For people in the mountainous district of Tuong Duong (Nghe An), the meter is considered a tree out of poverty. With the income of hundreds of millions of dong per year for farmers, the meter becomes a key crop in local economic development.

From mid-October of the solar calendar, farmers in Tuong Duong district, Nghe An enter the harvest season to sell to traders. This year, prices are stable, so people have a good source of income.

Mr. Tran Van Kha (Tam Bong village, Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong district) said that this year his family’s income is over 100 million VND (4,000$) from 10 hectares of commercial products. This number of meters was planted 30 years ago, the average harvest is once every 3 years.

In Tuong Duong district, there are more than 2,000 hectares (Photo: D.T.).

” I plant 10 hectares of forest land according to the commune’s plan. On average, each hectare will plant over 200 trees. Excluding costs and wages, my family earns over 100 million VND. It is expected that next year, my family will increase the area to earn more income,” Mr. Kha said.

According to Mr. Kha, the meter is a one-time crop for many years of harvest. In addition to harvesting the trunk, every year people can also pick bamboo shoots to sell. Planting meters is low cost, but the biggest risk is unfavorable weather such as cyclones, storms… 

The meter tree has a “super straight” stem, planted once and harvested for many years (Photo: Đ.T).

Like Mr. Kha, for many years, Mr.  Luong The Vinh’s family in Tam Lien village, Tuong Duong commune has built a house and raised their children to attend university by growing meters.

Mr. Vinh said that this year, the family has 15 hectares of commercial products for sale, which is estimated to initially give income from 120-150 million VND. The price of the meter at the beginning of the crop fluctuated from 18,000-20,000 VND/tree, now it has increased to 26,000-28,000 VND (1$)/tree. With that selling price, the income is many times higher than growing acacia.

“This is the first year that the price of the meter is this high. After harvesting, traders come to buy it on the spot. Many families who grow a small number of goods are sold out. This is a very exciting signal, not only my family. but of growers in general,” said Mr. Kha excitedly.

Currently, the price of the meter is from 26,000-28,000 VND (1$)/tree depending on the size (Photo: Đ.T.).

According to the locals, meters are easy to grow. After digging holes, fertilizing will put the seedlings down, if the soil is good, in 3 years will harvest the first crop. The care process is also simple, just rooting, spreading shrubs, pruning …

Meter is a fast-growing species, so it will give a harvest over 20 years. Besides, in the process, if it grows well, people can trim it down by taking young bamboo shoots to sell to earn extra income.

Ms. Kha Thi Hien – Chairman of Tam Quang Commune People’s Committee, Tuong Duong district said that the whole commune has nearly 700 hectares with the number of about 380,000 trees. Currently, the price ranges from 25,000-26,000/tree, which will give an income of more than 8 billion dongs (320,000 USD) excluding expenses.

Traders come to the place to buy (Photo: D.T.)

“Here, people often call the meter tree a “warm tree”, “a tree out of poverty.” The commune government always encourages people to increase the area in the near future to increase their income,” said Ms. Hien. more.

It is known that about 30 years ago when the project of planting meters was implemented by the People’s Committee of Tuong Duong district, Nghe An in a number of communes such as Tam Thai, Tam Quang, Yen Thang, etc., the people were very confused and did not receive permission. focus. Because of the people’s thinking at that time, planting meters only took bamboo shoots to eat or just to take the trunk as a house.

However, up to now, the meter tree has become a key tree in the economic development of farmers in the mountainous district of Tuong Duong.

For people in the mountainous district of Tuong Duong Nghe An, the meter tree is considered a “warm tree”, “a tree out of poverty” (Photo: D.T).

Mr. Lo Kham Kha – Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Tuong Duong district said that there are over 2,000 hectares in the area. According to the plan, by 2025, the planting area of ​​​​the whole Tuong Duong district will be over 2,500 hectares.

“For many years, people in the area have escaped poverty by growing meters. This is an easy-to-grow crop that brings high economic efficiency. Previously, many families could not eat, now thanks to the cultivation of meters, hundreds of households have In the district, there are families who earn hundreds of millions of dong a year,” said Mr. Kha.

Meters are a group of woody perennials, with bunched roots, hollow inside, divided into many segments, with eye nodes on the meter body. It is also a flowering plant, but blooms only once at the end of its life. Usually, the meter has a blooming period of about every 5 – 60 years. The meter flower has a slightly strong scent and is pale yellow like the color of sand.

Small trees are about 2-3m high and there are old trees that can be taller than 5-7m. The leaves are small, slender, flat, tapering towards the tip, and sharp. Meters are very easy to live in, do not need too many conditions and often grow in populations, not as separate individuals.

Uses of the meter tree: Used as household objects, houses, (posts, trusses), chopsticks, water troughs, baskets, and agricultural implements (buckets, hoe handles, mats, shovel handles) . Young meters are used as food (called bamboo shoots). Dry meter including roots used for firewood.

Traders buy mainly as poles in construction, besides also to make chopsticks and bamboo and rattan products…

Photo: Internet (vinlove.net)