Star anise flowers are typical agricultural products of Lang Son province. The highlanders here are proud of their star anise forests. In particular, since local growers applied organic cultivation, Lang Son’s organic star anise has brought more than 1,700 billion VND per year.
In the past, farmers in Lang Son province mainly applied traditional methods of growing and caring for star anise. As a result, it lead to weakened trees, susceptible to disease, and low productivity and output.
Lang Son’s organic star anise
Facing with this situation, the province implemented solutions to guide people to grow star anise in an organic way. Therefore, star anise productivity and quality were ungraded, meeting the requirements for processing and export.
Typically, in Binh Gia district, farmers have been guided to produce star anise in the organic practices. In 2019, the district received the capital source of the national target program on new rural construction. After that, the district built a trial model of organic star anise production in Binh Gia town.
Up to now, the model has continued for expansion in the communes of Quang Trung, Thien Hoa, and Hong Phong. Accordingly, the district supports people with organic fertilizers and technical guidance on care, disease prevention and treatment for star anise trees. Thereby, farmers have gradually raised their awareness on cultivation to improve productivity and product quality.
A forest of organic star anise in Lang Son province
Currently, Binh Gia district has about 8,700 hectares of star anise. In which, there are 150 hectares of organic star anise, with output in 2023 reaching more than 2,500 tons. Ms. Anh, Head of the district, said: “To develop star anise sustainably, the district will continue to coordinate with communes to organize training on care and disease prevention techniques for star anise. Moreover, we will propagate and mobilize people to develop organic star anise to improve productivity and quality”.
Mr. Tai is one of the households participating in the organic star anise farming model. He shared: “Previously, my family grew star anise in the traditional way. However, star anise trees did not develop well, then generated low income for local farmers. Since 2019, with the guidance of professionals, I have grown star anise in an organic way with 1,000 trees. Thanks to that, star anise productivity has increased, bringing my family an income of over 200 million VND per year”.
Not only in the districts, Lang Son province has organized training courses on transferring science and technology for farmer. In addition, the province implemented four star anise production models according to organic standards.
Drying organic star anise in Lang Son province
Up to now, the whole province has about 720 hectares of star anise grown according to organic standards. Lang Son’s organic star anise mainly concentrated in Chi Lang, Van Quan, Binh Gia, and Bac Son districts.
Through the production model according to organic standards, it has contributed to changing the production mindset of farmers. Therefore, it has formed organic star anise production areas, improving economic efficiency.
A farmer shared: “This year, star anise has a good output and good price. The average price of dry star anise ranges around 140,000 VND per kilogram. Each year, my family harvests 20 tons of fresh star anise, earning 500 million VND. Thanks to anise, my family has been able to build a solid house and buy expensive amenities”.
Lang Son has more than 43,370 hectares of star anise forest. This accounts for more than 70% of the Vietnam’s star anise area. In which, there are more than 28,000 hectares of organic star anise are being harvested stably. The output of dry star anise reaches from 7,500 to 16,000 tons per year. The province also identifies star anise as one of the province’s key forestry crops, helping people in the province improve their lives, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.
Vietnamese sources: https://doanhnghiepkinhtexanh.vn/tu-cay-moc-tu-nhien-cay-hoi-huu-co-o-lang-son-moi-nam-dem-ve-doanh-thu-nghin-ty-a21272.html