Krong converts crops, economy improves

These days, the nearly 3,000 m² coffee-macadamia plantation along the Ba River owned by Mr. Dinh Thuong’s family (38 years old, Bana ethnic, in Tang Lang village) is preparing to enter the harvest season. Previously, this land mainly grew corn and cassava, with very unstable income.

In 2014, with guidance from the Commune Farmers' Association, Mr. Thuong boldly borrowed capital and improved the land, planting more than 600 Robusta coffee trees; by 2019, he continued to intercrop nearly 150 macadamia trees, both increasing income and creating cover for the garden.

Officials of the Krong Commune Farmers' Association regularly provide guidance on techniques for caring for coffee and macadamia trees to Mr. Dinh Thuong's household (middle). **Photo: D.D**

Mr. Thuong said that his farm is close to the river so there is no shortage of water in the dry season, but in the rainy season the soil is soft and the high humidity can easily cause diseases. With the guidance of agricultural extension officers, his family dug drainage ditches, covered the base of the tree to keep it moist, checked for yellow leaves and rotten roots; at the same time, added organic fertilizers, used biological products and applied the method of releasing shoots for coffee... Thanks to that, the tree grows stably, has few pests and diseases, and the yield gradually increases.

“Thanks to the application of technology, in 2024, I harvested more than 3 tons of fresh coffee and 600 kg of macadamia nuts, earning a profit of nearly 80 million VND. In the future, we will expand the area, apply advanced technology, improve productivity, quality of agricultural products and increase revenue,” said Mr. Thuong.

Thanks to converting crops to coffee and macadamia, Mr. Dinh Thuong's household (Tang Lang village) has an income of more than 80 million VND/year. **Photo: D.D**

According to Mr. Dinh Due, Head of the Farmers' Association of Tang Lang village, the area currently has 115 members. In recent years, the economic development movement among ethnic minorities has changed positively, people have proactively learned techniques, converted crops and livestock to suit natural conditions.

Up to now, the area of land for growing food crops has reached about 103 hectares, of which 25 hectares are macadamia and 6 hectares are coffee, bringing about clear results. The association will continue to encourage members to expand the planting of high-yield crops, gradually improving their lives.

In Dak Bok village, in recent times, crop restructuring has been identified as an important factor for socio-economic development. Thereby, the Commune Farmers' Association and the Village Farmers' Association have actively promoted and mobilized people to convert ineffective crop areas to grow coffee, macadamia, fruit trees, etc. Currently, people grow 120 hectares of macadamia, 310 hectares of coffee, 5 hectares of fruit trees, 1 hectare of rubber, bringing high economic value, helping many households escape poverty and become rich effectively.

Thanks to the propaganda of Farmers' Associations at all levels, Mr. Dinh Luoh's family has converted to growing coffee, bringing in high income. **Photo: D.D**

The family of Mr. Dinh Luoh (58 years old, Bana ethnic, Dak Bok village) is a typical example. Initially, he had 5 hectares of rice and corn, then with guidance from the Commune Farmers' Association, he borrowed social policy capital to invest in planting more than 5 hectares of coffee. Currently, each crop he harvests more than 20 tons of coffee, earning a profit of over 550 million VND/year, becoming a well-off household in the village.

Mr. Luoh shared: “Thanks to the Farmers’ Association’s guidance, support and application of techniques, I have boldly invested, increased my income and stabilized my life. I hope that people will continue to innovate and develop village agriculture more sustainably.”

According to the Commune Farmers' Association, thanks to effective mobilization, in recent years, many households in the villages have shifted from small-scale farming to farms and family farms, expanding the scale of production. The total area of food crops currently reaches 3,011 hectares; coffee alone grows over 404 hectares, and macadamia nearly 579 hectares.

At the same time, the Association also coordinates with sectors to organize vocational training, technical training, transfer of science and technology and support in finding output, developing community products, helping to improve the qualifications, skills and income of members, and stabilize their lives.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhat, Chairman of the Commune Farmers' Association, said: "The Association will focus on supporting people to expand models of growing fruit trees for higher economic efficiency; improve management and care skills and apply advanced technology. On the other hand, proactively coordinate to find stable consumption markets, encourage members to produce sustainably, help increase income and improve members' lives, contributing to changing the face of rural mountainous areas."

Mr. Nguyen Cong Dao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Krong commune, affirmed that with the unity and high determination of the political system, and the consensus of the people, the work of converting crop structure in the commune has initially achieved positive results.

In the coming time, the commune will focus on planning production areas, mobilizing more resources from programs and projects to support seeds, materials, and techniques; selecting high-yield and high-quality seeds; linking businesses in production, consumption, and developing agricultural tourism, in order to increase the value of agricultural products, bringing sustainable benefits to the people.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/krong-chuyen-doi-cay-trong-kinh-te-khoi-sac-post573753.html