MD2 pineapple tree produces big fruit, when ripe it spreads fragrance all over the hill, helping people in a district of Quang Ngai to become prosperous.

Initially, MD2 pineapple trees grew well, providing stable income, opening up a new way out of poverty for ethnic minorities in the difficult land of Son Tay district, Quang Ngai province.

In early 2023, the People's Committee of Son Tay district (Quang Ngai province) tested the MD2 pineapple growing model in Nuoc Tang village, Son Bua commune with an area of ​​500 m2 of MD2 pineapple, a scale of 2,500 trees.

After 18 months of planting, the tree is growing and developing well, suitable for local soil and climate conditions and has yielded its first harvest.

A pilot pineapple garden is planted in Son Bua commune (Son Tay district, Quang Ngai province). Photo: Dinh Huong - VNA.

Mr. Dinh Van Mong - a household selected to pilot the sharing model, on average each pineapple weighs from 1-1.5 kg, with 2,500 trees, the family earns more than 3.5 tons.

Commercial MD2 pineapple in the garden costs from 12,000 - 15,000 VND/kg, including the cost of selling the seedlings (about 1,000 VND/bud).

After deducting all expenses such as land preparation, labor, seedlings, fertilizers, etc., growers still make a profit of about 5.5 million VND/500m2.

Compared to cassava and acacia, pineapple has higher productivity and economic efficiency. In the first year, due to high investment costs, profits are lower, but from the second season, because there is no need to pay for seeds, profits will be higher. In the near future, the family will expand to other gardens to increase income - Mr. Mong said.

Ms. Le Thi Phuong, Dac Tren village, Son Dung commune, said that she found this MD2 pineapple variety fragrant and delicious, so she ordered 500 seedlings to try planting in her family's hill garden. Up to now, the pineapple garden has yielded its second harvest.

To make the most of the space, Ms. Phuong intercrops pineapple with grapefruit and jackfruit to get short-term benefits for long-term use. With hilly land, this method of planting has a clear advantage over monoculture because it reduces weeds and provides simultaneous income for many types of plants.

Each MD2 pineapple usually weighs from 1 to 1.5 kg. Photo: Dinh Huong - VNA

According to Ms. Phuong, pineapple is easy to grow, has few pests and diseases, requires little care and is suitable for many different types of land, especially hilly areas.

Pineapple harvest time lasts from 2-3 months, so you can proactively find an outlet for the product. From planting to harvest is 14-16 months, but from the next crop it is shortened to 12 months.

An MD2 pineapple garden in Son Tay district (Quang Ngai province). Photo: Dinh Huong - VNA

Ms. Le Thi Anh in Son Mua commune (Son Tay district, Quang Ngai province) harvests pineapples. Photo: Dinh Huong - VNA.

From the initial effectiveness of the model, Son Tay district is mobilizing people to take advantage of the collected seedlings to continue replanting on existing areas and widely replicate.

Mr. Dinh Truong Giang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Tay district (Quang Ngai province) said that through the pilot model as well as some farmers in the district growing it themselves, MD2 pineapple is suitable for the climate and soil of Son Tay district, bringing high economic efficiency.

To replicate the model on a large scale, the District People's Committee has assigned functional departments to carefully and closely calculate every step from planting to care to promote the model's effectiveness.

At the same time, promote propaganda and provide technical guidance on growing MD2 pineapple for people on how to plant, care for and find stable consumption partners to promote economic efficiency, gradually reducing sustainable poverty for people.

MD2 pineapple is one of the suitable and promising plants, opening up a new direction for Son Tay farmers to choose to convert from mixed gardens and ineffective hill gardens, in order to increase income and contribute to socio-economic development.

Source: https://danviet.vn/cay-dua-md2-ra-qua-to-bu-he-chin-la-thom-khap-doi-giup-dan-mot-huyen-cua-quang-ngai-kha-gia-20240714233335734.htm