It is promised to bring economic efficiency many times higher than growing acacia, but many areas of cinnamon trees die, causing Quang Tri farmers to suffer disadvantages.
Miles and miles, still dead
In December 2021, Mr. Tran Tho Lien’s family in An My village, Cam Tuyen commune, Cam Lo district planted 0.6 hectares of cinnamon trees. At first, the cinnamon tree grew and developed normally. However, by around July 2023, the seedlings withered and gradually died. Mr. Lien’s family has tried replanting many times but it was not effective. The number that can survive after one and a half years of planting is only as good as per capita. If he left, he would feel sorry for him, and if he was king, he would feel guilty. His family still tried to take care of him, but they didn’t know what the outcome would be.
“Our group consists of 20 households, planting a total area of 6 hectares, but now only my family has a density of about 50% of the trees. For the remaining households, some households die 100%, some households die at a rate of 70-80% of the trees. These households have now planted acacia trees instead. Like my family, the area is very small and I don’t know if anyone will buy it after the harvest,” Mr. Lien worried.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of Cam Tuyen Commune People’s Committee, said that from the end of 2021 until now, Vietnam Anise Cinnamon Company (Vina Samex) has provided seeds for hundreds of households in the commune to plant a total of over 35 hectares of cinnamon trees. . Initially, the cinnamon tree grows and develops well, but after 7 months to 1 year, the seedling begins to die. People, local authorities and seed suppliers have organized replanting. However, as of mid-June 2024, the entire commune only has about 1.5 hectares left. The supplier also brought the seeds back to the locality to nurse and then try planting them, but the seedlings still died.
Mr. Tuan added that according to the plan, this locality will plant 200-300 hectares of cinnamon trees. But with the current reality, that goal will fail.
Mr. Tran Tho Lien’s family’s cinnamon garden only has 50% of the original trees left. Photo: Vo Dung.
The death of the cinnamon tree caused heavy losses to the people of Cam Tuyen commune. On average, each hectare of cinnamon trees invests 54 million VND in seeds and fertilizers and is supported by 50% of seeds and fertilizers from the provincial and district budgets. In addition, farmers also spend money to rent machines to level the ground and dig holes, the total cost is up to 70-80 million VND/ha. However, cinnamon trees almost died after more than 2 years of planting, forcing farmers to return to growing acacia or other crops. While taking care of the cinnamon tree, people had no source of income from their cultivated land, so they struggled.
Throw billions out the window
With the goal of becoming the “capital” of medicinal plants of Quang Tri province, from the budget support according to Resolution 162/2021/NQ-HDND, dated December 9, 2021, from 2021 to present, Cam District People’s Committee Lo has disbursed funds and supported people to plant 127.8 hectares of cinnamon trees. However, up to this point, the living area of cinnamon trees is only about 8.5 hectares. This surviving area also faces the risk of not being able to survive after this hot season.
People had to replant acacia after the cinnamon tree could not survive. Photo: Vo Dung.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of Cam Tuyen Commune People’s Committee, said that before planting cinnamon trees, farmers in the commune were allowed to visit Yen Bai province. After seeing that cinnamon trees bring high economic efficiency and receiving the policy from the People’s Committee of Cam Lo district, the People’s Committee of Cam Tuyen commune met many times to discuss and convert some areas of acacia and pine trees to growing cinnamon and anise trees. However, hope quickly disappeared because cinnamon growers were in a dilemma.
“It may be because the assessment of the adaptability of cinnamon trees in Cam Lo is not accurate, so the tree dies. Cinnamon has essential oils that probably cannot withstand the heat and wind in Laos here,” Mr. Tuan analyzed.
And Mr. Tran Hoai Linh, Vice Chairman of Cam Lo District People’s Committee, also regretted that the cinnamon tree could not adapt to the local soil and climate conditions. Before deciding to plant anise cinnamon trees in Cam Lo, this locality also tested the soil samples and gave very suitable results. However, in reality, cinnamon trees cannot grow and develop on this land.
“One hectare of cinnamon in Yen Bai can feed the whole family, its economic value is many times higher than growing acacia. Therefore, we have actively started planting cinnamon trees. Vietnam Cinnamon Anise Company also committed to purchasing all output and if the area is stable, they are ready to build a processing factory in Cam Lo. Unfortunately, up to now, cinnamon trees have not been able to adapt to the climate and soil conditions in Cam Lo district.
Farmers are still the ones suffering the biggest losses. Photo: Vo Dung.
According to a report from Cam Lo District People’s Committee, to plant 127.8 hectares of cinnamon trees, this locality has disbursed over 1.6 billion VND from the State budget. However, after the pilot planting of cinnamon trees failed, this locality had to continue disbursing capital to support people converting from cinnamon trees to planting large timber forests.
According to Cam Lo people, the cost of planting each hectare of cinnamon is about 70-80 million VND. Calculated, with 127.8 hectares of cinnamon, the damage from the pilot planting of cinnamon trees in Cam Lo amounted to over 9 billion VND.
According to Nongnghiep.vn
