Pineapple plants in Thu Thua district

Pineapple is a famous specialty of the province and one of the typical rural industrial products at the provincial level. According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province currently has more than 1,000 hectares of pineapple plantations. Of which, nearly 900 hectares are currently bearing fruit, with a production of over 22,828 tons per year. These plantations are concentrated in the districts of Thanh Hoa, Ben Luc, and Thu Thua.

According to many farmers, pineapples grown in areas with higher levels of acidity and salinity produce heavier, tastier, and sweeter fruits. Because of this characteristic, pineapple cultivation has contributed to improving the lives of people in these "acidic soil" regions and transforming the appearance of once impoverished rural areas.

Pineapple cultivation provides income for farmers and is gradually becoming one of the main crops of Thu Thua district.

The Queen pineapple variety is the one most favored by farmers. What makes Long An pineapples so special is their subtly sweet taste, deep yellow flesh, low fiber content, high juiciness, crisp texture, and minimal tongue irritation. To achieve these characteristics, pineapple farmers not only apply scientific and technical advancements but also know how to effectively utilize the acidic soil of the region.

Typically, at the beginning of the rainy season, farmers start planting pineapple seedlings. Planting at this time requires less care because less watering is needed, reducing seedling losses and promoting healthy growth. If planting with stem cuttings, it takes about 8-10 months to induce flowering, while planting with stem cuttings takes 12 months. To grow this type of plant, farmers pre-germinate the cuttings 2-3 months in advance. The seedlings , about a hand's length tall, can then be transplanted. On average, farmers plant about 35,000 plants per hectare, with a spacing of 40-50 cm between plants.

Mr. Pham Van Ty (Tan Long commune, Thu Thua district) shared: “Currently, most local farmers grow pineapples using the root-propagating method, so it takes about 16 months for the pineapples to start yielding. Although this method takes longer to harvest compared to planting with stem or stalk cuttings, it allows farmers to be more proactive in managing fruit production, avoiding situations where a large quantity of pineapples is harvested at once, which could lead to price manipulation by traders. On average, farmers will induce fruiting once every two months.”

Farmers in Thu Thua district harvest pineapples.

Recognizing that pineapples thrive in the acidic soil of the region, the Thu Thua Pineapple Cooperative (Tan Long commune, Thu Thua district) was established in 2017 with 10 members and a production area of over 50 hectares. However, the cooperative's biggest concern currently is finding a stable market for its pineapples, as most farmers still sell fresh pineapples through traders, lacking connections with businesses and without a market for processed products.

According to Nguyen Thanh Trung, Director of Thu Thua Pineapple Cooperative, in the first year of harvest, pineapples yield about 25 tons/ha, in the second year about 20 tons/ha, and in the third year about 15 tons/ha. Harvested pineapples are classified into three categories based on weight, with Category I requiring a fruit weight of 1.2 kg or more. The cost of planting 1 hectare of pineapples in the first year ranges from 80-100 million VND; in the second and third years, it is about 20 million VND each year. After deducting all expenses, farmers earn an average profit of 100 million VND/ha/year.

“The cooperative’s future orientation is to standardize the quality of pineapples for export, because if we only depend on the domestic market, farmers can easily fall into the situation of ‘bumper harvest, falling prices.’ However, to export pineapples, we need the support of relevant levels and sectors in providing technical assistance, establishing planting area codes, and connecting with consumers,” Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung shared.

Since its introduction to Thu Thua district, pineapple has become one of the local crops, helping many farmers increase their income.

Bui Tung

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