Making a fortune from growing four-season lemons.

Ten years ago, people in Phuc Lai commune, Doan Hung district, found a way to introduce the four-season lemon variety to replace low-yielding acacia and mixed orchards. Since then, the lemon trees have taken root, grown green, flowered, and borne fruit on the hillsides, opening up a new direction for economic development and helping farmers rise out of poverty and become wealthy.

The four-season lemon tree yields fruit year-round, helping many families in the commune to become wealthy.

Like many other farmers in Phuc Lai commune, despite having a large area of hilly land, due to a lack of knowledge and farming techniques, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dan's family in Zone 2 only knew how to grow forestry trees and some common fruit trees. After researching lemon cultivation models in many places, Mr. Dan realized that the natural conditions and soil of his hometown were suitable for lemon trees to thrive. Starting with a few dozen experimental trees, which grew well and bore fruit year-round, he discussed with his family and decided to convert all 4.5 hectares of mixed orchards and forest hills to four-season lemon cultivation. To date, 2 hectares of lemon trees are yielding harvests. In 2024, his family harvested 40 tons of fruit, and after deducting expenses, the profit reached 600 million VND.

Leading us up the hill to visit his lemon orchard with its branches laden with fruit, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dan excitedly smiled and said, “The lemon harvest is bountiful and the prices are good, so we lemon growers are very happy. Traders' cars come right to the foot of the hill to buy the lemons. The area under intensive cultivation of four-season lemons is expanding day by day. From mixed orchards and low-yielding pomelo orchards, we have pruned the branches, keeping the roots to graft with four-season lemon varieties, and at the same time invested in installing an automatic irrigation system to reduce labor. Lemon trees have not only helped my family escape poverty but also provided the conditions to invest in economic development and become wealthy.”

To ensure lemon trees grow well, yield high-quality fruit, and have the desired appearance, lemon growers must constantly learn techniques and methods for controlling pests and diseases on the trees and fruit. From barren hillsides, farmers have improved the soil by using organic fertilizers and limiting inorganic fertilizers to make the soil loose, retain water well, create fertility, and provide sufficient nutrients for the trees to flower and bear fruit year-round. In addition, when newly planted, weeding and loosening the soil around the base of the trees are necessary to maintain moisture for good growth. With these techniques, lemon trees grown from cuttings can be harvested within 5 years, while grafted lemon trees can be harvested for 8-10 years.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Phuc Lai commune, the entire commune has expanded the area planted with four-season lemons to 33.5 hectares (an increase of 3.5 hectares compared to 2024), with an estimated yield of 20 tons/hectare/year. With a selling price ranging from 18,000 to 20,000 VND/kg, the lemon trees have brought in an income of 360-400 million VND/hectare/year. Thanks to its superior economic efficiency compared to other crops, four-season lemons have become a key crop, helping many families in Phuc Lai commune to become wealthy. Currently, there are 5 households in the commune growing lemons on large areas of 1 hectare or more. Many family-run and large-scale four-season lemon farming models have been established and replicated, contributing to job creation and increased income for the people.

Comrade Nguyen Huu Hop, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Lai commune, said: "Thanks to the effectiveness of the four-season lemon tree, many households in the commune are converting low-yield pomelo orchards to lemon trees using the grafting method on pomelo rootstock. With the current stable prices and market for lemons, it will help people in the commune increase their income, contributing to changing the appearance and promoting the socio-economic development of the locality."

Standing atop the lush green lemon grove, immersing ourselves in the delicate fragrance of lemon blossoms blending with the tranquil mountain air, we hoped for a bountiful harvest for the farmers on the Phuc Lai hills. Replacing low-yielding mixed crops with four-season lemon trees has opened up a new direction, suitable to the economic conditions of many households in the area, helping farmers prosper from agricultural production right on their own land.

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