Con Cuong: Efficiency from Van Du orange variety

(Baonghean) - Con Cuong was once famous for its traditional orange varieties. However, for many reasons, the traditional orange varieties have been "lost". Currently, the district is focusing on restoring them with the domestic traditional Van Du orange variety, which brings economic value.

Village elders in Yen Khe confided: The traditional orange variety in Con Cuong has existed for a long time, the locals often call it "kieng fruit" with a thick, slightly yellow skin, when cut open it is golden yellow, and has a delicious and distinctive flavor. This orange variety is mainly sown by seeds, however, the fruiting time lasts 7-8 years. Previously, many families grew it for self-sufficiency, so the yield was low. For a while, people cut down this orange variety and replaced it with other varieties of plants, along with many other reasons, this orange variety has now lost its roots.

Mr. Vi Van Dau - Chairman of Yen Khe Commune People's Committee said: Since 2004, Con Cuong district has implemented the project "restored orange trees in the period 2004-2015". Yen Khe commune mainly planted Van Du orange variety (domestic orange variety) which initially brought about clear results. Many households, thanks to orange growing, have escaped poverty and even become rich.

Along the way to Tan Huong village, beside the rocky cliffs, there is a vast green color of oranges. Mr. Lo Van Cu in Tan Huong village is generously taking care of the orange garden: According to the district's orange restoration project, in 2007 my family borrowed money to invest in planting 1 hectare of Van Du oranges. The district supported 70% of the price of oranges, I decided to plant a large area of ​​oranges in the land around the foot of this limestone mountain, the soil layer is very suitable for growing oranges. After 4 years, it can be affirmed that the Van Du orange variety in Yen Khe grows quickly, has good disease resistance, now is the time to bear fruit. Van Du oranges have round, thin skin, and a sweet taste.

In 2011, Mr. Cu's orange garden brought in over 300 million VND, in 2012 it brought in over 400 million VND. Looking at the orange garden full of fruit, Mr. Cu boasted: Oranges at the age of 5-6 years old or older will have high productivity, this crop will surely be a big hit, each tree is expected to yield over 50 kg of fruit. 400 trees yield 20 tons, sold at 20,000 VND/kg for 800 million VND. According to Mr. Cu, the output for oranges is very favorable, because Con Cuong oranges have long been famous throughout the region. During the harvest season, traders from everywhere ride motorbikes and cars to the garden to buy at prices from 20,000 VND to 22,000 VND/kg. After deducting investment costs, this year we will probably earn around 600 million VND.

Van Du orange garden of Mr. Luong Van Hai's family in Tan Huong village, Yen Khe, Con Cuong.

Next to it is the orange garden of Mr. Luong Van Hai. Just over 2 years ago, Mr. Hai's family was very poor, but now they have become billionaires. Mr. Hai said: Previously, this land used to grow the orange variety but failed, we planned to switch to growing tea, then in 2006, with the encouragement of the district and commune, my family boldly planted 1.2 hectares of Van Du orange variety (500 trees). Thanks to proper care according to technical procedures, the average income from 3 crops was over 300 million VND/crop.

The 2013 orange crop will be harvested around the 10th lunar month. The development of the orange garden up to this point shows that it is very positive, the trees all bear fruit, reaching over 50 kg of fruit per tree. It is estimated that the income will be over 900 million VND, after deducting expenses, the profit will be from 500-600 million VND. According to Mr. Hai, the Van Du orange variety is quite easy to grow but must follow the care process. If the care is too nutritious, the tree will quickly form a canopy and bear little fruit. Oranges always need a lot of water to ensure growth, however, the Yen Khe area is often drought-prone. To cope with the drought, Mr. Hai's family combined with hired labor to focus on mounding the roots, covering the roots with leaves to cool the roots. Using a tire cart to carry barrels to the stream to get water to irrigate the oranges.

Mr. Vi Van Dau - Chairman of Yen Khe Commune People's Committee said: Up to now, Yen Khe has over 50 hectares of oranges (mainly Van Du oranges), of which nearly 10 hectares of commercial oranges have been harvested. Initially, Van Du oranges bring high economic value and are a completely reasonable replacement for the old native varieties. To diversify orange varieties, this year Yen Khe is planting over 2 hectares of V2 oranges (late ripening oranges) to meet the Lunar New Year market. In 2012, Yen Khe was approved by the Provincial People's Committee to invest in repairing and upgrading the irrigation system to serve tea production, committed to providing domestic water, with a total value of nearly 15 billion VND. This is a good sign for Yen Khe people, the completion of this irrigation project will ensure a source of water for oranges, which is a condition for people to "dare" to invest in intensive farming to increase orange productivity.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thai - Head of Con Cuong Agricultural Extension Station said: Up to now, the whole district has planted over 90 hectares (Van Du orange variety), mainly concentrated in Yen Khe and Bong Khe communes... Van Du orange variety has affirmed its superiority on Con Cuong land, giving good yield and quality. Customers love it, come to buy and harvest, traders come to the place to buy, there are times when there is a "shortage" of goods. This variety is selected from seed trees of the Sunkist orange variety at the Van Du Orange Research Station (Thanh Hoa), planted in many farms in Thanh - Nghe - Tinh region in the 70s - 80s. The tree is medium tall, has a compact canopy with thorns on the branches, and is widely adaptable. High yield, average fruit weight 180 - 200 grams/fruit, has 10 - 15 seeds/fruit, delicious and fragrant, harvested in October - November.

According to the project, by 2015 Con Cuong will plant over 250 hectares of oranges, so the area of ​​oranges planted has not met the target. The reason is: Investing in orange trees requires a large amount of capital, although the district has paid attention to mechanisms and policies such as supporting orange varieties and supporting loan interest rates of 20 million VND/household, many households do not have enough conditions to plant oranges. At this time, Con Cuong is planting 30 hectares of oranges: 28 hectares in Yen Khe, the rest in Thach Ngan. Of which, 4 hectares of V2 oranges are planted in Yen Khe 2 hectares and Thach Ngan commune 2 hectares, the rest is Van Du orange variety. Regarding mechanisms and policies, the district supports techniques and 25,500 VND/seedling.

To overcome financial difficulties, many households in Con Cuong have joined ventures and contributed capital to grow oranges. Hopefully, in the near future, Con Cuong will be a famous orange growing area, and orange trees will help people stabilize their lives and become rich.
Article and photos:

Van Truong