Nghe An farmers apply high technology to orange production
(Baonghean)- Many orange growing areas have to be cut down, productivity decreases, selling prices decrease... are the current realities in many orange growing areas in the province, requiring synchronous solutions, in which "clean" production and high-tech application are considered inevitable directions.
Developing "clean orange" area
With 8 sao of land for growing tea, Mr. Le Dinh Toan's family in Hoa Lien hamlet, Thanh Hoa commune, Thanh Chuong used to harvest 4 - 4.5 tons of tea buds each year, with a total revenue of less than 20 million VND. In recent years, he decided to abandon the tea trees and switch to growing local orange varieties, V2 oranges, Xa Doai oranges, etc. "Every year I harvest about 4 - 5 tons of oranges, the economic efficiency is many times higher than that of tea trees," Mr. Toan shared.
 |
| In recent years, the "Cam Vinh" brand has become increasingly known and popular among consumers. Photo: Phu Huong |
According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Son, Vice Chairman of Thanh Duc Commune People's Committee, Thanh Chuong District: Thanh Duc's orange growing area has now reached nearly 150 hectares. In 2019, with the support of the province, Thanh Duc built a VietGAP orange production model. Overcoming many difficulties, at the end of 2019, the orange production model of Thanh Duc Agricultural Cooperative was certified VietGAP with an area of 20 hectares, yielding 10 tons/ha. "The most encouraging thing is that households have mastered the production process, and the products meet quality standards. This is the foundation for moving towards producing and processing orange products, building brands to participate in fairs and creating a stable consumer market."
 |
| Oranges produced according to VietGAP process in Thanh Duc commune, Thanh Chuong district. Photo: Phu Huong |
In recent years, the area of orange trees grown according to VietGAP standards in Nghe An has increased significantly, from 26 hectares in 2016 to nearly 150 hectares, but still accounts for a very small proportion of the total orange area in the province. In the area, there are also dozens of farms that have been granted certificates of production according to VietGAP procedures. This is the premise for farms to increase investment in developing high-tech agricultural production.
The inevitable direction
In 2018 alone, the area of orange trees cut down in Nghe An was up to 500 hectares, the reason being that the orange trees grew poorly, yielded poor quality and yield, and were plagued by many pests, leading to low economic efficiency. Also since 2018, orange productivity has decreased, reaching only 155.37 quintals/ha. After a long period of maintaining a high level, since 2019, the selling price of oranges has dropped significantly.
"Because the economic value of orange trees is quite large, other provinces are also developing rapidly, the risk of supply exceeding demand is very likely to occur. Meanwhile, the products of old orange gardens have degraded, affecting the Vinh orange brand."
 |
| To produce clean oranges according to VietGAP standards, oranges are cared for entirely with biological products; orange growers in Tan Phu invest in a water filtration system to water the oranges. Photo courtesy |
To make Nghe An one of the provinces that focuses on developing commercial oranges, protecting and developing the "Vinh Orange" brand, producing oranges in a "clean" direction, applying high technology is considered one of the inevitable directions.
In recent years, the area of oranges irrigated using Israeli drip technology has increased rapidly, from 150 hectares in 2016 to nearly 600 hectares, including many very successful models, such as the application of drip irrigation technology for 220 hectares of oranges in Quy Hop, Tan Ky, Nghi Loc; the orange production project of Nghia Binh commune (Nghia Dan district) applies drip irrigation technology combined with fertilization, etc., saving nearly half the amount of water compared to conventional furrow irrigation, farmers are completely proactive in irrigation, fertilization and reduce labor, orange trees grow well, limiting pesticide residues...
 |
| Officers of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection guide the process of caring for oranges produced in a "clean" direction in Nghia Dan district. Photo: Phu Huong |
Applying the intercropping system is also a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to reduce pests. According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc, from 2016 to now, some areas such as Xuan Thanh Agricultural One Member Co., Ltd., 3-2, Nghia Dan and Nam Dan districts have planted guava with oranges, helping to increase soil fertility, plants grow well, basically manage pests and diseases and limit the possibility of pest outbreaks, reduce soil degradation, plant varieties and products of higher quality.
