Nguyen An Thinh, Ngo Kien Huy, Ngo Nam Xuan, Le Ngoc Anh, Trinh Phuong Ngoc, Thao Do Thi, Le Huyen Trang, Linh Vu Chi, Luu Thi Toan, Khuc Van Quy, Nguyen Hao Thi, Nguyen Duc Bao
VNU University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection (NIAPP), Hanoi, Vietnam.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 23;20(7):e0324746. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324746. eCollection 2025.
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) support the livelihoods and economic activities of households and communities in both rural and urban areas worldwide. This study applies the value chain analysis (VCA) approach to Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum), a local NTFP in the Cao Bang Geopark, Vietnam. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey 106 stakeholders involved in different stages of the Jiaogulan value chain, including agricultural experts (extension officers and farmer association representatives), harvesters, traders, primary processors, secondary processors, distributors, and consumers. The findings present a comprehensive mapping of the Jiaogulan value chain, illustrating the flow of the product from harvest to end consumer and quantifying the added value at each stage of the process. The study highlights the value captured by households involved in the primary market channels and assesses how this added value contributes to household income levels. The distribution of economic benefits across different actors within the value chain is also examined, identifying potential inefficiencies and disparities that need to be addressed to improve equity and economic outcomes for marginalized groups. Recommendations are made to strengthen production and cooperation among Jiaogulan value chain actors through technical training, infrastructure investment, e-commerce development, and policy support for international standards and medicinal value chains to enhance product quality, market access, and sustainable development in Cao Bang Geopark.
非木材林产品（NTFPs）支持着全球农村和城市地区家庭及社区的生计与经济活动。本研究将价值链分析（VCA）方法应用于越南高平地质公园的当地非木材林产品绞股蓝（Gynostemma pentaphyllum）。采用半结构化问卷对参与绞股蓝价值链不同阶段的106名利益相关者进行了调查，这些利益相关者包括农业专家（推广人员和农民协会代表）、采摘者、贸易商、初级加工商、二级加工商、经销商和消费者。研究结果全面描绘了绞股蓝价值链，展示了产品从收获到最终消费者的流程，并量化了该过程各阶段的附加值。该研究突出了参与主要市场渠道的家庭所获取的价值，并评估了这种附加值如何影响家庭收入水平。同时还考察了价值链中不同行为主体之间经济利益的分配情况，识别出潜在的效率低下和差距问题，这些问题需要解决，以改善边缘化群体的公平性和经济成果。研究提出了建议，通过技术培训、基础设施投资、电子商务发展以及对国际标准和药用价值链的政策支持，加强绞股蓝价值链行为主体之间的生产与合作，以提高高平地质公园的产品质量、市场准入和可持续发展能力。
