Ginseng is a valuable medicinal plant that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. The Areca ginseng plant, scientifically known as Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, is particularly prized for its medicinal properties. This plant belongs to the Hypoxidaceae family and is also known by other names such as Tiem mao, Ngai cau, and Co noclan.
Despite its medicinal benefits, the Areca ginseng plant faced exploitation and was included in the Red Book and Red List of Vietnamese medicinal plants. To conserve this valuable resource, a research team at the High-Tech Agricultural Business Incubation Center in Ho Chi Minh City has been working on tissue culture methods to maintain it. After successful laboratory culturing, the team experimented with planting the variety in a 1,000 m2 area in Cu Chi district.
The ginseng plants were grown in polybags in shaded nurseries to help them adapt to natural conditions. Engineer Le Thi Hong Ngoc, on behalf of the research team, highlighted the ideal growing conditions for Cau ginseng, emphasizing the need for proper shading and soil moisture levels. The ginseng roots are highly susceptible to rot, especially during the rainy season, so drainage systems and movable sunshades are necessary during the soil preparation process.
After a year of planting, the tubers can be harvested for consumption or further processing, with each root weighing an average of 60-65g and containing valuable compounds. The research team’s findings suggest that cultivating ginseng using tissue culture methods can be profitable with potential profits of over 51 million VND per crop for farmers after one year of planting. Moreover, shoots from harvested plants can be used for replanting to reduce production costs for subsequent crops. The research team plans on transferring this technology to interested organizations or individuals who want to start farming this lucrative crop.
In conclusion, cultivating Areca ginseng using tissue culture methods is a sustainable and profitable farming model that could provide economic and social benefits to regions with similar natural conditions. With proper growing conditions and appropriate technology transfer, this crop could become an essential part of Vietnam’s agricultural industry while preserving its precious natural resources.
