Dragon fruit trees transform lives in An Nghia.

Like many other farmers, Mr. Le Quang Dao in Thang Loi area, An Nghia commune, used to cultivate corn and vegetables on his land. While his life was stable, his income was low, leaving him constantly searching for a new direction. Five years ago, during a chance visit to a red-fleshed dragon fruit farm, he recognized the great potential of this fruit. After thorough research and comparison with other crops, he decided to take a risk and convert his entire 1-hectare family land to dragon fruit cultivation.

Mr. Dao's dragon fruit orchard generates an income of 200-300 million VND per year.

After three years of diligent care, his dragon fruit orchard began to yield a harvest. Recognizing the clear economic benefits, Mr. Dao joined the Thanh Ha Agricultural Service Cooperative, working with other farmers to build a sustainable production model.

The shift from traditional crops to dragon fruit has brought unexpected success to many farmers in An Nghia commune. A prime example is Mr. Dao's model; his dragon fruit orchard and those of the cooperative members can yield 20 to 30 tons of fruit annually, generating revenue of 500-600 million VND. After deducting initial investment costs of approximately 100-200 million VND, the net profit can reach 300 million VND or more per year.

This success stems not only from high productivity but also from the strong bond among its members. The Thanh Ha Agricultural Service Cooperative has established a Zalo group for members to exchange experiences, update prices, harvest times, and pest control methods. This information channel helps maintain stable prices and ensures farmers' rights, fostering trust and cohesion within the community.

Dragon fruit trees have helped many people in An Nghia commune change their lives.

Ms. Tran Thi Thep, Director of Thanh Ha Agricultural Service Cooperative, said: Currently, the cooperative has 7 members and 20 households linked to cultivate dragon fruit on an area of ​​over 21 hectares. To improve product quality and build a dragon fruit brand, the cooperative has established a strict production process. Farmers are encouraged to use bio-fertilizers instead of single-nutrient fertilizers, partly thanks to support from the province. The use of bio-fertilizers not only helps the plants grow well and increase productivity but also ensures safe and environmentally friendly products.

Similarly, pesticide application adheres to biological principles, with preventative spraying only before flowering and absolutely no spraying during the harvest season, ensuring the dragon fruit is completely free of contaminants. The cooperative regularly organizes technical training sessions on plant care, pruning for uniform fruit size, and identifying common diseases such as white spot. Thanks to the Zalo group, when a household detects a disease, the information is shared immediately so that the entire group can proactively spray preventively in a timely manner.

Building on its initial successes, Thanh Ha Agricultural Services Cooperative is continuing its sustainable development strategy for high-quality dragon fruit cultivation. The goal is not only to expand the cultivated area but also to focus on ensuring the fruit consistently meets export quality standards.

Viet Lam

Source: https://baophutho.vn/cay-thanh-long-doi-doi-o-an-nghia-238891.htm