Ngoc Linh ginseng, a precious medicinal species indigenous to themountain of the same name in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum,has been conserved and developed to become a key commercial product.
Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax articulatuc) was discoveredon the mountain in 1973. Research has found it to be among the four mostprecious ginseng species in the world, which contain substancesbeneficial to human health and thus high in economic value.
According to a research project conducted by the Health Ministry in1978, Ngoc Linh ginseng rhizome contains 26 saponins (chemicalcompounds) that have previously been identified in other species and 24completely new ones. In comparison, Korean ginseng contains only about25 saponins. A high amount of the compound in ginseng is generally seento be an indicator of better quality. As such, Ngoc Linh ginseng is nowmore expensive than its Korean counterpart.
However, the species has been over-exploited since its discovery and is in danger of extinction.
The Ngoc Linh ginseng conservation centre under the Kon Tum-based DakTo Forestry Co. Ltd. in 2004 launched a project to preserve and developthe plant with the participation of the local community.
Director of the centre Nguyen Thanh Chung said that at present, theproject has 10 hectares planted with pure seedlings in an effort toexpand ginseng cultivation.
The best time forplanting is June and July, the rainy season, which will gives the airhigh humidity levels and help reduce irrigation, Chung explained.
Ngoc Linh ginseng is a perennial plant that takes dozens of years togrow and develop. Its quality and productivity depend on seeds, climate,soil, fertilisation and growth period, he added.
Kon Tum province has long considered ginseng as one of the nine key products and tried to create a trademark for it.
In a plan to develop Ngoc Linh ginseng in the 2012-2015 period, theprovincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development hasconcentrated cultivation in Tu Mo Rong and Dak Glei districts. It isstriving to have 500 hectares by 2015, of which 100 hectares can beharvested.
The plan also includes a vision to 2025,when it is hoped there will be 7,000 hectares planted with the ginseng.Up to 500 hectares would be harvested every year, producing 250 tonnesof ginseng which will be used to make medicines sold in domestic andforeign markets.-VNA
Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax articulatuc) was discoveredon the mountain in 1973. Research has found it to be among the four mostprecious ginseng species in the world, which contain substancesbeneficial to human health and thus high in economic value.
According to a research project conducted by the Health Ministry in1978, Ngoc Linh ginseng rhizome contains 26 saponins (chemicalcompounds) that have previously been identified in other species and 24completely new ones. In comparison, Korean ginseng contains only about25 saponins. A high amount of the compound in ginseng is generally seento be an indicator of better quality. As such, Ngoc Linh ginseng is nowmore expensive than its Korean counterpart.
However, the species has been over-exploited since its discovery and is in danger of extinction.
The Ngoc Linh ginseng conservation centre under the Kon Tum-based DakTo Forestry Co. Ltd. in 2004 launched a project to preserve and developthe plant with the participation of the local community.
Director of the centre Nguyen Thanh Chung said that at present, theproject has 10 hectares planted with pure seedlings in an effort toexpand ginseng cultivation.
The best time forplanting is June and July, the rainy season, which will gives the airhigh humidity levels and help reduce irrigation, Chung explained.
Ngoc Linh ginseng is a perennial plant that takes dozens of years togrow and develop. Its quality and productivity depend on seeds, climate,soil, fertilisation and growth period, he added.
Kon Tum province has long considered ginseng as one of the nine key products and tried to create a trademark for it.
In a plan to develop Ngoc Linh ginseng in the 2012-2015 period, theprovincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development hasconcentrated cultivation in Tu Mo Rong and Dak Glei districts. It isstriving to have 500 hectares by 2015, of which 100 hectares can beharvested.
The plan also includes a vision to 2025,when it is hoped there will be 7,000 hectares planted with the ginseng.Up to 500 hectares would be harvested every year, producing 250 tonnesof ginseng which will be used to make medicines sold in domestic andforeign markets.-VNA
