Ia Pa farmers join hands to develop fruit trees

(GLO)- Grasping the market demand, farmers in Ia Pa commune (Gia Lai province) have converted ineffective crop areas to organic fruit growing; at the same time, established cooperatives, creating a chain of links to help increase the value of local agricultural production.

About 900 longan trees of Mr. Dang Quang Hai's family (Kim Nang village) are bearing fruit. Photo: Vu Chi

Barren land bears sweet fruit

Visiting the 3-hectare fruit garden of Mr. Dang Quang Hai's family (Kim Nang village), we were surprised because the barren land that was previously only used to growing cassava, sugarcane, and cashew trees is now covered with the lush green of longan, guava, and coconut trees, with every tree bearing heavy fruit.

Mr. Hai shared: The family had previously experimented with many different crops on this entire area such as sugarcane, cassava, watermelon, and vegetables, but due to barren land, low crop yields, and unstable prices, the economic efficiency was not high. In 2020, after a trip to a friend's house in Quang Ngai province, he learned about the fragrant and delicious pear guava variety, so he decided to buy 500 seedlings to plant on his family's 1 hectare area.

Luck smiled on the couple when the guava tree grew well. “After more than a year, the guava started to yield. I invited my neighbors to try it, everyone praised it as delicious, the first orders helped me feel that my direction was right. Currently, on average, I harvest 1.5-2 tons of fruit per month, during peak periods I can harvest up to 2-3 quintals of fruit per day, supplying markets in the commune and neighboring localities with a selling price of 20-25 thousand VND/kg” - Mr. Hai happily said.

With 3 hectares of fruit trees, Mr. Hai installed 18 solar panels for irrigation. Photo: Vu Chi

In 2021, he continued to convert the remaining 2 hectares to grow Huong Chi longan trees with about 3,000 trees. However, during the care process, he found that this longan variety had many disadvantages, especially the fruit cracking when it rained, so he proceeded to graft and hybridize the T6 longan variety.

In 2024, nearly 300 T6 longan trees will yield 15 tons, selling for 30,000 VND/kg. In his garden, there are currently 900 longan trees bearing fruit, about 2 months from now it will be time to harvest, estimated yield is more than 30 tons.

Mr. Hai also pays special attention to organic production and applies science and technology to production, regularly pruning branches so that the trees bear fruit in alternating seasons, ensuring regular supply of products to the market. In 2023, Mr. Hai's family's Hai Hung guava product achieved 3-star OCOP certification at the provincial level. With the longan area, he registered to produce according to VietGAP standards to ensure quality and safety, gradually expanding the consumption market, meeting the increasing needs of consumers.

Mr. Ta Van Vien (right cover, Kim Nang village) and Mr. Dinh Van Manh are excited because the longan area planted 2 months ago is growing well. Photo: Vu Chi

Production development link

With the goal of building a chain of links, aiming at sustainable development of fruit trees, in early August, Hai Dang Agricultural and Service Cooperative was established with 16 members. Its business lines are providing seedlings, fruit trees of all kinds; providing techniques and plant protection fertilizers; designing and installing high-tech irrigation systems; producing and processing fruits according to VietGAP and OCOP standards. Mr. Hai was elected Director of the Cooperative. Currently, the members of the Cooperative are planting 6 hectares of fruit trees. Mainly longan, guava and coconut.

Having planted 1 hectare of T6 longan trees for 2 months, Mr. Ta Van Vien (Kim Nang village) excitedly said: “After seeing Mr. Hai's family's fruit garden, I decided to cut down 1 hectare of ineffective cashew trees and switch to growing longan. When the longan trees were still small, to get short-term benefits for long-term, I intercropped with passion fruit. By joining the cooperative, I was provided with quality seeds, guided on care techniques, and especially, the cooperative signed a contract to consume all fruit products of its members, so I was very assured.”

Also deciding to convert 5 sao of sugarcane to longan in early June, Mr. Dinh Van Manh (Kim Nang village) said: The cooperative is a solid support for farmers to boldly change the crop structure. Like other members, right after planting, he was consulted and supported by the cooperative to install a water-saving irrigation system, install solar panels for irrigation, thus saving on electricity bills and labor costs.

The plants have grown well and the survival rate is 100%. He plans to gradually convert the entire 7 hectares of cultivated land to fruit trees to increase income and improve his life.

Members of Hai Dang Agricultural and Service Cooperative share experiences in growing and caring for fruit trees. Photo: Vu Chi

"The biggest wish of the cooperative is to receive attention from local authorities and functional agencies, and have policies to support seeds and agricultural materials, helping people boldly develop production and enrich their homeland," Mr. Manh hopes.

Attending the launching ceremony of Hai Dang Agricultural and Service Cooperative, Chairman of Ia Pa Commune People's Committee Le Tien Manh said: Linkage is becoming the main direction to restructure the agricultural sector in a sustainable manner. The establishment of Hai Dang Agricultural and Service Cooperative is a new step, marking a change in farmers' awareness of the role of the collective economy. The establishment of the cooperative will create conditions for building a linkage chain, applying science and technology to production to increase crop productivity and raise farmers' income.

In the coming time, the commune will direct departments and branches to review capital sources and programs, creating the most favorable conditions to promote the development of cooperatives, contributing to the local socio-economic development.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nong-dan-ia-pa-lien-ket-phat-trien-cay-an-trai-post564611.html