Yen Bai aims to have a stable area of about 90,000 hectares by 2025, of which it strives to have an area of cinnamon focused on specialized cultivation of 35,000 hectares, with about 20,000 hectares certified organic.
The cinnamon raw material area accounts for 50% of the country’s area
In the economic development of forestry in Yen Bai province, cinnamon is identified as a key crop because it brings multiple effects. Every part of the cinnamon tree can be used and brings stable income to farmers. Cinnamon bark serves the pharmaceutical and spice (food) industry, small branches and leaves serve to distill essential oils, and stem wood is used to produce furniture and handicrafts…
A cinnamon production cycle can last over 20 years, depending on density. Cinnamon forests can be thinned and harvested for branches and leaves continuously from the 4th year onwards. Cinnamon trees contribute to increasing forest coverage and effectively protecting the ecological environment.
To date, Yen Bai’s total cinnamon area is about 90,000 hectares, accounting for about 50% of Vietnam’s cinnamon area. Cinnamon trees are mainly grown in Van Yen district (57,000ha), Tran Yen district (20,000ha) and some districts such as Van Chan (9,500ha), Luc Yen (nearly 6,000ha), Yen Binh (more than 2,000ha )…
The output of dried cinnamon bark in Yen Bai province in 2023 will reach over 18,000 tons; Cinnamon wood salvaged after exploitation over 200,000m3; nearly 86,000 tons of branches and leaves. Products from cinnamon trees are a source of raw materials for businesses processing pharmaceuticals, food, essential oils, utensils, fine arts… to serve domestic consumption and export needs.
Mr. Kieu Tu Giang – Director of the Forest Protection Department of Yen Bai province said that in the past, people in the province cultivated cinnamon out of habit, without applying techniques such as digging holes, fertilizing, pruning leaves… Choosing varieties According to experience, it leads to breed degeneration. The uncontrolled use of fertilizers and pesticides to prevent pests and diseases, not according to instructions, causes cinnamon productivity to not be high, and pesticide residues in cinnamon products are large and difficult to respond to. meet market requirements. Therefore, cinnamon products are sold at low prices and output is unstable.
To develop sustainable cinnamon trees and increase the value of cinnamon products, Yen Bai province plans to develop cinnamon growing areas by 2025 with a stable area of about 90,000 hectares. In particular, we strive for the province’s concentrated cinnamon cultivation area to reach 35,000 hectares, of which 20,000 hectares are certified organic.
Focus on developing concentrated, specialized cinnamon areas, complying with regulations on food safety, pest safety, environmental protection, and linking production with consumption of cinnamon products.
During the period 2021 – 2025, Yen Bai province has developed Resolution No. 69 of the Provincial People’s Council on a number of policies to support the development of agricultural, forestry and fishery production. It focuses on supporting the development of organic cinnamon production linked along the value chain from production (cinnamon growing households) to processing and product consumption (enterprises, cooperatives, and cooperative unions). cooperative), with inspection and supervision from local authorities. Cinnamon growing households, businesses and cooperatives when participating in organic cinnamon production chains, building projects with a raw material area of 1,000 hectares or more and approved by competent authorities will enjoy benefits. support policies.
Specifically, support 100% of the costs of evaluating and identifying raw material areas, developing plans, production and business plans, market development, and cooperation mechanisms between processing facilities and cinnamon growing households. and local authorities, complete certification registration documents, support level not exceeding 100 million VND/project. Support 100% of the cost of assessment and certification of organic standards for production areas at a level not exceeding 0.5 million VND/ha. 100% support for sample design costs, purchasing stamps, labels, and product packaging; OCOP product certification and participation in domestic and foreign trade promotion activities, support level not exceeding 200 million VND/project.
To date, the entire Yen Bai province has more than 14,500 hectares of cinnamon certified as organic. Photo: Thanh Tien.
Thanks to that, up to now, the area of cinnamon certified organic in Yen Bai province has reached more than 14,500 hectares, of which Van Yen district is nearly 11,000 hectares, Tran Yen is nearly 3,500 hectares, and Van Chan is nearly 350 hectares. The areas that have achieved organic certification are all done by businesses affiliated with people.
Mr. Pham Trung Kien – Vice Chairman of Van Yen District People’s Committee said that developing organic cinnamon has overcome the limitations of traditional farming. Using quality seed sources, properly and fully implementing technical processes from planting, fertilizing, caring for, thinning… helps improve productivity and quality of cinnamon products.
The application of biological measures in cinnamon pest control has helped reduce chemical pesticide residues in cinnamon products, contributing to protecting the ecological environment. Sustainable organic farming also responds to trends, helping to expand consumption markets, exploit potential new markets, and stabilize product output…
Issue sustainable forest certification for organic cinnamon
On average each year, cinnamon trees bring in thousands of billions of dong in income and create regular jobs for a large number of workers in Yen Bai province. The economic benefits that cinnamon brings are not small. However, one reality is affecting the current development and quality of cinnamon trees in the province, which is the hot development situation, people growing cinnamon not according to planning.
Besides, there is also a situation where cinnamon growers exploit cinnamon inappropriately and overexploit. Many cinnamon growing households have massively exploited and even exploited young cinnamon areas; Unscientific tree cutting and pruning have had a negative impact on the growth and development of cinnamon trees and the quality of cinnamon products.
The construction of cinnamon seed gardens and forests to ensure quality is highly invested in by Yen Bai province. Photo: Thanh Tien.
Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh – Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Yen Bai province said that to ensure the quality of products produced and processed from cinnamon trees, Yen Bai province continues to focus on sustainable development of cinnamon trees. Cinnamon, which focuses on strictly managing cinnamon seed sources. Planting forests with cinnamon seedlings of clear origin, improving productivity and forest quality. Implement activities to conserve and maintain indigenous cinnamon seed sources, recognize forestry plant seed sources for seed forests and dominant trees. Build cinnamon seed gardens to provide quality seed materials for mass production.
In addition, actively attach cinnamon production along the value chain from planting, exploiting, processing and consuming products. Focus on deep processing and fine processing to bring high-value products. Planning facilities for processing cinnamon bark, cinnamon wood and cinnamon essential oil in a sustainable manner, aiming to apply modern processing technologies and good quality management processes for products to improve quality and value. Replicate cinnamon development models towards intensive farming and organic cinnamon production towards certification of sustainable forest management.
In 2023, Yen Bai province has recognized two cinnamon forests in Van Yen district with an area of nearly 13 hectares; recognized 35 dominant trees in Van Yen and Tran Yen districts. In 2024 and the following years, the province continues to encourage people and businesses to participate in building and developing native cinnamon seed forests and gardens to sustainably expand organic cinnamon raw material areas.
