[Photo] Phuc Tho mulberry season – Sweet fruit from green agriculture

NDO - The April sunshine brightens up the mulberry gardens along the Day River (Phuc Tho District, Hanoi), when the clusters of plump purple-red fruits enter the ripening season. Not only adding to the peaceful countryside picture, mulberries also open up the story of a green agricultural direction taking shape in this land.

Having been attached to the traditional silkworm farming profession, for about 17 years now, people in Hiep Thuan commune , Phuc Tho district (Son Tay - Hanoi) have switched to growing mulberry for fruit, bringing about clear economic efficiency.

Currently, the entire Hiep Thuan commune has nearly 6 hectares of mulberry, with about 60 households cultivating concentrated in Hiep Thuan 1, 2, 3 villages; each household grows an average of 1 to 3 sao.

The advantage of riverside land and favorable climate helps mulberry trees grow well, giving stable productivity. This year, thanks to the weather with little frost and moderate rainfall, the quality of the fruit is highly appreciated, the early season selling price at the garden ranges from 15,000-20,000 VND/kg.

Strawberries in full season in Hiep Thuan (Phuc Tho).

Ms. Nguyen Thi Te, 75 years old (Hiep Thuan 2 village) said that her family has more than 4 sao of strawberries planted for over 10 years. The garden started to ripen 15 days ago, and has sold about 1.5 tons so far. It is expected to be harvested within the next month, earning about more than 50 million VND/crop.

Not only stopping at growing and selling fruits, many households have also developed the “ecological garden” model. Mr. Nguyen Van Lan (55 years old) shared: “Careful care two months before harvest is the secret to helping strawberries bear fruit, earning 3-4 times more than growing rice. In addition to selling fruits, the “ecological garden” tourism experience model also helps his family increase their income by about 20%.

Well-tended mulberry trees spread their shade at Mr. Lan's garden.

Fresh strawberries are picked right from the gardens in Hiep Thuan (Phuc Tho).

The market for strawberries in Phuc Tho is also bustling. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hau, a trader at Phuc Tho market, said that at the beginning of the season, she can consume up to 7 tons of strawberries per day through the local trading system.

Meanwhile, Ms. To Hoa Phuong (Ba Vi), who has been involved in the mulberry purchasing profession for nearly 10 years, commented: “Phuc Tho mulberry has beautiful fruit, sweet taste, easy to preserve, so it is very popular in the market. The demand of customers for this agricultural product is very high.

Each strawberry season is not only a harvest season, but also a "golden" season for both growers and traders .

Aiming for sustainable development, many households in Hiep Thuan have applied organic farming, taking advantage of agricultural by-products, and combining experiential tourism to increase product value. Mulberry trees not only bring income, but also become a bridge connecting agriculture with local culture.

With great potential, Phuc Tho mulberry trees need investment in brand building, geographical indication application and participation in the clean agricultural value chain. When positioned correctly, mulberry can completely become a specialty of Hanoi, contributing to promoting the development of the rural economy in a green and sustainable direction.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/anh-mua-dau-tam-phuc-tho-trai-ngot-tu-nong-nghiep-xanh-post871471.html