Turn the rocky land into durian blossoms

Farmer Chi A Ung stands next to the stone wall surrounding his garden, which he cleared during the process of converting coffee and pepper to durian. Photo: D.Phu

Many Chinese people in Xuan Thuy neighborhood shook their heads or expressed their doubts: the gold spent on buying seedlings will eventually turn to stone.

Bold decision

Taking us to visit his 2.6-hectare durian garden, which generates an income of more than 2 billion VND/year, Mr. Chi A Ung shared that one of the reasons he made the bold decision to experiment with growing durian on the rocky land of Bau Sen more than 27 years ago was because he understood the characteristics of this land very well, so he wanted to change crops to increase income and help his family escape from difficulties.

"Durian grown by the Chinese ethnic group in Xuan Thuy quarter produces delicious fruit, without chemical residues because it is cared for using organic methods, without forcing the trees or fruit, so the quality is guaranteed" - farmer Chang Khenh Quan (residing in group 1, Xuan Thuy quarter, Bau Sen ward) expressed.

Mr. Chi A Ung said that he was the youngest son in a family of 4 siblings, all living with his mother in Xuan Thuy neighborhood. Despite the poor circumstances, his mother still sent Mr. Chi A Ung to school to learn how to read and write. After school hours, he followed his mother to the garden to plant and harvest tobacco and crops (beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, etc.). In his teens, Mr. Chi A Ung could roll and carry rocks scattered on the garden to help his mother reduce the hardship of farming.

The rocky land of Xuan Thuy has more rocks than soil. In order for the roots of plants to absorb soil and water, and grow between the rocks, the young people of the Chinese ethnic group, regardless of their strength or weakness, all join their parents in clearing rocks and weeds so that the plants can easily absorb nutrients and flower and bear fruit. When the rainy season ends and the dry season comes, the farmers here begin to harvest and return to the cycle of clearing the land, waiting for rain to fall to sow and plant.

That was Chi A Ung’s childhood. Until 1989, when he was a mature young man, married to a village girl Sy A Lin (Hoa ethnic group), the rocks on the field were still constantly exposed. That is why, every time he was tired, Chi A Ung would lean against a large rock to think of ways to “soften the rock”.

Thanks to the small amount of capital accumulated after harvesting coffee and pepper, Mr. Chi A Ung took 5 taels of gold and sold them to buy 250 durian trees of the Thai variety, Ri 6, from a gardener who brought them from the Southwest region to plant on 2.6 hectares of his family's farmland. To carry out this bold idea, he discussed and convinced his mother and wife to agree.

Chairwoman of Bau Sen Ward Farmers' Association (Long Khanh City) Pham Thi Cam Nhung visited the durian garden of farmer Chi A Ung.

Despite what many people said, Mr. Chi A Ung still patiently pryed the rocks that were stuck together in the coffee and pepper growing areas to place the durian roots. To have a more abundant source of irrigation water, in addition to the two wells already dug in the garden, he continued to spend money to drill wells, but only 1/3 of the drilled locations had strong water.

“Not only is he a pioneer in growing durian to help his family's economy prosper, Mr. Chi A Ung is also an active person in mobilizing the Chinese ethnic people in Xuan Thuy neighborhood to support money and donate land to build rural roads, reduce poverty, and encourage education…” - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Bau Sen Ward (Long Khanh City) PHAM THI CAM NHUNG said.

Durian spreads its fragrance on rocky land

Having little experience in growing durian, 250 durian seedlings were planted in the rocky field in 1989. After 6 years of planting (in 1995), only 100 trees remained and the durian began to bear fruit. That year's durian flowers spread their fragrance throughout the area, and when the durians ripened and fell, they spread their fragrance once more.

Mr. Chi A Ung recalls that although the road from the hamlet to his garden was winding, narrow, and full of rocks, it still attracted many durian traders. Many Chinese people in and outside Xuan Thuy neighborhood came to learn and study how to grow durian.

In 1995, durian buyers only bought ripe durians that had fallen off the tree, not old durians that were still on the tree like now, so 100 durian trees were planted on 2.6 hectares of pepper and coffee, continuously for 2 months (July and August of the lunar calendar), each day he collected and sold more than 1 million VND worth of fruit. So he had enough money to buy seedlings and drill wells when investing.

Since then, many Chinese people around him started to follow his example. That was also the time when coffee and pepper prices dropped, so Mr. Chi A Ung destroyed the pepper trees and replanted them where the durian trees had died or were sparse.

Farmer Chi A Ung (right) exchanges experiences in growing durian with Chinese ethnic farmers in Xuan Thuy neighborhood (Bau Sen ward, Long Khanh city).

“Indeed, durian trees are also picky about soil, but durian can also grow and spread its fragrance on rocky soil. That is why I dare to take the risk of pioneering in nurturing rocky soil to spread the fragrance of durian. Thanks to durian, from 1996 to now, my family's average income has reached from 800 million to over 2 billion VND/2.6 hectares of durian/year. Durian not only spreads its fragrance on rocky soil, but also helped me achieve the title of Good Farmer and Businessman at the ward level, Long Khanh city since 2000" - Mr. Chi A Ung confided.

Xuan Thuy neighborhood has over 90% of the population being Chinese ethnic people, with nearly 300 hectares of durian growing area. Thanks to the early conversion of pepper, coffee and other mixed crops to durian growing land from 1997-2000, the economy of the people in the neighborhood, especially the Chinese ethnic people, is mostly from well-off households or above.

The President of the Farmers' Association of Bau Sen Ward, Pham Thi Cam Nhung, said that thanks to Mr. Chi A Ung's pioneering role in growing durian, the Chinese people in the neighborhood have boldly switched to this crop. The special feature of durian farmers here is that they always apply organic care processes, saying no to the use of chemicals that affect the natural growth of trees and fruits to protect the health of consumers and bring fame and prestige to the "billionaire" tree of the rocky land of Xuan Thuy.

Doan Phu

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202505/bien-vung-dat-da-no-hoa-sau-rieng-0a01c82/