Que Phong: New route of passion fruit

(Baonghean) -Que Phong district has just organized a review of experiences after 4 years of planting passion fruit in the area. And in 2014, the locality decided to plant 500 hectares to create momentum for the mass "coverage" plan in the following years. The advantages of land, climate and good connection between the enterprise (Nghe An Food Joint Stock Company - NAFOODS) and farmers are creating favorable conditions for the new tasks of cadres and people of ethnic minorities in the area...

Mr. Lu Van Chien's family in Xan village, Tri Le commune takes care of the passion fruit garden.

Previously, to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of passion fruit trees, the district coordinated with Nafoods Company to select investment planting subjects including both well-off and poor households of the Thai, Mong, and Kho'mu ethnic groups; planting areas in 3 communes: Tri Le, Nam Giai, and Nam Nhoong. By the end of 2013, the trial planting area in the above 3 communes was 28.5 hectares. Productivity and quality were relatively stable, market prices and Nafoods' purchase prices were reasonable. When comparing economic benefits on the same unit area, passion fruit trees have a very high economic value, no other crop can compare. If the problem of creating seedlings and stable product consumption can be solved, this will be the tree to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, and develop sustainably, which is the goal set by the Government for Que Phong district in implementing Resolution 30a/CP. The model has accurately answered the question of autonomy and dependence: From plant varieties, care, harvesting and product consumption, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

We visited the passion fruit garden of Mr. Lu Van Chien (born in 1982) in Xan village, Tri Le commune. This young couple was chosen as a pilot model of Xa village since 2011, currently planting 500 trees on 1 hectare. Of which, in 2011, they planted 35 trees for a harvest of 19 million VND/year; planted 100 trees from April 2013, started to harvest (sold for 3 million VND), and in July 2013, planted nearly 400 more trees. Lu Van Chien plans to plant 400 more trees on 0.5 hectares in April 2014, bringing the total to 900 trees, which can earn over 500 million VND/year.

Yen Son village grows the most passion fruit in Tri Le commune. Head of Quang Van Phuong village said: Out of 63 Thai households in the village, 100% have grown passion fruit (since 2010). Vi Thanh Xuan, Quang Van Xuan, and Vi Van Nhan households grow the most with 200 trees/household, harvesting 3 crops per year, reaching 100 million VND/household/year. However, due to the poor level of cultivation and application of science and technology of the people, the people's mentality is not stable when encountering epidemics or passion fruit trees degenerate early (according to the biological cycle). Currently in Yen Son village, Mr. Vi Thanh Xuan has registered to establish a service cooperative to supply fertilizers, pesticides, and purchase passion fruit products. It is worth mentioning that, realizing the effectiveness of passion fruit, many households in the village have converted their rice fields to grow this tree.

In growing passion fruit, the seedling work plays a decisive role; fortunately, starting from 2014, passion fruit seeds are produced directly from the Seedling Center in Tri Le (investment value of 25 billion VND, high technology) led by NAPAGA Agricultural Development Investment Joint Stock Company (under Nafoods Company), with a grafting capacity of about 30,000 seedlings/month, well meeting the seedling demand in the area. Mr. Pham Huu Tuan - Head of Seedling and Service Department of the center, said: "Previously, seeds had to be imported from Taiwan, the price was expensive (50,000 VND/tree); now, with local production, the cost will be greatly reduced: it is expected that by May 2014, we will export the first batch of seeds".

Based on the above reality, Que Phong District People's Committee has signed a commitment with Na Foods Company to purchase passion fruit products for the people in the long term, ensuring the market price at each time and not lower than the warranty price. From the beginning of each harvest, the Company will organize purchasing points, creating favorable conditions for the people to sell products to the factory.

Sam Temple