Admire the incredibly beautiful mangosteen orchard.

In Dong Nai , organic farming and creating a natural vegetation cover from grass is how Mr. Vuong Thanh Nam persistently cares for and protects his organic mangosteen orchard, preserving the ecosystem and the environment.

Mr. Vuong Thanh Nam's organic mangosteen orchard won first prize in the 2023 "Model Orchard" competition of Long Khanh City, Dong Nai Province. Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

Learn to be a "good farmer"

Long Khánh City (Dong Nai province) is blessed with a cool climate, flat terrain with red basalt soil, and abundant groundwater resources, making it suitable for growing various fruit trees such as rambutan, custard apple, jackfruit, durian, oranges, tangerines, bananas, guavas, and mangosteens…

Taking advantage of this, the locality has encouraged farmers to proactively invest in developing fruit tree cultivation models that apply science and technology, organic farming, and natural farming practices. This has led to the formation of many exemplary, green agricultural models producing high-quality products. At the same time, it has attracted many domestic and international tourists to visit and admire the produce, affirming the position of Long Khánh as a region renowned for its tropical fruits.

Among them, the organic mangosteen orchard of Mr. Vuong Thanh Nam (Group 26, Bao Vinh Ward, Long Khanh City) stands out as it is well-invested.

Stepping into the approximately 1-hectare garden, Mr. Nam's family home is surrounded by 80 shady mangosteen trees. Since 2019, Mr. Nam has taken over the mangosteen orchard from his father and begun renovating it, switching to completely organic farming.

Leading us on a tour of his garden, Mr. Nam recounted his journey of "learning to be a good farmer": "At first, I didn't know anything about farming, I was very confused, then disappointed with the quality of the fruit, the stunted trees, the many pests and diseases, and the small leaves. Discouraged, there were times when I stopped taking care of them, causing the trees to wither and the soil to become barren."

After that, I was determined to learn and explore on my own every day, learning and gaining experience as I went along. In addition, the Farmers' Association of Binh Loc commune also sent me to training courses on organic farming. Eventually, I made progress; the soil began to recover, the plants grew better, without using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. I persevered every day, determined to "be a good farmer," creating quality products that are safe for consumers' health,” Mr. Nam shared.

Nam's mangosteen orchard is left to grow naturally, creating a lush carpet of vegetation. Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

What belongs to the land should be returned to the land.

Throughout the story, Mr. Vuong Thanh Nam repeatedly told us: "What we take from the land, we must give back to the land." That is the approach he has been persistently taking to grow organic mangosteen, hoping to create a clean environment for his family and neighborhood, and to generate high income from selling high-quality organic mangosteen.

According to Mr. Nam, during his six years of organic farming, he allowed the grass to grow naturally (only trimming the tops) to create a vegetation cover that helps the plants and soil better withstand drought, retains soil moisture, and promotes the development of microorganisms in the soil.

In addition, he also adds organic fertilizer, fertilizes with microorganisms, uses Humic fish emulsion, and soil conditioners to make the soil more porous... so that the trees can withstand harsh weather and avoid sap leakage and fruit cracking. Thanks to this, when the first rains of the season arrive, he doesn't worry about the trees dropping flowers and fruits, or experiencing water and heat shock.

Furthermore, Mr. Nam invested in an automatic irrigation system installed throughout the garden and numbered each tree for easier management.

"When I'm away, my dad can turn on the switch himself and water the plants whenever he wants, without having to carry a hose around the garden like he used to," Nam said with a smile.

Mr. Nam's organic mangosteen orchard, with 80 trees aged 20-25 years, is truly valuable. Each tree is lush, healthy, and thriving amidst a "forest" of mangosteen trees cultivated using conventional methods. This was also an advantage that helped Mr. Nam's organic mangosteen orchard win first prize in the 2023 "Model Fruit Orchard" competition of Long Khánh City.

50% of the mangosteen trees in Mr. Vuong Thanh Nam's garden are 20-25 years old. Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

When asked about the benefits of organic farming, Mr. Nam said that, technically, he has now successfully cultivated mangosteen trees using organic methods. As a result, the soil is becoming more fertile and porous; the trees are healthier and less susceptible to pests and diseases; the leaves are larger, greener, and thicker; and the fruit quality is consistent, with thin skin, smooth flesh, and a sweet taste. Therefore, Mr. Nam's mangosteens are always in high demand during harvest season.

Moreover, thanks to completely organic farming, the environment is clean and healthy, ensuring the well-being of Mr. Nam's family as they live amidst the mangosteen orchard.

“My customers are mainly organic fruit stores and supermarkets in Long Khanh City, as well as Hanoi and Kon Tum... Many customers have taken my mangosteen for quality testing and have purchased it for export abroad. Organically grown, clean mangosteen is always in short supply,” Mr. Nam said, adding that his mangosteen yield this year will definitely increase by about 5-10% compared to last year.

According to Mr. Nam, each mangosteen tree currently yields an average of 50-150 kg of fruit. Approximately 50% of the trees in his orchard are in their prime, with a potential yield of over 100 kg per tree per year, providing his family with an income of over 1 billion VND annually.

In the future, when he has enough time, Mr. Nam plans to invest in research to implement his idea of ​​combining organic farming with ecotourism. At the same time, he will explore the possibility of obtaining organic certification.

Growing mangosteen organically, yields increase year after year. Photo: Nguyen Thuy.

“We hope that local authorities and media outlets will support farmers in developing organic agriculture to secure a stable market with good prices. This will create motivation for farmers to gradually shift from chemical farming to organic farming, and together we can establish and promote the mangosteen brand – the “queen of fruits” of Long Khánh – to domestic and international tourists,” said Mr. Vương Thành Nam.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tai of the Asian Institute for Organic Agriculture Research and Development (AOI), organic farming, circular agriculture, ecological agriculture, and climate change adaptation are global and Vietnamese trends for sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate change response.

Developing organic agriculture contributes to the creation of livable rural areas, attracting tourists to visit and enjoy the scenery, and promoting local economic development.

In recent years, the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have implemented policies and initiatives to develop organic agriculture. Many localities have established well-planned organic farming models from the outset, making it easier to obtain organic certification according to Vietnamese or international standards (EU, USDA, JAS, etc.), thus facilitating exports to demanding markets.

"The organic market is growing both domestically and internationally. This is an opportunity for farmers to invest in production and transition to sustainable farming models to move further forward."

"We are ready to support farmers and businesses by providing advice, transferring technical processes, and participating in building organic production models and organic certification," Mr. Tai said.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/chiem-nguong-vuon-mang-cut-sieu-dep-d386768.html