Oranges and tangerines from Quynh are in season for Tet.

(Baonghean) - Currently, orange and tangerine growers in Quynh Luu are preparing to harvest their crops to supply the market for the 2017 Lunar New Year (Year of the Rooster), with the joy of a bountiful harvest and good prices. Each hectare is expected to yield an income of 200-300 million VND.

With its advantageous land resources, in recent years, the mountainous communes of Quynh Luu district have invested in building many effective economic models, especially new models such as PQ1 sweet tangerines, Valencia oranges, and Xa Doai oranges...

The family of Mr. Tran Danh Pho, from Dong Xuan hamlet, Quynh Thang commune, is one of the pioneering households to experimentally cultivate orange trees in the hilly area of ​​Quynh Thang. With 4.5 hectares of hilly land, his family currently plans to plant 2.2 hectares of oranges and tangerines, including 1.2 hectares of PQ1 sweet tangerines, 0.4 hectares of Valencia oranges, and 0.6 hectares of Xa Doai oranges. It is expected that during the harvest season around Tet (Lunar New Year) 2017, the three plots of oranges and tangerines planted by Mr. Pho's family will yield approximately 15 tons of oranges and 30 tons of tangerines. With a selling price of 40,000 VND/kg for oranges and 15,000 VND/kg for tangerines purchased directly from the farm, his income will reach at least 1 billion VND.

Mr. Tran Danh Pho happily stated: "Growing oranges and tangerines is much more profitable than other crops. Tangerines can be sold during Tet (Lunar New Year) and continue until January or February, depending on customer demand. The current market demand is very good, so there's nothing to worry about."

Each Valencia orange tree can yield between 70 and 80 kg of fruit.

Previously, the traditional crops of the people in the mountainous commune of Quỳnh Thắng were pineapples, sugarcane, cassava, etc. However, these traditional crops had low yields and unstable prices because they depended on purchasing factories. Therefore, income was not high and lacked stability.

In order to maximize the potential advantages of the local land and increase the economic value per unit area, in recent years, Quynh Thang commune has encouraged people to introduce new plant varieties for trial cultivation, including Valencia oranges, Xa Doai oranges, and PQ1 sweet tangerines. Initially, only a few households in the commune dared to experiment with planting them, but now, after about 5 years of thriving on the hilly land of Quynh Thang, these citrus varieties have brought high economic efficiency and have proven to be the most valuable crops ever grown in the locality.

Currently, the oranges have turned yellow, their skin is smooth and firm, they are intensely sweet, and are ready for sale to serve the market during the Lunar New Year of the Rooster.

Oranges and tangerines are relatively easy to grow, require little care, have low investment costs, and yield high profits. Therefore, Quỳnh Thắng commune has expanded its cultivation area to approximately 50 hectares. However, a key issue is that the locality must identify suitable planting areas and zones to maximize efficiency, ensure high prices, and avoid planting excessively large areas, which would create difficulties in sales and negatively impact income.

Mr. Ho Dien Thang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Thang commune, said: "From growing oranges and tangerines, some households have had a relatively good harvest since last year. This year, with the Tet holiday approaching, households expect to earn even higher incomes because the yield is greater. This model ensures that the oranges are clean and meet the needs of the people during Tet. This is a new model, but it is very effective; no other crop has yielded such profits before."

The Valencia orange orchard of Mr. Tran Danh Pho's family in Dong Xuan hamlet, Quynh Thang commune, has entered its sixth harvest season.

The current market for oranges and tangerines is very stable. Some batches have already been purchased by traders since the beginning of the year, waiting until the Lunar New Year to harvest them. According to the locals, the soil and climate here are suitable for the growth and development of oranges and tangerines. The oranges ripen evenly, are juicy, have a rich sweet taste, and yield high productivity, with each tree potentially producing 70-80 kg. As for the sweet tangerine variety PQ1, its thin peel is easy to remove, it's very juicy, and its particularly attractive dark green color yields 200-300 kg per tree.

In the joyful spirit of welcoming the Lunar New Year of the Rooster 2017, the citrus growers in the mountainous commune of Quynh Thang are even more excited because this year's harvest has yielded a large income. Throughout the orchards, the golden hue of oranges and the rich, deep green of tangerines shine brightly, and the spirit of spring has arrived at every family's door.

Le Nhung

(Quynh Luu Radio Station)