Get rich from "green dragon"

Mr. Nguyen traps fruit flies that harm dragon fruit in the garden.

Having the opportunity to visit Mr. Nguyen's family's dragon fruit garden on a day at the end of June, we were impressed by the straight, fruit-laden dragon fruit pillars.

Taking us on a tour of the garden, Mr. Nguyen said: Previously, this area was used to grow Tam Hoa plums. However, due to low productivity, since 2009, the family has switched to growing dragon fruit.

Sharing with us about his connection with dragon fruit, Mr. Nguyen confided: One time, I happened to watch a TV program about the beautiful dragon fruit growing area in Binh Thuan province. Since then, I have cherished the idea of testing dragon fruit trees on the hillside around my house. At first, I propagated from a few white-fleshed dragon fruit trees planted in the corner of my neighbor's garden. Then gradually, I expanded to more than 300 white-fleshed dragon fruit trees. When I first planted, I also encountered many difficulties due to lack of experience, the trees rotted and grew slowly.

Undaunted, he and his family learned about knowledge and care techniques from books and newspapers. While working, he learned from experience. After 5 years of planting and caring for the trees, the white-fleshed dragon fruit garden developed well, yielding a stable harvest of 4 to 5 tons of fruit per year.

Realizing that the model was economically efficient, in 2015, Mr. Nguyen took the initiative to visit and learn from the experience of growing red-fleshed dragon fruit in Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province. Through learning from experience, he decided to invest in buying seedlings to expand and plant 300 more red-fleshed dragon fruit trees.

Talking about the difference between the two types of dragon fruit in the garden, Mr. Nguyen said: Dragon fruit is a perennial plant, after about 10 to 15 years it needs to be replanted. Red-fleshed dragon fruit is harvested 1 month earlier than white-fleshed dragon fruit. Dragon fruit trees usually bloom many times, starting to bloom around May. In June, the tree begins to produce fruit and lasts until the end of October.

After many years of development, his family now has over 1,000 dragon fruit trees. From 2020 to now, his family has harvested over 10 tons of fruit each year, selling at prices ranging from 20,000 to 35,000 VND/kg. With beautiful appearance, large, sweet fruit, many traders in Lang Son city and Quang Ninh province come to buy at the garden. From growing dragon fruit, his family has an income of 250 to 300 million VND each year. He has built a spacious house and his children have a full education.

Mr. Bui Van Khiem, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Duong town, said: Mr. Nguyen's dragon fruit growing model is a typical economic model of the town. This is also the only household in the area that develops its economy from growing dragon fruit, bringing high economic efficiency. From the success of the model, every year, the Party Committee and the town government promote and encourage local people to visit and learn from its experiences, thereby developing the economy and increasing income.

With diligence and tireless efforts in economic development, Mr. Nguyen and his family have been honored to receive certificates of merit from the Town People's Committee, the District People's Committee, and the Provincial People's Committee Chairman for their outstanding achievements in good production and family economic development. In 2024, Mr. Nguyen's family was recognized as a good production and business household in Loc Binh district.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tien-phong-trong-thanh-long-tren-dat-doi-5050912.html