Unique Jica 'hanging grapefruit' project in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - To build the Quang Tien pink grapefruit brand, in early 2017, Thai Hoa Town linked grapefruit growers to create hanging gardens under the Jica project.

In the last days of July, we had the opportunity to visit the Quang Tien pink grapefruit growing model, which applies the production process according to the JICA project's safety standards, quite unique. The pink grapefruit trees are dense with fruit, carefully wrapped in paper and hung up by farmers.

On average, each grapefruit tree here has 100 - 150 fruits, each fruit weighs about 1.5 - 2 kg. To avoid breaking branches, farmers have to stake and use ropes to tie the grapefruits up. Because each grapefruit tree has hundreds of fruits hanging up like that, grapefruit farmers in Thai Hoa town call it "hanging" grapefruit.

To avoid broken branches, grapefruit growers must use stakes and ropes to hang the fruit. Photo: Quang Huy.

To build the Quang Tien pink grapefruit brand, in early 2017, Thai Hoa town linked grapefruit growers in Quang Tien ward and Nghia Tien commune to apply the care process according to the JICA project. The project is a technical cooperation on planning for the development of Nghe An's agricultural sector coordinated by the Provincial People's Committee and Japan.

The project's goal is to apply science and technology to production according to safe processes, creating uniformity in color and weight of grapefruit. Accordingly, households growing Quang Tien pink grapefruit are given specific instructions on the process of care, fertilization, canopy shaping, and how to record the growth progress of the tree. In addition, 10 farming households are supported by the project with each household 1,600 bags of various types such as: white paper bags, brown paper bags and cloth bags.

Visiting the 1-hectare garden of Quang Tien pink grapefruit of Mr. Nguyen Hong Cong in Trung Nghia block, Quang Tien ward, we learned that this year there are about 20,000 fruits in the garden, with uniform grapefruit weight and beautiful bright color. "This is because the family strictly follows the project's care process; compared to previous years, this year the fruit set rate is high, the color is beautiful so the selling price is also high, estimated to be able to earn from 500 - 600 million VND" - Mr. Cong shared.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Cong in Trung Nghia block, Quang Tien ward (Thai Hoa town) is taking care of his grapefruit garden. Photo: Quang Huy.

Thai Hoa town has over 80 hectares of Quang Tien pink grapefruit, which promises a successful production season because of its very high quality and productivity; on average, 1 hectare produces 25 - 30 tons of fruit; households growing grapefruit under the project can earn billions of dong each year.

This year, 1.5 hectares of Quang Tien pink grapefruit of Mr. Phan Duc Dinh's family in Hamlet 6, Nghia Tien Commune, entered the second harvest. At this time, 100% of the grapefruit in the garden are showing signs of improvement. Not only are there many fruits, but the quality is also highly appreciated. According to Mr. Phan Duc Dinh, this year the grapefruit has many fruits and is not affected by pests and diseases thanks to the use of packaging from the Jica project. This is a meaningful project, and people believe that this year's yield will be much higher.

Agricultural extension officers of Thai Hoa town are instructing farmers participating in the JICA project on grapefruit care procedures. Photo: Quang Huy.

Fruit yield and food safety assurance are factors that help increase economic efficiency and are also the premise for Thai Hoa town to aim to establish Quang Tien pink grapefruit clean agriculture cooperative, build, manage and develop the "Quang Tien pink grapefruit" brand in the near future. At the same time, it is also a solution to solve the output of the product.

Mr. Dang Thai Hoa - Acting Head of Thai Hoa Town Agricultural Extension Station said: "Currently, we are completing the procedures to submit to the departments, branches, Department of Science and Technology and the province to establish a cooperative; build a brand, with the goal of bringing Quang Tien pink grapefruit to a foothold in cities and supermarkets in the country".

Thu Trang - Quang Huy