Vietnam Northwest Ethnic Minority Farmers' traditional Cultivation Practices of Curcuminoid -rich Turmeric

Abstract

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is a culturally spice and medicinal crop cultivated in the Northern Mountain region of Vietnam by various ethnic minority communities. They utilize turmeric extensively in traditional rituals, ceremonies, textiles, and cuisine, deeply integrating it into their cultural heritage. In the Northwest mountainous areas, natural conditions are favorable for medicinal plants in general and turmeric in particular to grow. The average annual temperature is about 25ºC which is much lower than that of the Northern delta. The land in the Northwest is gradually eroding due to the slope and ethnic minorities do not practice modern farming methods, but interestingly turmeric appears to be suitable for this barren soil condition. This study investigated the traditional cultivation practices of curcuminoid -rich turmeric of ethnic minorities in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam and evaluated the outstanding quality of turmeric rhizomes cultivated by ethnic minority farmers across the Lai Chau and Bac Kan provinces. Chemical analysis revealed significant variations in total curcuminoid content. The findings suggest that the traditional turmeric landraces grown in the Northern Mountains by ethnic minorities with specific practice of Vietnam could be a valuable source of natural curcuminoid compounds with potential applications in functional foods and biotherapeutic products. Leveraging the cultural significance and unique phytochemical attributes of this traditional turmeric could help promote the sustainable development and preservation of the ethnic minority communities' agricultural heritage in the Northern Mountain region of Vietnam.