160 Ngoc Linh ginseng plants were stolen from Tu Mo Rong Kon Tum Ngoc Linh Ginseng Joint Stock Company’s farm on August 21-22. - Photo: VNA
KON TUM, (Vietnam): Farmers in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum are concerned about the growing incidence of theft of Ngoc Linh ginseng from their farms.
Tu Mo Rong Kon Tum Ngoc Linh Ginseng Joint Stock Company lost 160 ginseng plants on August 21-22 to thieves.
Nguyen Thanh Hoang, who is in charge of the company’s ginseng farm, said a power outage occurred on August 21.
On the following morning, when he and others were fixing the electrical equipment, they discovered that the power lines had been cut.
They then went to inspect the farm only to find that the plants had been stolen.
Tran Duc Long, another company employee, said since there was no power there is no camera footage of the farm during the theft, indicating the thieves were well acquainted with the area and specifically targeted large plants, which are more valuable.
The smaller plants remained untouched.
The area is securely fenced and showed no signs of being tampered with or broken into.
This has recurred many times in the province.
In February this year 800 ginseng plants were stolen in Te Xang, Ngok Lay, Dak Sao, and Dak Na communes.
Farmers are worried about the frequent thefts but are clueless about the perpetrators.
The authorities are investigating the thefts with the assistance of local residents.
In Mang Ri Commune, there have been three thefts this year, including the theft of one some 100 plants from a farm owned by Long Lay villagers in June.
A Phu, the head of the village, said the villagers reported the thefts to the authorities and held meetings to examine the origins of each farmer’s Ngoc Linh ginseng.
A Thao, a local resident, admitted to stealing nearly 100 ginseng plants after an investigation by the villagers, and was severely penalised according to “village rules”, A Phu said.
Vo Trung Manh, chairman of the Tu Mo Rong District People's Committee, said while petty thefts could be handled by the villagers themselves, major cases need to be handled by the law.
Tu Mo Rong District authorities have repeatedly directed the police to coordinate with local authorities to conduct patrols and prevent the ginseng thefts. - Vietnam News/ANN
