Getting rich from split-leaf philodendron - a new direction for farmers

Mr. Le Dang Khoa, Duyen Loc village, Dinh Tan commune, boldly planted the split-leaf philodendron. This is a relatively easy-to-grow and easy-to-care-for plant. This plant also has the ability to filter the air, helping to improve the living environment and especially extract essential oils for the beauty industry. The plant divides into many branches, the leaves spread out evenly in all directions and the main source of income is the leaves.

Leaders of Dinh Tan commune visited the pothos model of Mr. Le Dang Khoa's household, Duyen Loc village.

Previously, Mr. Khoa's family grew vegetables on an area of ​​0.7 hectares, but the economic efficiency was low, the income value was not high, and they were often damaged by floods. In early 2023, through an acquaintance, Mr. Khoa learned about the uses and value of the pothos plant. The cultivation process showed that the pothos plant is easy to cultivate, thrives in hot and humid climates, does not require much technique, and has a stable price... Through connections, his family was introduced, consulted, and supported by a business in the North on how to plant, care for, harvest, and consume.

With the above basic advantages, Mr. Khoa's family decided to accumulate land, invest in greenhouses, automatic irrigation systems, hire workers and receive technical support from the company to take care of and harvest properly to have high income value. Up to now, after 3 years, Mr. Khoa has invested billions of VND to build greenhouses and net houses with an area of ​​0.7 hectares to grow pothos.

Mr. Khoa said: The initial investment is very large but the harvest is much more economically efficient than growing rice and other vegetables. The work of caring for and preventing pests and diseases is much more convenient than other crops. After 6 months of planting and caring, the split-leaf philodendron has adapted and grown well, the leaves are big and beautiful and can be harvested. Watering once a day, keeping the plant moist will produce beautiful leaves and a strong stem. Split-leaf philodendron has a long harvest period of 9 to 10 years before needing to be replaced. This is a tropical plant, originating in the Americas, rarely has pests and diseases so it is easy to care for, with the characteristic of fast growth. On average, each month, his family harvests more than 7,000 leaves with a selling price of 2,000 VND/leaf.

According to Mr. Khoa, after harvesting the leaves, they are divided into 4 types, from small ones with 27cm wide holes, the second type from 27cm to 30cm, 30cm to 35cm and from 35cm and up will have different economic values. This type of plant can still grow if invested in expansion. When you want to expand, you should contact the company so that the company can give you instructions and have a next contract because the contract signed with the company must have a term.

Mr. Le Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of Dinh Tan Commune People's Committee, said: "Currently, the commune is interested in investing and orienting high-tech agricultural production. The commune is piloting a model of growing pothos plants. The commune competes with businesses to implement product consumption and review the effectiveness of the model for replication, striving to build many high-value agricultural production models, in order to promote local economic development and improve the quality of life for people."

Mr. Khoa is the first household in the commune to invest in growing pothos for leaves, bringing in an income of more than 100 million VND/year. This model suggests a direction for converting to new crop varieties. This is the basis for Dinh Tan commune to effectively implement the target: agricultural area is accumulated and concentrated for large-scale agricultural production, applying high technology in the period of 2026-2030 reaching 330 hectares. Of which, the agricultural land area applying high technology reaches 55 hectares; the product value per hectare of cultivated land and aquaculture in 2030 reaches 195 million VND/ha or more according to the Resolution of the 1st Party Congress of the commune, term 2025-2030.

Article and photos: Le Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/lam-giau-tu-trau-ba-la-xe-huong-di-moi-cua-nong-dan-266817.htm