Nghia Dan prepares 500 hectares of late-ripening oranges for Tet

Mr. Nguyen Nhat Tuan's family in hamlet 13B, Nghia Yen commune (Nghia Dan) grows many types of oranges on the same area. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Le Van Lam's family in Tan Thanh hamlet, Nghia Tan commune has more than 1 hectare of land that was previously mainly used for growing vegetables, but has now switched to growing orange trees. Realizing that if he only grows one type of seasonal orange, it will be difficult to sell and the selling price will not be high, he has learned how to grow many types of oranges on the same area, including Xa Doai seasonal oranges, Xa Doai late-ripening oranges, and Mat oranges.

Currently, Xa Doai oranges are in harvest season, the selling price only fluctuates from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, but in just under 2 months, the late ripe oranges will enter the season, the price at the garden will increase to 35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg.

Up to now, the whole Nghia Tan commune has converted 60 hectares of oranges; including 4 hectares of late-ripening oranges owned by Mr. Le Van Lam and Mr. Tran Van Thanh. Unlike seasonal oranges, the output of late-ripening orange varieties such as Xa Doai and Valencia during Tet is stable, with high selling prices, and some batches have been ordered by traders since the beginning of the year.

Last year, the price of late-ripening Xa Doai oranges sold during Tet was double or even triple that of seasonal oranges. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Cao Ngoc Chinh - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghia Tan commune added: Implementing the policy of converting crops, Nghia Tan commune has promoted propaganda work, organized training classes and vocational training for households.

Leading us into the Xa Doai orange garden full of fruit, Mr. Nguyen Nhat Tuan in Hamlet 13B, Nghia Yen Commune said, "I have been growing oranges for many years, but I see that growing late-ripening oranges for Tet brings higher income than regular-season oranges. My family grows two varieties of Xa Doai oranges, yellow-heart oranges and late-ripening Valencia oranges, to sell during Tet, so the selling price is double or even triple. This year, in addition to the amount sold from the beginning of the season, it is estimated that there are still about 9 tons of late-ripening oranges for Tet. Like last year, the price of late-ripening oranges at the garden is 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg.

Tet oranges require high quality, beautiful appearance and most importantly, the right timing, so care requires diligence and a lot of effort. The soil for growing oranges must be loose, moist enough, fertilized properly and have drainage ditches to prevent waterlogging in time, avoid tree root erosion; must clearly understand the pest and disease process and the leaf change process on the tree during the months of the season.

To have good quality oranges and beautiful fruit, at the beginning of the season, growers must know how to intervene in the flowering process of the tree, grasp the techniques of pruning flowers, pruning branches, and shaping the canopy so that the oranges bloom at the right time.

Currently, in Nghia Dan district, there are more than 1,100 hectares of orange varieties grown on the same area, of which late-ripening oranges account for about 500 hectares. "Recently, Nghia Dan has stepped up propaganda to encourage orange growers in the area to intercrop late-ripening oranges to sell for Tet to increase income" - Mr. Nguyen Huy Anh - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghia Dan district said.