implementation, 28 hectares of Cao Bang cinnamon have entered a phase of vigorous growth. This progress has built strong confidence among local people.

“In the past, the hillside land was available with weeds, and growing maize brought low yields. Now, with support from the program and a cooperative guaranteeing output, we feel secure investing our labor. Hopefully, in a few years, it will help stabilize our family’s income with Vietnamese cinnamon,” shared Mr. Nong Van Hau, a participant in the model from Na Con hamlet.

This transformation did not happen by chance. From production organization to product consumption, the value-chain linkage model has been systematically designed. Farmers cultivate the trees, and cooperatives provide technical guidance as well as guarantee product purchase. In addition, the provincial Cooperative Alliance supports capital, seedlings, and oversees implementation.

This scientific approach to wealth creation, together with the “three-party linkage,” gives cinnamon growers peace of mind in production. It also ensures transparency and efficiency in the allocation of state resources. Therefore, it promotes sustainable poverty reduction.

Previously, cinnamon growers could only sell fresh cinnamon barks to traders at unstable prices. Now, Tan Bach Agricultural Cooperative has stepped in as a “midwife,” supporting its members and linked farmers.

The cooperative not only guarantees product consumption, but it also aims for deep processing. This includes enhancing the value of cinnamon through essential oil distillation, cinnamon powder grinding, and high-quality dried bark production.

According to a representative of Tan Bach Agricultural Cooperative, each kilogram of dried cinnamon has prices as two to three times higher than raw cinnamon. Branches and leaves are also materials for essential oil production, with no part going to waste. Once processing is in place, cinnamon-growing households can focus on production without worrying about price drops.

The initial success in Minh Khai demonstrates Cao Bang’s sound direction in developing agricultural products along value chains. Instead of providing only short-term support, the provincial Cooperative Alliance has chosen a long-term investment approach spanning 15 years (2023–2038). This gives people time to stabilize production and create a sustainable cinnamon raw-material zone.

Beyond serving as buyers of products, cooperatives act as bridges that help farmers access new scientific and technical knowledge. They learn proper methods of care, pruning, and harvesting to improve yields. Many poor households, through linkage with cooperatives, have gained additional income from side jobs. These include collecting, drying, peeling bark, and distilling essential oils.

Cao Bang is well known for its interspersed mountainous terrain, cool climate, and moisture-rich soils. These are ideal conditions for Cao Bang cinnamon growth. Alongside star anise, cinnamon has become a medicinal and spice crop with high economic value. It is favorable by many domestic and international markets.

Implementing the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Cao Bang province has taken action. The province has identified the commercial development of cinnamon and star anise as one of the key solutions for poverty reduction.

The provincial authorities, together with the Cao Bang Cooperative Alliance and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, have carried out numerous support programs. These include providing seedlings and fertilizers and offering technical training. They also involve encouraging production-consumption linkages, building cooperative management capacity, promoting trade, and developing OCOP product brands.

Thanks to this support, local people are no longer alone in the market. Cooperatives have become a “bridge” connecting farmers, businesses, and markets. Guaranteed product purchase stabilizes output, while deep processing increases product value and creates local employment opportunities.

In other regions, Cao Bang’s model is being studied and replicated. For example, Agrideco Vietnam Co., Ltd has demonstrated effectiveness by developing over 1,000 hectares of organic cinnamon. It has also established an essential oil processing plant and exported products to Europe and Japan. This serves as a “living lesson” for Cao Bang cooperatives in building raw material zones linked with processing, consumption, and sustainable branding.

In practice, cinnamon and star anise help people increase income and achieve sustainable poverty reduction. They also bring clear social and environmental benefits. When people plant cinnamon, forests are reforested, soil retains water, and erosion is reduced. Especially for ethnic minority communities, cinnamon cultivation is not only a livelihood. It is also a “root” that strengthens their connection to the forest and the land.

In recent years, many highland households have earned hundreds of millions of dong per year from selling cinnamon and essential oils. Many young people who once worked as laborers have returned home and joined cooperatives. They have also opened small processing workshops and created additional jobs for local workers.

According to the Cao Bang Cooperative Alliance, developing cinnamon is not only aimed at increasing household income but also represents a strategic step toward forming an ecological economic zone. The provincial Cooperative Alliance will continue to support cooperatives in expanding scale and building brands. Moreover, it will assist them in connecting to domestic and international markets.

Despite these notable achievements, Cao Bang cinnamon still faces several challenges. These include inconsistent seed quality, uneven cultivation techniques, and limited processing capacity.

For cinnamon to truly become a “locomotive” for highland livelihoods, the local authorities need to continue investing in seed research. They should also transfer technology for essential oil and cinnamon powder processing. In addition, they should establish geographical indications and organic certification for the products.

Developing the “Cao Bang cinnamon” brand not only increases export value but also strengthens the product’s position in the domestic market. With brand protection, farmers and cooperatives have a stronger foundation to invest, expand production, and attract businesses to participate in the value chain.

The story from the hills of Minh Khai demonstrates the renewed vitality of highland agriculture when organized systematically along a value chain. Cinnamon, once a traditional crop, is gradually becoming a key product. It provides sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of households.

Beyond poverty reduction, Cao Bang cinnamon is also linked to green and circular economic goals. Every part of the tree is utilized and forests are preserved.

Thanks to the joint efforts of local authorities, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the Cao Bang Cooperative Alliance, and the people, the “green gold” of Cao Bang’s forests is certain to spread its fragrance further. As a result, it will reach both domestic and international markets.

Vietnamese source: https://vnbusiness.vn/mo-hinh/cay-que-cao-bang-vang-xanh-tren-hanh-trinh-thoat-ngheo-ben-vung-1110301.html