Towards sustainable development
Lai Chau, with its characteristic rugged terrain, cool climate all year round and diverse primeval forest ecosystem, is the ideal land for growth and development of endemic medicinal species.
With a planting area of over 130 hectares, Lai Chau ginseng is an indigenous, endemic plant, narrowly distributed in Lai Chau province, used by local people as medicine for a long time with the names of black ginseng, red ginseng. In 2013, the Phan Ke Long research group discovered, researched and described a type of ginseng that grows naturally in Muong Te district, Tam Duong district, Sin Ho district, Lai Chau province and named it Lai Chau ginseng.
Evaluated by experts in research and oriental medicine as the world's most valuable and precious ginseng, through many research and conservation projects, Lai Chau ginseng has been identified to have a high saponin content, along with many essential amino acids and minerals. These ingredients bring many valuable biological effects such as improving health, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, protecting the nervous system and supporting cancer prevention. This is the core value and great potential of Lai Chau ginseng in the market.
According to Mr. Ha Trong Hai, Vice Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee, Lai Chau ginseng has been granted protection by the Ministry of Science and Technology and is highly appreciated by many international partners. In order to maximize the potential of this precious medicinal herb, the province will focus on policies to preserve the original variety, select high-quality mother plants and parent plants, and establish raw material areas to develop ginseng in an organic, clean and standard direction. At the same time, ginseng will be developed in a sustainable direction, not expanding widely.
In addition, Lai Chau is actively cooperating with international partners, including Japan and Korea, to develop processing technology and promote exports. Currently, in Muong Te district, there are more than 20 hectares of Lai Chau ginseng grown according to Japanese technical processes and technology.
The project is implemented by Pu Si Lung Ginseng Joint Stock Company since 2023 with technical processes for planting, caring for, producing seeds, and fertilizing according to Japanese organic technology. Recently, Mr. Kiyoshi Ueda, Japanese Senator, during his visit and working with Lai Chau province, visited and highly appreciated this Lai Chau ginseng growing area.
Promoting the application of Japanese technology to ginseng cultivation in Lai Chau is a breakthrough in the local medicinal herb development strategy. This not only contributes to improving the productivity and quality of ginseng, but the modern cultivation process also ensures safety standards and clear traceability, an important factor to conquer the international market.
Untangling the knot for Lai Chau ginseng to reach the world market
However, according to Mr. Ha Trong Hai, Vietnamese ginseng is not currently on the list of DNA recognized in Japan, so the province initially plans to process it into functional foods to penetrate this market, then strive to put Lai Chau ginseng on the list of official raw materials.
Therefore, Mr. Ha Trong Hai suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and scientists soon research and develop standard procedures for planting techniques, pest control, as well as research on medicinal properties and toxicity to serve as a scientific basis for inclusion in the pharmacopoeia and serving export to international markets.
Talking with reporters of Cong Thuong Newspaper, Mr. Bui Huy Phuong, Director of Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that Lai Chau ginseng is not only a precious medicinal product but also a symbol of the aspiration for sustainable development and improving the lives of Lai Chau people.
In order to develop Lai Chau ginseng to its full potential, bring common benefits and contribute to the sustainable development of the Vietnamese medicinal herbs industry in the international market, Mr. Bui Huy Phuong also recommended that the authorities remove the shortcomings in granting codes for Lai Chau ginseng growing facilities according to the provisions of Decree No. 06/2019/ND-CP and Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP, ensuring efficiency and convenience for local management agencies and ginseng production units.
In addition, there are specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Vietnamese ginseng to create a clear corridor for investment, exploitation and processing activities of Vietnamese ginseng in general, and Lai Chau ginseng in particular, suitable for the characteristics of high-value crops;...

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn