The conservation and development of medicinal plants is considered one of the key tasks in the long-term economic development strategy of Thai Nguyen Province.
On the afternoon of June 2, Mr. Duong Van Luong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, presided over a conference on the current status, policies, and feasibility of cultivating and producing medicinal plants in Thai Nguyen Province. The conference was attended by leaders of relevant departments, agencies, associations, and the Institute for Forestry Research and Development – University of Agriculture and Forestry (Thai Nguyen University).
Mr. Duong Van Luong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, directing the conference
A representative from the Institute for Forestry Research and Development presented a report on the current status, development orientation of Vietnam’s medicinal plant industry, and recommendations for the strategic development of medicinal plants in the province.
According to the Traditional Medicine Management Department, Vietnam’s annual demand for medicinal plants is 60,000 – 80,000 tons, with an annual consumption of over 50,000 tons. However, the production, processing, and usage scale of Vietnam’s medicinal plant industry remains small, fragmented, and inefficient, while some valuable medicinal plants are at risk of depletion.
To ensure the medicinal plant industry meets domestic demand and export potential, the central government has introduced various policies to support medicinal plant development, focusing on three key orientations:
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Re-evaluating the role of medicinal plants at national and local levels.
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Developing medicinal plants based on market demand, primarily for domestic needs while targeting exports.
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Restructuring the entire medicinal plant industry, covering all stages from seed selection, cultivation, harvesting, and production.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thu Ha – Director of the Institute for Forestry Research and Development presenting the development orientation and conditions for medicinal plants in Thai Nguyen Province
Through field surveys, the Institute for Forestry Research and Development found that Thai Nguyen Province has many advantages for developing the medicinal plant industry, such as:
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Favorable soil and climate conditions suitable for medicinal plant cultivation.
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Diverse medicinal plant resources, including both plant-based and animal-based medicinal materials.
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Existing medicinal plant cultivation models in the province, such as Cát sâm, Đinh lăng, Ba kích, Khôi nhung, Sạ đen, Nghệ, Giảo cổ lam, Sa nhân, and Sâm bố chính.
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Preferential policies from central to local governments to support medicinal plant development.
However, the implementation of medicinal plant cultivation and production in the province remains fragmented, lacking a comprehensive plan and long-term development strategy.
The Institute for Forestry Research and Development proposed several development directions, including:
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Formulating and approving a conservation and development plan for medicinal plants in Thai Nguyen Province until 2025, with a vision to 2030.
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Establishing policies to encourage organizations and enterprises to invest in medicinal plant cultivation, development, and processing.
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Introducing incentive mechanisms for businesses and individual households to invest in medicinal plant farming and development.
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Attracting high-tech science and technology enterprises to research and effectively apply biotechnology for conservation, breeding, and high-value product development from medicinal plants.
Medicinal plant gene bank at the Institute for Forestry Research and Development
During the conference, participants discussed plans for zoning raw material areas, production, processing, and market consumption of medicinal plant products. The attendees agreed to propose that the Provincial People’s Committee assign specialized agencies to develop a plan for medicinal plant development in Thai Nguyen for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Duong Van Luong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized that the development of the province’s medicinal plant industry must follow a clear roadmap, including pilot models for selecting economically viable medicinal plants, which can later be expanded and adapted to different regions.
He assigned the Institute for Forestry Research and Development, in coordination with relevant departments and agencies, to complete an assessment report on the current status, development orientation, and solutions for the medicinal plant sector.
Based on this report, relevant departments will advise the Provincial People’s Committee on approving a conservation and development plan for medicinal plants in Thai Nguyen Province. Additionally, the province will seek investment from capable enterprises in production, processing, and product consumption.
Source: Thainguyen.gov.vn
