Ninh Thuan (VNS/VNA) - Aloe vera farming has helped farmers in the south-central provinceof Ninh Thuan adapt to climate change and earn steady incomes since thanks tohigh demand for the plant to make food, cosmetics and herbal remedies.

With its hardy,drought-resistant nature, the plant is grown in the province’s sandy soil areas,mostly in Phan Rang – Thap Cham city.

Tran Van Luong, who hasbeen growing the plant for seven years in Phan Rang – Thap Cham city’s Van Hai ward,said he has one hectare of aloe vera and harvests an average of 50 tonnes ofleaves a month.  

He sells the leaves atan average of 1,000 VND a kilogramme and earns a monthly profit of 30 million VND(1,280 USD), he said.

This year farmers in theprovince said they have had a good harvest and prices.

Ninh Thuan, which hasthe least rainfall in the country, is one of the country’s largest aloe veraproducers since its warm weather and sandy soil is suitable for the plant.

The investment requiredis around 10 million VND (430 USD) per hectare including seedlings, accordingto farmers.

Nguyen Thi Lanh, who hasgrown aloe vera on a 3,000sq.m area in Phan Rang – Thap Cham’s My Binh ward,said she now has a better income than when growing onion, garlic and red chillipreviously.

“Aloe vera is easy totend as it gets few diseases and needs no herbicides,” she said. She only needsto water the plants, weed and remove spoilt leaves. 

Demand for aloe vera isincreasing for making beverages, cosmetics and herbal remedies.

Huynh Hai Tien, a traderin Phan Rang – Thap Cham city, said he buys around 20 tonnes of leaves a day tosell to processors in Ninh Thuan and HCM City. The prices are higher during thedry season, he said.

The province’s aloe verais sold to buyers in many cities and provinces like HCM City, Da Lat and LongAn and Dong Nai.

Phan Quang Thuu, deputydirector of the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, saidaloe vera is one of the province’s key crops. It provides the main income formany farmers, helping them escape poverty and even become affluent, he said.

If they grow the plantusing proper farming techniques, they can earn an annual profit of 300 – 600million VND (12,860 -25,720 USD) per hectare, he said.

The province has 333haunder the crop, with an annual leave yield of 100,000 tonnes, according to thedepartment.

The department isworking with relevant agencies to improve farming techniques and researchparticular areas for expanding aloe vera farming.

The province hasstrengthened co-operation between companies and farmers through co-operativesand co-operative teams to develop chains for sustainable planting andconsumption of the plant. 

It plans to expand thecultivation area of aloe vera to around 500ha by 2020, according to thedepartment.-VNS/VNA