QUẢNG NAM — Ngọc Linh ginseng, grown both in Nam Trà My District in Quảng Nam Province and the central highlands Kon Tum, has been named a National Brand.

Chairman of Nam Trà My District, Hồ Quang Bửu confirmed to Việt Nam News yesterday, saying that the recognition will promote ginseng root products in Quảng Nam and Kon Tum.

Bửu said Ngọc Linh ginseng are often grown 1,400m above sea level, in forests in Nam Trà My district in Quảng Nam and Tu Mơ Rông District in Kon Tum province.

He said the national brand will lure more investors and producers to the district in farming, infrastructure, tourism and ginseng trade.

Last year, the ministry of science and technology and the Intellectual Property Agency of Việt Nam recognised the Geographical Indication (GI) of ‘Ngọc Linh’  (Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng) for ginseng root products in the two provinces.

Ginseng was first found in the late 1960s on Ngọc Linh Mountain in the middle of Quảng Nam and Kon Tum Provinces.

However, the ginseng has yet to see much investment for mass global export production due to a lack of funds and poor infrastructure in the two provinces.

In February, Nam Trà My District introduced the first Medical Herbs Centre to grow Ngọc Linh ginseng seeds and herb seedlings for farming.

The project is planned on 15,000ha in seven mountainous communes in the district for 2030.

Ginseng has been planted on 70ha by local farmers in the district.

Last year, seven investors agreed to invest $221 million to farm ginseng and process plants of essential oils, cosmetics, tonic drinks and capsules from ginseng in the district.

According to the district, more than 42,000ha of primary forests have been well preserved in development of the ginseng and native herbs.

In 2015, Nam Trà My District and Hamyang County in South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism, agriculture, conservation and the development of Ngọc Linh ginseng.

Quảng Nam Province has listed the Ngọc Linh ginseng as one of eight precious and endangered flora genes including Ba Kích (poor man’s ginseng), pepper, cinnamon, large-size rattan and white corn in the provincial conservation programme in 2014-20. — VNS