The first Thai people to grow red-fleshed dragon fruit for high income in Con Cuong

(Baonghean.vn) - After more than 2After 1 year of planting, 160 red-fleshed dragon fruit trees of Mr. Lo Van Phuc's family have begun to yield harvest. It is expected that this year his family will earn more than 80 million VND.

Mr. Phuc's family's 160 dragon fruit trees are in harvest season. Photo: Minh Hanh

With about 80 million VND invested in seeds and initial materials, Mr. Lo Van Phuc, a Thai ethnic in Thanh Dao village, Bong Khe commune (Con Cuong) started planting 160 red-fleshed dragon fruit trees in 2015. It is known that, also on an area of ​​1,200m²land, a few years ago his family used to grow many kinds of crops, it took a lot of effort but the results were not high.

Choosing what to plant and what to raise to develop the economy is a question that is always on his mind. Worried and hesitant, he researched information about economic development models of localities. In early 2015, he traveled all the way to Binh Thuan province and then to Da Lat to visit and learn about red-fleshed dragon fruit growing models with high economic efficiency. Through research, he learned that the red-fleshed dragon fruit variety has higher productivity and quality than the white-fleshed dragon fruit variety, yielding 7-8 harvests of fruit each year.

With a wholesale price of 35,000 VND/kg and a retail price of 40,000 VND/kg, Mr. Phuc said that the economic value of red-fleshed dragon fruit is 2-3 times higher than that of other crops. Photo: Ba Hau

A red-fleshed dragon fruit tree can produce 40 fruits per crop. Photo: Minh Hanh

In October 2015, he invested about 80 million VND to buy seeds and build pillars to plant this new fruit tree variety. Mr. Phuc said that during the care process, he himself researched the techniques and ways to make the tree bloom all year round. The pillars for climbing dragon fruit are made of concrete, square, about 2.5 - 3m high, the pillars must be buried deep and firmly to prevent storms. The distance between rows and trees is 2.5m.

After about a year of planting, the tree begins to bear fruit, each batch from flowering to harvest takes about 2 months. In addition, to water the tree, he finds old fiber optic cables, cuts off the core, and places them under the tree to create an automatic drip irrigation system.

According to calculations, with 160 red-fleshed dragon fruit trees, if well cared for, each dragon fruit tree can produce about 40 fruits per year, each fruit weighs an average of 0.3 - 0.4 kg, sold at 35,000 VND/kg, each year producing 7 - 8 harvests. This year, the family is expected to earn about 80 million VND.

To increase economic efficiency, Mr. Lo Van Phuc initially raised 10 honey bee hives in his dragon fruit garden. Photo: Ba Hau

Taking advantage of this area, under the dragon fruit tree, he also raises chickens, grows eggplants and raises bees. In addition to the 10 million VND earned from selling chickens, with more than 10 beehives placed under the dragon fruit tree, the family also earns about 5 million VND/year.

Mr. Phuc added: "Red-fleshed dragon fruit is popular with local people because of its good quality. Although the fruit is smaller than white-fleshed dragon fruit, it has a sweet and rich flavor. When it's time to harvest, traders come to collect it, and people also order a lot."

Mr. Lo Van Phuc's family harvests red-fleshed dragon fruit. Photo: Minh Hanh

Currently, red-fleshed dragon fruit is very popular, with a market price 2-3 times higher than white-fleshed dragon fruit. Mr. Lo Van Phuc is also the first person to introduce the red-fleshed dragon fruit model to grow in the mountainous district of Con Cuong. Hopefully, this crop will become a hunger-eliminating and poverty-reducing crop not only for Mr. Phuc’s family but also for many farming households in the mountainous district./.

Minh Hanh - Ba Hau