QUẢNG NAM — The central province has approved a survey of Ngọc Linh Ginseng (Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng) farming and processing project in the mountainous area by the multi-industries Thaco Group.

The provincial People’s Committee said the local business would make a field survey programme on 1,000ha farm from 1,500m to 2,500m above sea level in the major ginseng farming zone districts of Nam Trà My, Bắc Trà My and Phước Sơn.

The ginseng farming zone was reported having a forest coverage rate from 80 to 90 per cent, a favourable condition for sustainable growing of the ginseng in the forest canopy.

It said Thaco would develop a ginseng-based processing and medicinal herbal production centre qualifying the Good Agricultural and Collection Practices – World Heath Organization (GACP-WHO) standard.

Thaco said it would complete the survey on the project in September, before submitting a plan on the Ngọc Linh ginseng production and farming plan.

Last month, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised the ‘folk knowledge’ on Ngọc Linh Ginseng (Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng) of Nam Trà My District in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Ngọc Linh ginseng has been farmed on more than 1,600ha in seven communes at 1,400m above sea level, in forest canopy in the rural mountainous district, 90km away from Quảng Nam Province's Tam Kỳ City.

Quảng Nam Province has earmarked 15,000ha for ginseng development zone in the district for 2030.

Local industrial Thaco Group has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Chinese Sinopharm Group and partners in Jilin, China on the development of Ngọc Ling ginseng in Quảng Nam Province.

The province has been calling for investment in the ginseng farming and processing in reaching the target of producing 500 tonnes of fresh ginseng roots for production each year from 2027, which will reach to an estimated turn-over of US$500 million in 2031-35.

Quảng Nam plans to host the first ever international Ngọc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng) Festival this August. — VNS