Economy

'Seeds of livelihood' take root in the border region of Nghe An.

Thanh Phuc - Khanh Ly • June 14, 2025 07:20

Macadamia trees are gradually taking root on the remote hills of western Nghe An province. The initial success in Thong Thu commune (Que Phong district) is a positive sign, but to avoid repeating past failures, a scientific trial planting strategy, close technical support, and especially the establishment of a stable consumption chain are needed.

Clip: Thanh Phúc - Khánh Ly

The lush, green macadamia orchard of over 1 hectare belonging to the family of Mr. Ha Van Tam and Mrs. Vi Thi Quang in Muong Piet village, Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district – the pioneers in bringing macadamia trees to Thong Thu. After researching and visiting Dak Lak province to see for themselves, Mr. Tam bought macadamia saplings to plant as a trial. Photo: TP

sai quả — Currently, the macadamia orchard, planted four years ago, is bearing fruit consistently and stably, proving that the trees are well-suited to the region's climate and soil. Photo: KL

bna_8(2).jpg — Ms. Vi Thi Quang stands beside a macadamia tree laden with fruit. Thanks to her orchard of over 370 trees, her family earns 70-80 million VND annually. Photo: TP

Macadamia trees bear fruit consistently from the fourth year onwards, are easy to care for, and are resistant to pests and diseases. Photo: KL

The plump, round macadamia nuts are being purchased at a price of 80,000 – 90,000 VND/kg fresh – an attractive price for people in the mountainous region. Photo: TP

bna_4(2).jpg — After initial processing, macadamia nuts are shelled and packaged for sale in restaurants and specialty stores. Some households are investing in drying machines to enhance the product's value. Photo: KL

bna_11(1).jpg — According to Quang Van Thanh, head of Muong Piet village, "Thanks to the success of Mr. Tam and Mrs. Quang's model, the entire Thong Thu commune now has an additional 28 households growing macadamia nuts."
Some households have 300-400 trees, while others have 200. The seedlings are provided by the national target program for ethnic minority areas. After one year, the trees are growing well, with a high survival rate, opening up a new direction for cultivation on sloping land." In the photo: A one-year-old macadamia tree belonging to Mr. Thanh's family. Photo: TP

bna_9(1).jpg — Officers from Thong Thu Border Guard Post exchange techniques on caring for macadamia trees to ensure uniform growth, flowering, and fruiting. Photo: KL

hoa đẹp — The macadamia blossoms, in full bloom with their pure white color, not only hold agricultural value but also suggest a direction for developing ecotourism and experiential tourism. Photo: TP

bna_7(1).jpg — Macadamia cultivation also provides jobs and income for many seasonal workers in the locality. At the same time, it enhances the landscape and protects the forest from erosion and landslides. Photo: KL

bna_6(1).jpg — However, expanding macadamia cultivation requires extreme caution. Previously, in many areas of western Nghe An province, the tree was experimentally planted, but the fruit setting rate was very low due to unsuitable climate. (Photo: TP)

The macadamia tree originates from the humid subtropical region (Australia), and is also known as the Hawaiian hard-shelled tree. Macadamia is a large tree, scientifically named macadamia, belonging to the Protaceae family. It is a fruit tree with high economic value; its fruit contains kernels with a high nutritional content, up to 78% oil. Macadamia oil contains over 87% unsaturated fatty acids, the kernel has a protein content of up to 9.2%, along with 20 essential amino acids for the body…

This is a large evergreen tree, reaching up to 18m in height and 15m in canopy width. It blooms profusely from December to February (sometimes extending to April), with each cluster producing only 5-14 fruits. The flowers are white or pink.

The seedlings used for planting must be grafted, not grown from seeds. Because macadamia trees are cross-pollinating, trees grown from seeds will likely undergo segregation.

Depending on the tree species and the location of the orchard, choose an appropriate planting density. A pure planting density of 200-300 trees/ha is recommended (278 trees/ha with a spacing of 9m x 4m; 222 trees/ha with a spacing of 9m x 5m; 200 trees/ha with a spacing of 10m x 5m).

If planting macadamia trees as intercrops, plant approximately 70 trees/ha (spacing 12m x 12m).

Grafted trees begin to bear fruit after 3-4 years of planting. Trees planted for 10 years begin to produce a stable yield. Harvesting season is from July to September.

'Seeds of livelihood' take root in the border region of Nghe An.

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'Seeds of livelihood' take root in the border region of Nghe An.

livelihood seeds

Nghe An

See more about Economics

Featured in Nghe An Newspaper

Read more

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