Star anise is the key forestry crop of Chi Lang district , Lang Son province. To improve productivity and economic value of star anise, Chi Lang has implemented many solutions. Especially the district has focused on developing organic star anise cultivation models.
Star anise has been present in Chi Lang district for quite a long time. However, local farmers still grow it based on traditional practices and personal experience. Scientific and technical applications have not been strongly promoted, resulting in low productivity and uneven flower quality. Therefore, it is difficult for Vietnamese star anise to meet market demands and leading to low economic efficiency.
Organic star anise from Vietnam
Chi Lang district has advantages in developing star anise, especially in mountainous rocky communes. To increase the value of star anise, the district has recently encouraged farmers to grow organic star anise. At the same time, it linked to developing the product along the supply and consumption chain.
Based on this, the district has coordinated with communes to organize training courses on star anise cultivation for local people. They also support materials and seedlings. Since 2020, the district has established many Vietnamese organic star anise cultivation models.
Vietnam’s star anise flower size
Under organic methods, farmers no longer use chemical fertilizers or herbicides. Also, they have to do all cultivation processes manually. During harvest, farmers should store star anise in clean sacks and pick flowers directly from the trees.
Mr. Khoa, Chairman of Gia Loc Commune said: With support from relevant authorities, our farmers have confidently developed organic star anise cultivation. So far, the commune has about 320 out of 900 hectares of star anise planted organically. Organic production methods have helped increase yields by 10-20% compared to before.
A farmer shared with the government support in techniques, seedlings, and product consumption linkage, we are very excited. Currently, one hectare of organic star anise can yield 60 tons of flowers. It generates nearly 200 million VND in income per year.
Fresh organic star anise from Vietnam
In other communes, households participating in organic star anise cultivation models have achieved promising results, bringing considerable economic benefits.
To increase economic value for Vietnam’s organic star anise, the district has also promoted activities to connect. Also, they have called for cooperatives and businesses to join the production and consumption chain. So far, 400 hectares of star anise cultivated by locals have joined the linked chain from cultivation to product purchase.
Organic star anise bags
Star anise cultivation has helped increase the green coverage of forests, improve people’s living standards, and enhance the health of growers. Currently, the total star anise cultivation area in the district has reached 1,900 hectares, with an output of about 800 tons of dried star anise per year. Star anise has played an important role in the economic growth of Chi Lang district.
At present, star anise products from Lang Son province have been exported to many countries. They also include demanding markets, such as the United States, EU, South Korea and Japan.
In addition, Lang Son star anise products are also promoted and sold on commercial platforms like Alibaba and Amazon. This is a very encouraging signal, opening a sustainable direction for star anise cultivation for farmers in Chi Lang in the near future.
Vietnamese source: https://danviet.vn/cay-hoi-cay-dac-san-nay-o-chi-lang-cua-lang-son-trong-theo-huong-huu-co-he-ban-hoa-la-het-sach-20250315204615865-print1215838.html