Published: February 24, 2008 10:27 pm      

MSU director travels to Vietnam to assist farmers

Dr. Mario Morales said when a nonprofit, international group requested his skills to assist farmers in Vietnam earlier this month, he couldn’t refuse.

“It offered the experience of a lifetime and a chance to really help farmers there increase their economic opportunities, sustain natural resources and protect the environment,” he said.

Morales, director of the Mountain State University Medicinal Botanicals Program, traveled as a volunteer with Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program to Vietnam on Jan. 19 and stayed through Feb. 3. The program sends hundreds of Americans overseas each year to assist farmers, agribusiness and local nonprofit organizations.

“We provide practical training and assistance and then make recommendations to increase agricultural production, improve business management, protect natural resources and hopefully reduce poverty conditions in this region of Vietnam,” he said.

Morales’ assignment in Vietnam was to assess the conditions of the forest in the Da Teh District in Lam Dong Province and to recommend shade-tolerant medicinal and aromatic plants that can be produced successfully as non-timber forest products.

“The current problem is that communes are expanding into forested mountainside land where the natural plant diversity is being replaced by monoculture of cash crops, such as cashew,” Morales explained.

Morales says Winrock International and the Saroma Co. — a private firm interested in the medicinal and aromatic crops — want to create a buffer zone between the lowland, dedicated to intensive agriculture and the preserved primary forest of the highlands.

“The objective is to educate commune members on the benefits of conserving the forest diversity while growing plants that cause minimum disturbance to the forest,” he said. “Their future and the future of their forests depends on it.”

Morales says the market for natural medicines and therapeutic oils continues to grow and this project will help the farmers in the Da Teh District in many ways.

“The Saroma Company has already invested in equipment for extraction and purification of natural products,” he said. “It seems they are well positioned to enter into a long-term partnership with farmers in order to produce medicinal and aromatic plants.”

After 15 days in the country, Morales recommended several species of plants for Da Teh District farmers to consider growing under the forest canopy. Those include crops like patchouli plants, mang-tang trees, hibiscus, cardamom, roselle and other various medicinal and aromatic plants.

“Mang-tang is the 10th-most utilized essential oil in the world,” he said. “There is so much potential for these farmers to increase their incomes while protecting the forest and its natural resources at the same time.”

Morales says some farmers still have concerns.

“Farmers there have expressed concern about the uncertainty of this enterprise,” he said. “They are willing to plant these crops as long as they are guaranteed a market that brings better returns than the traditional field crops.”

Morales said he will not be part of the needed follow-up action on this project.

“I will be keeping up and would love to return, but I guess I have done my part on this project,” he said.

Morales said research will be conducted to investigate the new crops’ adaptability and performance in that part of Vietnam.

“When a new crop is introduced to the area, we must make sure to obtain high-yielding varieties that perform well under different environments and that are resistant to diseases,” he explained. “Extension agents and farmers will have to be trained on the culture of the crop and post-harvest handling in order to maximize yields and quality.”

Morales said the goal is to bring benefits to the inhabitants of the Da Teh District.

“This will be accomplished by the introduction of these highly marketable crops and a commitment from the companies wanting the crops as well as the farmers planting them,” he said.

For more information about Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program, visit www.winrock.org.asp or write to Farmer-to-Farmer Program Director, Winrock International, 2101 Riverfront Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72202.

Locally, Morales said MSU will have its sixth Medicinal Plant Symposium on March 8 at the Tamarack Conference Center.

“This year the theme is ‘Adding Value to Herb and Medicinal Plant Products,’” he said.

Morales said the event is being sponsored by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the Collaborative for 21st Century Appalachia.

“Those planning to attend must register,” he said.

A registration form can be obtained by calling Morales at 929-1683 or Dean Myles at 929-1687.

E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com