High hope puts on Ngoc Linh ginseng project

The first phase will be carried out from 2015 to 2020. About two million seedlings will be planted on 200 hectares of land and the infrastructure will be built and upgraded. From 2025, the farm land will be expanded to 30,000 hectares. Vietnam aims to produce 500-1,000 tonnes of ginseng per year, making it the world’s second largest ginseng grower.

Routes to the ginseng farms in Quang Nam Province's Nam Tra My District and Kon Tum Province's Tu Mo Rong District will be upgraded for better transportation. Research centre and tourism complex along Ngoc Linh Mountain in both Quang Nam and Kon Tum provinces will be built. The geographical indication of Ngọc Linh for ginseng root products is registered in five communes in Quang Nam and Kon Tum provinces.

Professor Nguyen Ngoc Lung from the Research Institute for Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification said Ngoc Linh ginseng were special because they grow on the mountain's peak. However, it's not easy to grow the ginseng en mass at locations over 2,500m.

"The ginseng grows slowly at high altitude," he said. "The solution is that we grow a small number of ginseng and it has to be managed by specialised bodies. South Korea has detailed plans for their ginseng and outlets for their products. We have only just started and must be careful."

Dinh Van Thu, chairman of Quang Nam Province said the high investment of VND9trn will be disbursed until 2030 and 80-90% will come from private sector. Companies are invited to invest in pharmaceuticals, essential oils, drinks and cosmetics.

Thu wants to get support from the government for investment in infrastructure and favourable policies for the investors. "This is a long-term project and investors will join when there are good policies and mechanism," he said. 

Talking with VNExpress, Le Tri Thanh, vice chairman of Quang Nam Province said they wanted to make ginseng a key product to drive the local economic development and erase poverty for ethnic people in mountainous areas.

The authorities of Quang Nam Province also asked the Ministry of Science and Technology to provide technical support such as high precision sensors, measurement devices in management process and security at the farms. Communal police will inform local people to be aware of thieves and will strictly punish violators.

Ginseng was first found on Ngọc Linh Mountain on the border between the Central Highlands Kon Tum Province and Quang Nam in the late 1960s.

Last year, Ngọc Linh Ginseng was granted geographical indication in Quang Nam and Kon Tum provinces. It is regarded as one of the 5 best ginseng species in the world.