A corner of the betel nut garden of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van's family in Truong Xuan commune (Tho Xuan district).
In the sweltering heat of early summer, the garden of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van's family in Thanh Vinh village, Truong Xuan commune, remains pleasantly cool. Hundreds of betel nut trees, large and small, planted in rows, cast lush green shade over a peaceful corner of the countryside. Right behind the beautiful gate, rows of betel nut trees of varying heights continue to bloom and bear fruit year-round. Being tall and branchless, betel nut trees don't create much shade, allowing them to be planted just 2 meters apart. As the betel nut trees grow taller, new seedlings can be planted in the lower layers while still ensuring sufficient sunlight, so even a dense betel nut garden can maintain high productivity.
In fact, betel nut trees are a familiar crop to many people in Thanh Hoa. However, traditional betel nut trees only yield two harvests per year, mostly grown extensively in a natural way without scientific care, resulting in low productivity. From 2014-2016, following advice from relatives working in Hanoi, Ms. Van renovated her mixed garden and planted betel nut trees using scientific and technical methods. The betel nut variety she imported is the Xuan Dinh Four-Season Betel Nut, purchased from the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture . Unlike the local variety, this betel nut garden flowers year-round, yielding four main harvests each year.
By planting at the correct density, applying organic fertilizer in multiple applications throughout the year, and installing a modern sprinkler irrigation system, the betel nut garden yields fruit after only 3-4 years. When the first betel nut garden yielded unexpected success, Ms. Van continued to raise capital to buy a stagnant pond from her neighbor, filling it with soil to plant a second garden. A third betel nut garden was established in recent years when she renovated her parents' garden right next to her house. Under the betel nut trees, she planted some low-lying plants such as pomelo, water spinach, and herbs to generate additional income. At the same time, she raised 50 beehives, both for honey production and for selling bee colonies.
Three gardens are connected to form a combined production area with a total area of 2,000 square meters. Within the garden, each pathway is paved with concrete or non-slip ceramic tiles, dividing the land into production plots with optimal moisture and nutrient levels according to scientific procedures. To ensure the betel nut trees bear large fruits, the owner, born in 1963, also purchases high-quality fish emulsion fertilizer to feed the trees.
According to Ms. Van, betel nuts are always bought directly from the garden by traders, and there's never a shortage of supply. In recent years, betel nuts have sold for an average of 70,000 VND/kg, with some bunches weighing nearly ten kilograms. Many trees yield over 1 million VND per year. In 2024, the price was highest, with traders buying them for up to 100,000 VND/kg, yet still not enough to meet demand. The family earned nearly 200 million VND after deducting expenses. Including the beekeeping and other crops, the garden generates a profit of approximately 270 million VND per year. The betel nut crop for early 2025 is expected to be abundant and ready for harvest.
In the middle of the garden, there is an octagonal pavilion, a fish pond, a saddle-shaped bridge... creating a picturesque living space, becoming a gathering place for retired officials and local organizations. Mrs. Van, a retired commune official, and her husband, a former soldier, return to the locality. They handle all aspects of production themselves, without hiring laborers. Once they master the techniques of planting and caring for betel nut trees, everything becomes easy for them.
Over 500 betel palm trees, 300 of which are already bearing fruit, create a lush, eco-friendly garden that remains green year-round. The garden's success has been highlighted and shared by the Tho Xuan District Gardening and Farming Association, encouraging other households in the district to learn from and implement similar models.
Text and photos: Linh Truong
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hieu-qua-kep-tu-vuon-cau-sinh-thai-249571.htm
Comment (0)