Quang Nam (VNA) – The second Ngoc Linh ginsengfestival began in the mountainous district of Nam Tra My, the central provinceof Quang Nam on August 1.

The festival featured a procession of Ngoc Linh ginsengsymbol, a fair showcasing ginseng and signature farm produce from local mountainousdistricts, a photo exhibition on Ngoc Linh ginseng and music performances.

Ngoc Linh ginseng is a rare medicine containing 52 sanopincompounds helpful to health. As many as 779 households in Tra Linh, Tra Nam andTra Cang communes are growing the ginseng in forests on an area of over 932ha.

In June 2017, Ngoc Linh ginseng was named in the list ofnational products by the Prime Minister. It has not only improved lives oflocal famers in Nam Tra My but also protected local primeval forests.

Many people have become billionaires thanks to high economicvalue of the variety. The province has zoned off over 15,000 ha for Ngoc Linhginseng cultivation and many enterprises have applied for.

The district has partnered with the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) to conductscientific studies on preserving and developing original genes of Ngoc Linhginseng.

It also worked with Ham Yang district, Gyeongsangnamprovince – the capital of Korean ginsengs - to learn from its experience in marketingNgoc Linh ginseng trademark.

On the occasion, the MoST’s National Office IntellectualProperty announced geographical indication of Ngoc Linh ginseng for 7 communesof the district.

The festival will last till August 3.-VNA