A NEW BIOSPHERE RESERVE – Cashew Organic Forest Garder in Nui Chua National Park, Vietnam
A NEW BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Welcome to the Organic Cashew green land on Nui Chua National Park
A Sustainable Project for Farmers and the Environment
Some details about Nui Chua National Park:
Nui Chua National Park, located in Ninh Thuan province in Vietnam. This is considered one of the most arid and harsh regions of Vietnam and Nui Chua emerges as a “jewel” in the heart of the desert with blue sea, white sand and primates hidden under the forest canopy wild which is home to a unique and sustainable project that aims to cultivate many protection forests and several type of trees.
Figure 1. Nui Chua biosphere reserve
The 106,646 ha Nui Chua biosphere reserve was recognized by UNESCO at the 33rd session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB-ICC) in Nigeria from September 13-17, 2021.
The climate in Ninh Thuan is known for its hot and dry weather, which makes it a suitable location for cashew cultivation. Cashew trees thrive in tropical climates with well-draining soil, and Ninh Thuan is one of the few regions in Vietnam that has the ideal conditions for cashew growth.
BioValley has recognized the opportunity to develop and accompany the government to carry out the organic cashew while protecting the environment and improving the lives of local farmers by cultivating the organic cashew trees in Nui Chua. Therefore, the organic cashew cultivated on Nui Chua National Park project was initiated in 1997 to promote sustainable agriculture practices and create green land in the region. The project has helped the government in its efforts to protect the environment and preserve the biodiversity of the national park.
At the moment, the project is being implemented with 828 farmers over 1,518 hectares of land, with an average productivity of 1.6 tons per hectare. The farmers are trained in organic farming techniques, which involve the use of natural fertilizers and pest control methods to minimize the impact on the environment.
Figure 2. The National Park is integrated with Organic cashew cultivation
The project has not only helped the government in its conservation efforts but has also improved the living standards of local farmers. By providing them with training and resources, it has enabled farmers to increase their income and improve their livelihoods. Moreover, the project also contributes to the reforestation of the region, with the Nui Chua National Park government conducting surveys and planting 20 hectares of protection forest by cashew tree annually. The cashew trees provide shade and prevent soil erosion, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the region.
The Organic Cashew Cultivated on Nui Chua National Park project is a great model of how sustainable agriculture practices can benefit both the environment and local communities. By promoting organic farming, the project has created a model for sustainable agriculture that can be replicated in other regions.
The correlation between agro-forestry and growers’ benefits
In a world where restoring our forests is an ever more pressing necessity, there is an urgent need to reconcile forest restoration with economic imperatives.Diverse and ecologically mature agroforestry systems, or forest gardens, are essential to ensuring that bringing back forests can be profitable for the people who are restoring them. BioValley/Truecoop are in progress to build our farms to become the Forest Garden farming systems and we carry out many training activities for farmers, do research about cultivating methods and organize Internal Control System (ICS) etc. After all, our mission is focusing on the environment impacts and farmers benefits. This project not only helps the farmers not to limit their income from the cashews, but also other crops.
The Forest Garden farming systems refer to those practicing Analog Forestry or the restoration of native biodiversity using organic agriculture, crop diversification and system maturation. Such farming systems include those referred to as traditional forestry, home gardens, agro-forestry, or permaculture. Irrespective of which term is used, the basic principle remains the same: maturing a tree dominated ecosystem that mimics the natural ecosystem, encourages native biodiversity, and moves towards maturity facilitating the production of safe, high-quality agricultural or silvicultural products while avoiding toxins and building upon the local biotic capital.
In conclusion, BioValley is proud of the Organic Cashew Cultivated on Nui Chua National Park project which is a promising initiative that demonstrates the potential of sustainable agriculture to promote environmental conservation and improve the lives of local farmers. With its success, we hope to see more similar projects in the future, as we work towards a greener and more sustainable world.