Generate income from guava leaves.

From the need to grow it for family meals, the people of Phong Nam village gradually realized the economic potential of this humble vegetable. Like many other households, Mrs. Ngo Thi Tan's family (70 years old) utilizes the fence around her house as a trellis for the climbing plant. Every 10 days, she harvests a batch of leaves to sell at the market. "Moringa leaves don't need fertilizer or pesticides, so I just harvest and sell them, and the price is stable, helping me earn some extra income," Mrs. Tan shared.

Recognizing that the wild betel leaf plant is easy to grow, requires little care, and has a good market, many households have expanded their production scale to harvest larger quantities. For example, Mr. Ngo Van Lui's family (53 years old) currently cultivates 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of wild betel leaves, harvesting 15-20 kg of leaves daily to supply traders. He plants each sao in rows, interspersed with bamboo stakes to ensure the vines cling firmly and don't get flattened by rain or wind.

According to Mr. Lui, the work isn't too strenuous; it just requires regular fertilization and pruning to keep the plants healthy. The price of guava leaves fluctuates between 20,000 and 40,000 VND per kilogram, sometimes even higher. Thanks to this, his family earns an average of 10-15 million VND per month from guava leaves, a significant amount compared to other traditional crops. He said: “Previously, I only planted a few bushes around the house for personal consumption, but when I saw that traders were asking to buy a lot, I boldly expanded the area. Now, every morning, I regularly harvest the leaves, bundle them into small bunches, and deliver them to my regular customers.”

Currently, nearly 50 households in Phong Nam village cultivate the leaves of the *Morus alba* plant for income. At times, traders come directly to the gardens to purchase the produce. Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, a trader specializing in buying vegetables in Hoa Vang district, said: “Every day, I collect about 50kg of *Morus alba* leaves to sell at large markets in Da Nang . The leaves are clean and chemical-free, so they are popular with restaurants and eateries. During times of scarcity, the price can reach 40,000 - 45,000 VND/kg.”

Besides its economic value, the leaves of the Terminalia catappa tree are also known as a familiar folk medicine with many health benefits. According to traditional medicine, Terminalia catappa leaves have a bitter taste and a cooling nature, helping to clear heat, detoxify, aid digestion, and are particularly effective in treating intestinal diseases such as dysentery, bloating, and diarrhea.

Many people also use crushed guava leaves to make a drink to relieve stomach pain or combine them with chicken eggs to make guava leaf omelets, which are both nutritious and good for the digestive system. Not only popular in folk medicine, some scientific studies have also shown that guava leaves contain many anti-inflammatory compounds that inhibit bacteria causing intestinal diseases, helping to reduce stomach ulcers and improve digestive function. In addition, thanks to its natural antibacterial properties, guava leaves are also used to help treat skin diseases, rashes, and boils by crushing them and applying them to the affected area.

Given its economic and medicinal benefits, the people of Phong Nam village consider this plant a valuable medicinal herb in their daily lives. Mr. Ngo Van Xi, the head of Phong Nam village, said that his family grows 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of this plant, earning 200,000-300,000 VND per day. Recently, recognizing the potential of this plant, the local government has also been supporting people in expanding production. "We encourage people to utilize their garden land and vacant land to grow this plant, and we provide guidance on planting in raised beds and using trellises to ensure healthy growth and regular harvests," Mr. Xi added.

HUYNH LE

Source: https://baodanang.vn/xa-hoi/202504/tao-thu-nhap-tu-la-mo-4003009/