The story of the Bodhi tree

These days, the hillsides of Dai Dinh commune, Phu Tho province, are covered in lush green by fruit-laden custard apple orchards. This land, which used to be the old Bo Ly commune, has become the “capital” of a famous specialty: Bo Ly custard apple. For the people here, the custard apple tree is not only a fruit tree, but also a symbol of change, of the effort to become rich on their homeland.

Sweet taste changes destiny:

From the faded cassava plants to the fruit-laden custard apple orchards

Decades ago, the lives of the people of Dai Dinh commune were closely linked to cassava. The vast hillsides were planted with cassava, but the income was not worth the effort. Each sao of cassava only yielded a few quintals, with unstable income, causing many families to fall into difficult circumstances. “A sao of cassava yielded only a few quintals, while the economic calculation could not guarantee it,” Mr. Chu Van Dung, a resident of Dong But hamlet, Dai Dinh commune, recalled the hard days.

Then, a turning point came when people boldly switched to growing custard apple. Custard apple, which seemed like just a normal fruit tree, became a “savior” to help them escape poverty and get rich. “Since we started growing custard apple, the economic value has been very high,” Mr. Dung excitedly shared.

The reason why Bo Ly custard apple grows strongly and brings high economic efficiency lies in its suitability to natural conditions. This custard apple variety is especially adapted to the soil and climate of the mountainous area of ​​Dai Dinh commune, easy to grow, easy to care for and quick to harvest. More importantly, Bo Ly custard apple is famous for its outstanding features that are rarely found anywhere else: large fruit, soft green skin, ivory white flesh, few seeds and especially very fragrant. The sharp sweetness, tough and flexible segments have created a unique, unmistakable brand. Moreover, Bo Ly custard apple can be preserved for a long time without being crushed, meeting the transportation and consumption needs of the market well.

Improve quality, build brand

To improve quality and economic value, farmers in Dai Dinh commune have constantly improved farming techniques. With a focus on food safety and hygiene criteria, many households have applied modern farming methods. Mr. Hoang Van Tinh, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dai Dinh commune, said: "Thanks to the application of pruning techniques, artificial pollination and appropriate fertilization, custard apples grown in the garden use 100% organic fertilizers, and do not use pesticides or manually kill insects." Thanks to the clean farming process, Bo Ly custard apples are consumed very well. "As soon as they are harvested, traders come to the garden to buy them," Mr. Tinh affirmed.

The clean farming process has created safe, high-quality custard apples, thereby building a solid trust among consumers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan, a trader from Tho Tang commune, Phu Tho province, affirmed: "My customers rate custard apples as very delicious, sweet, and seedless." This trust is not only a compliment but also a motivation for farmers in Dai Dinh commune to continue to stick with and develop custard apple trees.

Reaching far in the market, getting rich from hometown specialties

With an area of ​​about 150 hectares, concentrated in villages such as Dong But, Trai Mai, Ngoc Thu, Bo Ly custard apple has become one of the main products of Dai Dinh commune. The Bo Ly custard apple brand has been protected as a collective trademark by the Ministry of Science and Technology , and has participated in the OCOP program, helping the product have the opportunity to reach further in the market.

Nowadays, Bo Ly custard apple is not only a fruit chosen by consumers in all provinces but also becomes a part of Tam Dao tourist land. Thanks to its unique flavor, Bo Ly custard apple has become an attractive specialty gift for tourists. This not only brings stable income to the people but also contributes to promoting the image of the locality.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of Dai Dinh Commune People's Committee, emphasized: "The Party Committee and People's Committee of the commune also determined to promote the building of the Bo Ly custard apple brand." He said that the commune government is planning to build product display booths at Tay Thien Scenic Area so that tourists can know more about it.

However, to maximize the potential, the locality needs to further promote the propaganda and promotion of the product. The commune government needs to have a specific plan, coordinate with relevant agencies to build a suitable and effective promotion program. In addition, encouraging custard apple growing cooperatives to strengthen production links, unify VietGAP cultivation processes, and expand the market will be strategic steps, helping Bo Ly custard apple to increasingly affirm its position and reach further.

The story of Bo Ly custard apple is not only a story about a sweet fruit but also a story about the diligence and creativity of the farmers of Dai Dinh commune. With their hard-working hands, they have turned barren hills into fruit-laden orchards, bringing a prosperous and sustainable life right on their homeland.

Ngoc Thang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/cau-chuyen-ve-na-dai-bo-ly-237698.htm