Accelerate passion fruit seed production

(Baonghean) - After 4 years of presence in Tri Le commune, the economic efficiency of passion fruit trees for the people has been convincingly proven. Currently, the nursery work is being carried out by the enterprise. This is a solid foundation for the total area of ​​passion fruit in Que Phong district to reach 900 hectares by 2015.

Many economic models have been built but most of them have failed, only passion fruit not only stands firm but also develops strongly. Tri Le commune people have identified passion fruit as a crop with high economic efficiency and a tree to get rich. From the initial 3 hectares of the model, up to now, the area of ​​passion fruit cultivation in Tri Le commune is 24 hectares. Mr. Dam Thien Thuong, Deputy Secretary of the Tri Le commune Party Committee said: After more than 4 years of passion fruit being present in the commune, it shows great economic efficiency. The average income of 1 hectare of passion fruit is about 150 million VND. Since then, people's lives have been significantly improved. With the economic efficiency that passion fruit brings to people, the Resolution of the commune Party Committee decided to expand the area to 565 hectares by 2015. By 2014, the area is expected to reach more than 100 hectares. However, more than 24 hectares of passion fruit in Tri Le commune depend on Taiwanese seeds. The imported seeds cost 50,000 VND/tree, resulting in very high initial investment costs.

To meet the demand for seeds, NAPAGA Agricultural Investment and Development Joint Stock Company has invested more than 25 billion VND to build a nursery on an area of ​​1 hectare. Mr. Pham Duy Thai, Director of the company, said: Currently, no company in the country can produce passion fruit seeds and must import them from Taiwan at a very high price. To proactively produce seedlings and expand the area of ​​passion fruit trees in Que Phong, the company decided to invest in building this nursery. With modern technology and the help of Taiwanese professors, the parent seedlings have now been finished. Around February 2014, the company will proceed to connect the rootstock of the father tree with the rootstock of the mother tree to produce seedlings, which can be sold to people after a month. With this method, the seedlings will be of high quality because they have been resistant to diseases by controlling them from the beginning, shortening the time to produce seedlings by about 2 months.

Passion fruit model of Mr. Vi Thanh Xuan's family - Yen Son village, Tri Le commune, Que Phong district.

By April, the company's nursery will be operating stably, providing an average of 40,000-50,000 seedlings per month to people in Que Phong district. In phase 2, the company will expand the nursery area to 2 hectares and will move towards providing passion fruit seedlings to the whole country. To support people, the company decided to sell the seedlings on credit and not charge interest for 8 months to people. After harvesting, people will resell the products and the company will deduct the initial seedling price. Currently, the company's main source of products is in Da Lat. After this project comes into operation, it will basically meet the company's needs. Mr. Thai added: The company's current difficulty is that it does not have clean land to implement the project and the progress will be slow. Moreover, people's awareness is still limited, so it takes a process to convince them. The company really hopes to soon be given land so that it can build a model for people to visit and learn.

To develop passion fruit, Que Phong District Party Committee has issued Resolution 04 to develop a plan to 2015 with a total area of ​​passion fruit of 900 hectares in 3 communes: Tri Le, Nam Nhong, Nam Giai. Of which, about 300 hectares will be allocated for the company to build a model and be able to actively produce. In 2014 alone, the area will be increased to 250 hectares. Mr. Lu Dinh Thi, Chairman of Que Phong District People's Committee said: Passion fruit is the most sustainable crop for hunger eradication and poverty reduction. Therefore, the district has determined to continue expanding the area, attracting businesses to the area to build connections with the people. The district will create conditions for the company to operate by supporting mechanisms and policies and trying to soon hand over land funds to build models for people to visit, learn and follow. Some agricultural land areas not growing rice will be converted to grow passion fruit. Nowadays, people want to soon grow passion fruit to develop their family economy.

In Tri Le commune alone, the commune is currently determining the land fund to hand over to the company to build the model. For rice growing areas but in highland areas with difficulties in water resources, it is possible to switch to growing passion fruit. In the two villages D1 and D2 of Minh Chau New Economic Zone, the sugarcane area will not be expanded but will be shifted to increasing the passion fruit area. However, the awareness of the people here is still limited, so the implementation process will encounter many difficulties. "To achieve the set plan, the commune will mobilize the entire political system and organizations to participate strongly. The commune has established a Steering Committee for passion fruit development and increased propaganda and mobilization to change people's awareness to understand the economic value that passion fruit brings," Mr. Thuong added.

Pham Bang