Accelerate passion fruit seed production.

(Baonghean) - After 4 years of presence in Tri Le commune, the economic benefits of passion fruit cultivation for the people have been convincingly proven. Currently, seedling propagation is being carried out by the enterprise. This is a solid foundation for reaching a total passion fruit cultivation area of ​​900 hectares in Que Phong district by 2015.

Many economic models have been developed, but most have failed. Only passion fruit cultivation has not only stood firm but has also flourished. The people of Tri Le commune have identified passion fruit as a highly profitable crop and a source of wealth. From an initial 3 hectares, the area planted with passion fruit in Tri Le commune has now reached 24 hectares. Mr. Dam Thien Thuong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tri Le commune, said: After more than 4 years of passion fruit cultivation in the commune, the economic benefits are significant. The average income per hectare of passion fruit is about 150 million VND. As a result, the lives of the people have improved significantly. Given the economic benefits that passion fruit cultivation brings to the people, the Party Committee of the commune has decided to expand the area to 565 hectares by 2015. Specifically, by 2014, the goal is to reach over 100 hectares. However, over 24 hectares of passion fruit in Tri Le commune depend on seedlings from Taiwan, with the cost of importing seedlings being 50,000 VND per plant, resulting in very high initial investment costs.

To meet the demand for seedlings, NAPAGA Agricultural Investment and Development Joint Stock Company has invested over 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 nationwide produces passion fruit seedlings; they have to import them from Taiwan at very high prices. To proactively secure seedlings and expand the area of ​​passion fruit cultivation in Que Phong, the company decided to invest in building this nursery. With modern technology and the assistance of Taiwanese professors, the parent seedlings have now been successfully propagated. Around February 2014, the company will proceed with grafting the rootstock of the male plant with the bud of the female plant to produce seedlings, which can be sold to farmers after one month. With this method, the seedlings will be of high quality because they are disease-resistant through early control, shortening the time to produce seedlings by about 2 months.

The passion fruit farming 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, supplying 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 aim to supply passion fruit seedlings nationwide. To support the people, the company has decided to sell seedlings on credit without interest for 8 months. After harvesting, the people will sell the product back to the company, and the initial seedling cost will be deducted. Currently, the company's main source of products is Da Lat. After this project becomes operational, it will basically meet the company's needs. Mr. Thai added: The company's current difficulties are the lack of clean land for the project and the slow progress. Furthermore, the awareness of the people is still limited, so persuading them will require a process. The company is eager to receive the land soon so that it can build a model for people to visit and learn from.

To develop passion fruit cultivation, the Que Phong District Party Committee issued Resolution 04, outlining a plan to increase the total area of ​​passion fruit cultivation to 900 hectares in three communes: Tri Le, Nam Nhong, and Nam Giai by 2015. Approximately 300 hectares will be allocated to a company for model farming, enabling them to independently manage production. The goal for 2014 alone is to increase this area to 250 hectares. Mr. Lu Dinh Thi, Chairman of the Que Phong District People's Committee, stated: "Passion fruit is the most sustainable crop for poverty alleviation. Therefore, the district is determined to continue expanding the area and attracting businesses to the region to build linkages with the people. The district will create favorable conditions for the company's operations by providing support mechanisms and policies, and will strive to promptly hand over land for model farming so that people can visit, learn, and emulate it. Some agricultural land not used for rice cultivation will be converted to passion fruit cultivation." Currently, people are eager to start growing passion fruit as soon as possible to improve their family's economic situation.

In Tri Le commune, the commune is currently identifying land to hand over to the company for the construction of the model. For rice-growing areas located in high-lying, water-scarce regions, the land can be converted to passion fruit cultivation. In villages D1 and D2 of the Minh Chau New Economic Zone, the area for sugarcane cultivation will not be expanded, but instead, the area for passion fruit cultivation will be increased. However, the awareness of the local people is still limited, so many difficulties will be encountered during implementation. "To achieve the set plan, the commune will mobilize all political systems and organizations to participate strongly. The commune has established a Steering Committee for Passion Fruit Development and is strengthening propaganda and mobilization to change people's perceptions and help them understand the economic value that passion fruit brings," Mr. Thuong added.

Pham Bang