Chieng Khuong carefully tends to the longan blossom season.

Stretching along the Ma River, nearly 900 hectares of longan orchards in Chieng Khuong commune are entering a crucial stage in preparation for the 2026 harvest. Undeterred by sun or rain, cooperatives and farmers here are dedicating their hearts and souls to caring for each plot of early-ripening, late-ripening, and Southern longan varieties, determined to transform the early blossoms into abundant harvests of sweet fruit.

Longan growing area in Thong Nhat village, Chieng Khuong commune.

At this time of year, across the hillsides of Tan Lap, Quyet Thang, Thong Nhat, Tien Son, Khuong Tien villages, and other areas, the golden color of longan blossoms is blooming everywhere. While early-ripening longan growers are busy tending to the young fruit, in the southern longan-growing regions, people are caring for the flowers, preparing for a bountiful harvest of sweet fruit.

Members of the Hung Loc Agricultural Services Cooperative in Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune, are tending to their early-ripening longan orchards.

Busy pruning branches and thinning young fruit in his early-ripening longan orchard, Mr. Tran Van Phat, a member of the Hung Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative in Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune, shared: "This is the fifth year my family has switched to specializing in early-ripening longan cultivation on a 2-hectare scale. Based on my experience, since August of last year, my family has focused on fertilizing, supplementing nutrients, and ensuring irrigation for the trees. At this point, when the trees have produced young fruit, pruning branches and fruit will determine the yield and quality of the product. Harvesting early-ripening longan usually takes place at the end of April and May, with an expected yield of about 20 tons. The selling price ranges from 40,000 to 80,000 VND/kg, and each hectare of early-ripening longan can generate revenue of 400 million VND or more."

Farmers in Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune, are pruning their early-ripening longan orchards.

The Hung Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative in Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune, has a large area of ​​early-ripening longan cultivation in the locality. The cooperative has 23 members, cultivating 30 hectares of early-ripening longan, accounting for 65% of the total longan area of ​​its members. Thanks to the consistent application of production processes according to VietGAP standards, ensuring food safety standards, the cooperative maintains an annual yield of over 300 tons of early-ripening longan, effectively meeting market demand.

Mr. Tran Van Loc, Director of the Cooperative, informed: "Producing early-ripening longan is more difficult than producing regular-season longan because it requires meticulous attention to adjusting the tree's biological rhythm. Our cooperative members do not overuse growth stimulants but focus on supplementing nutrients to keep the trees healthy from the roots, thus ensuring long-lasting and beautiful fruit. When the trees bear young fruit, farmers must focus on thinning out poor-quality fruit to ensure uniformity in each cluster. Early-ripening longan is easier to sell because it doesn't overlap with the harvest season elsewhere, and the selling price is higher."

Members of the Hung Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative in Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune, share their experiences in caring for early-ripening longan orchards.

Meanwhile, the An Phu Agricultural Service Cooperative, with 6 members, is currently developing nearly 20 hectares of early-ripening T6 longan, with an expected total yield of approximately 200 tons. Ms. Tran Thi Minh An, Director of the Cooperative, said: "Currently, we focus on production according to VietGAP standards and are gradually moving towards organic farming. All members strictly follow technical procedures from pruning and shaping to inducing flowering at the right time. In pest and disease control, the Cooperative adheres to the '4 correct principles' and prioritizes biological products. The Cooperative has proactively linked with purchasing businesses and distribution channels at wholesale markets; at the same time, it cooperates in bringing products to trade fairs and connecting with consumers."

Farmers in Quyet Thang village, Chieng Khuong commune, are tending their longan orchards.

From the beginning of the crop season, the People's Committee of Chieng Khuong commune directed the commune's General Service Center to guide longan growers on pruning, shaping, and supplementary pollination techniques; at the same time, it advised people to adhere to the "four correct principles" and prioritize biological products to protect the environment. It also directed specialized units to closely coordinate with cooperatives in regulating irrigation water and proactively connect with businesses to purchase the products.

Mr. Tong Van An, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: "We aim to enhance the value of longan products through safe, high-quality, and sustainable production. The commune maintains and expands the production area according to VietGAP standards, strengthens the management of planting area codes, ensures traceability, and meets market requirements. In addition, the commune focuses on consolidating and improving the efficiency of cooperatives, promoting linkages with businesses to guarantee product sales. At the same time, we are strengthening the promotion of the Chieng Khuong longan brand, expanding the domestic market and gradually moving towards export; encouraging the development of processed products such as dried longan and dried longan to increase added value and stabilize output for the people."

Mastering technical methods not only helps farmers in Chieng Khuong have a bountiful lychee harvest with good prices, but also contributes to increasing the value of agricultural products and economic efficiency, helping farmers in the border region to rise out of poverty and become wealthy.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/chieng-khuong-cham-chut-mua-hoa-nhan-lPgl5R5Dg.html