Farmers in Con Cuong are in the apple harvest season.

After learning about apples through various media outlets that they are easy to grow and quick to harvest, seven years ago, Mr. Trinh Xuan Tao in Quyet Tien village, Chi Khe commune (Con Cuong district) decided to invest in renovating and planting 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) of large apple trees, with over 200 trees... This is a new apple variety, with large fruits (average weight from 18 to 20 fruits/kg), a sweet and refreshing taste, and is favored by the market and sells at a higher price than other varieties.

Mr. Tao said: Apple trees are easy to grow but also susceptible to pests and diseases. Therefore, caring for them requires both effort and technical skill. The most important factor for apple trees to grow well and produce sweet fruit is using well-rotted manure, supplementing the trees with sufficient nutrients, and regularly watering to maintain soil moisture. Thanks to the delicious quality and beautiful appearance of the fruit, my family's apples are usually sold to stores selling clean vegetables and fruits at a stable price, and sales are very smooth. This year, the yield is estimated at 7 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), with a wholesale price of 20,000 VND/kg, bringing in an income of 18-20 million VND per sao.

Large apples bring considerable economic benefits to the people. Photo: Bao Han

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai's family, also from Quyet Tien village, Chi Khe commune, is one of many households that have prospered from growing large apples. With an area of ​​nearly 3 sao (approximately 3,000 square meters), she invested in planting nearly 100 trees. Ms. Hoai said that her family's apple orchard has just begun its harvest season, which will last until the end of January. "This year's apple harvest is abundant and the prices are higher, so my family will earn a considerable amount during Tet (Lunar New Year)," Ms. Hoai shared.

Currently, Chi Khe commune has over 3 hectares of apple orchards, mainly with varieties such as sour apples, large apples, and sweet local apples. According to farmers, apple trees can be harvested after only one year of planting, and the trees only need to be replaced after 5-6 years, so the investment cost is not high. During cultivation, it is only necessary to thin out the young fruit so that the tree can concentrate nutrients on growing larger fruit and prevent branches from breaking.

Currently, in addition to wholesale sales to traders, large apples are also sold by people in Chi Khe and Bong Khe communes along Highway 7 and in some markets in the district. The retail price of large apples is quite high, ranging from 25,000 to 30,000 VND/kg, and can reach up to 50,000 VND/kg during the Tet holiday season. According to calculations, after deducting expenses, growing large apples yields an average income of over 10 million VND per sao (approximately 1000 square meters).

Apples are harvested by locals and sold right along the main roads. Photo: Bao Han

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chi Khe commune, said: Along with pomelo, oranges, and vegetables, apple trees are becoming a crop that brings high economic efficiency to farmers because of low investment costs, low risk, and easy marketability. To improve productivity and product quality, every year, the commune cooperates with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Con Cuong district and other units to organize many training courses and guidance on fruit tree care techniques, including apple trees, to achieve high efficiency.

Large apple trees were first planted in the mountainous district of Con Cuong about 7 years ago, with each household planting between 50 and 120 trees on an area of ​​1 to 2 sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of land. Photo: Bao Han

Con Cuong mountainous district, with its main focus on developing clean agriculture linked to tourism, therefore, diversifying agricultural products and gradually building distinctive and specialty products is extremely important.

Besides oranges and other citrus fruits, the district is currently encouraging people to diversify their crop structure and experiment with new varieties such as guava, Thai green jackfruit, and large apple trees. Among these, large apple trees are currently being chosen by many households for cultivation on fertile land and riverside areas, gradually developing a brand and improving the quality of crops grown in Con Cuong.