Growing medicinal plants under forest canopy increases income and reduces pressure on timber exploitation

Restructuring crop patterns and increasing economic value

In the past, people in Thu Lum mainly cultivated maize, cassava and upland rice. However, the mountainous terrain caused rapid soil degradation, low productivity and unstable economic efficiency. Realizing the potential of the year-round cool climate, the Party Committee and local authorities oriented a shift in crop structure by introducing medicinal plants to grow under the forest canopy.

The story of Mr Chu Chu Pha from Pa Thang village is a clear example: “Previously, growing maize and cassava did not cover living expenses. Since switching to medicinal plants, my family earns nearly VND 70 million per year. Growing under the forest canopy helps retain soil and protect the forest. In the coming time, we will continue to expand amomum cultivation and actively apply science and technology in planting, caring, preserving and preliminary processing to achieve higher selling prices”.

The commune currently has more than 370 ha of amomum, 400 ha of cardamom and nearly 2 ha of Sam Lai Chau and Paris polyphylla. The price of dried cardamom is about VND 120,000 per kilogram, while fresh amomum ranges from VND 75,000 to VND 80,000 per kilogram. Many households earn from VND 100 to 200 million per year, contributing to raising the commune’s average income to VND 35 million/person/year and reducing the poverty rate by more than 5% annually.

According to Mr Ly Chuy Hu, Vice Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee, “In recent years, the commune has focused on encouraging people to replace low-yield crops with those of higher economic value. At the same time, we cooperate with specialized agencies to provide technical guidance and financial support”. As a result, productivity and quality have become more stable, and market access has improved. Identifying medicinal plants as a long-term direction, the commune continues to encourage people to expand cultivation areas, especially in villages with favorable soil and cool climates such as U Ma Tu Khoong, Lo Na, and Pa Thang.

Linking value chains and sustainable development trends

Thu Lum commune strengthens training, technology transfer and supports seeds and fertilizers for local people. According to Mr Ly Chuy Hu, for medicinal plants to become key crops contributing to sustainable local economic growth, in addition to training, staff from the Commune Economic Office regularly visit villages to help residents select seedlings, guide planting techniques, weeding, harvesting, drying and ensuring product quality.

At the same time, the commune focuses on connecting consumption channels, proactively coordinating with specialized units and purchasing enterprises to build sustainable value chains from production to consumption. Additionally, residents are encouraged to form groups or cooperatives to develop concentrated cultivation zones toward commercial production. This helps farmers exchange experience, reduce production costs and enhance product consumption. This trend aligns with Lai Chau’s orientation for the development of medicinal plants.

Medicinal plant development must be appropriate to each ecological zone, effectively utilizing natural and social conditions to manage and sustainably use both cultivated and natural medicinal resources. The province also focuses on conserving and developing genetic resources of rare medicinal plants to serve healthcare and economic development. Applying scientific and technological advances helps create high-quality products that meet domestic demand and support exports, thereby contributing to higher household incomes in regions suitable for medicinal plant cultivation. By 2030, Lai Chau aims to make medicinal plant cultivation a major strength of its agricultural sector.

Currently, medicinal plants not only provide livelihoods but also contribute to environmental protection when grown under forest canopies. Plants such as amomum and cardamom have well-developed root systems that help retain soil and reduce erosion. Research shows that this model increases forest coverage, improves soil quality and reduces pressure on timber exploitation. Additionally, the medicinal plant market is experiencing strong growth.

The global herbal medicine market reached USD 230 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to USD 430 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.32%. In Vietnam, many localities, including Lai Chau, have planned cultivation areas that meet GACP-WHO standards to improve quality and export potential. With the right orientation and community consensus, medicinal plants will become a “green gold mine,” helping Thu Lum develop its economy in connection with sustainable forest protection.

**Currency exchange: USD 1 = VND 26.378 - Source: Vietcombank, November 17, 2025.