There are about 850 species of medicinal plants in Lao Cai, with rare species found in such districts as Sa Pa, Bac Ha and Bat Xat.
The total area of medicinal plants in the province is expected to reach 3,500ha at the end of this year, of which 140ha with 11 species have met GACP-WHO standards.
Tours to local fields of medicinal plants have attracted crowds of holidaymakers, helping to spur economic development and poverty reduction in ethnic minority-inhabited areas.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Lao Cai’s herbal medicines of intensive processing have maintained their foothold on the market, and even recorded positive growth.
However, according to competent agencies, the development of herbal medicines in Lao Cai has yet to match its potential and strength.
Speaking at a recent workshop on the development of herbal medicines and tourism in Lao Cai, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development To Manh Tien said the combination would open up new opportunities to raise values of local herbal medicines.
The local agricultural sector will focus on growing medicinal plants in Bac Ha, Sa Pa and Bat Xat districts with a total area of 4,000ha during the 2021-2025 period.
The material areas will also be turned into community-based and eco-tourism sites, the official said, adding that Lao Cai will also work to attract more investors with the aim of building a plant preserving and processing herbal medicines.
