Mr. Son: Farmers earn nearly 100 million VND/year thanks to renovating mixed gardens

(Baonghean.vn) -Implementing the policy of renovating mixed gardens, many farming households in Anh Son area have converted togrowing fruit orchards in a specialized direction,help people increase income

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho's family in village 6, Hung Son commune, is one of the pioneers in converting mixed gardens to grow grapefruit and red-fleshed dragon fruit. Mr. Tho shared: Previously, his family also experimented with growing many different types of trees such as pepper and lychee, but the economic efficiency was not high.

In early 2014, implementing the commune's policy of converting mixed gardens into fruit trees, his family planted 60 grapefruit trees including green-skinned grapefruit, American gourd grapefruit, Phuc Trach grapefruit and 50 red-fleshed dragon fruit trees on 3 sao of family garden land.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho's family in village 6, Hung Son commune is one of the pioneers in converting mixed gardens to grow grapefruit and red-fleshed dragon fruit varieties.Photo: Thai Hien

Thanks to proper care and technical procedures, 10 green-skinned grapefruit trees have been harvested for 2 years now, with stable prices of 20,000-25,000 VND/fruit. On average, each year after deducting expenses, Mr. Tho's family earns 40 million VND from this grapefruit growing model.

Not stopping there, Mr. Tho planted 40 more red-fleshed dragon fruit trees. Each year, the red-fleshed dragon fruit variety yields about 7-8 harvests, from April to October. This year, each harvest brought his family about 200 kg of dragon fruit, with an average price of 20,000 - 30,000 VND/kg; after deducting expenses, his family's income reached over 20 million VND.

40 red-fleshed dragon fruit trees of Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho's family each harvest about 200 kg of fruit. Photo: Thai Hien

We visited 150 green-skinned, pink-fleshed grapefruit trees that were more than 5 years old and laden with fruit belonging to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc's family in Hamlet 4, Hung Son Commune, and saw the hard work and effort put into producing "sweet fruit" for his family. Mr. Duc happily confided: Previously, although the production conditions of his family's nearly 10-acre garden were very favorable, they were not invested in a reasonable way.

After the commune launched a campaign to renovate mixed gardens, he participated. From a few dozen grapefruit trees that initially showed clear results, he boldly invested in expanding the planting of fruit trees with high economic value. Currently, his family has 150 pink-fleshed green-skinned grapefruit trees; 30 orange and tangerine trees; 20 guava trees and 10 jujube trees, each year generating an income of over 50 million VND.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ty - Vice Chairman of Hung Son Commune Farmers' Association said: In order to effectively implement the project of renovating mixed gardens to increase income for members associated with building new rural areas, Hung Son Commune Farmers' Association has organized a survey of the current status of members' gardens and annually coordinates with specialized sectors to open many training courses to transfer science and technology in agricultural production, especially fruit tree growing techniques for members to access.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc's family in village 4, Hung Son commune has been growing 150 green-skinned, pink-fleshed grapefruit trees for 5 years.Photo: Thai Hien

At the same time, the Executive Committee and the branch president were assigned to guide members in building effective models, and the project was sent to all the members and assigned the target of building 1 to 2 specific models each year. Currently, the whole association has 17 models of mixed garden renovation that bring high economic efficiency, earning an income of 50 - 100 million VND/year.

Currently, the whole Anh Son district has over 600 hectares of fruit trees. Some types of fruit trees with large areas are: Orange over 100 hectares, grapefruit 40 hectares, banana over 300 hectares. In particular, currently, many households have proactively introduced fruit tree varieties with high productivity and quality to increase economic efficiency such as big apple, dragon fruit, longan, Thai jackfruit...

Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa - Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Anh Son district said: In order for the model of renovating mixed gardens to grow fruit trees to be highly effective, the Farmers' Association of Anh Son district has included the development of the model in the emulation target, linking the renovation of mixed gardens with the renovation of houses and barns in the construction of new rural areas... Striving for the whole district to have 1,000 hectares of fruit trees by 2020, with an output of 14,500 tons and a production value of 200-300 million VND/ha/year.

Thai Hien