Getting rich from growing custard apples

For the past 10 years, despite numerous hardships and difficulties, Ms. Lùng Thị Thuỷ and her husband, members of the Phù Lá ethnic group in Cốc Sâm 2 village, Phong Niên commune, Bảo Thắng district, Lào Cai province, have remained dedicated to growing custard apples. Their efforts have paid off, and each harvest season, the custard apples bring sweet fruits to Ms. Thủy's family. The extraordinary general meeting of Vietcombank shareholders elected Mr. Lê Quang Vinh, Deputy General Director in charge of the Executive Board, as a member of the Board of Directors for the 2023-2028 term, while simultaneously dismissing Mr. Nguyễn Mỹ Hào, who retired on November 1, 2024. With these decisions, the Vietcombank Board of Directors currently has 9 members. Currently, many Cơ Ho ethnic women in Lâm Đồng province have learned to take advantage of local resources, boldly investing in organic coffee production using a closed-loop process, promoting the Tây Nguyên coffee brand to domestic and international customers, bringing high income to their families. (This is a summary of news from the Ethnic and Development Newspaper.) The morning news bulletin on March 8th includes the following noteworthy information: Dak Lak's coffee knowledge recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage; the prosperity of traditional craft villages in Ca Mau; the season of "catching" students in Po To; and other current events in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. Ban Lau border commune in Muong Khuong district has long been known as the "banana and pineapple hub" of Lao Cai province. From pineapple and banana cultivation, increasingly wealthy Mong people are emerging in this land devastated by the border war 46 years ago. After enduring many hardships and difficulties, for the past 10 years, Ms. Lung Thi Thuy and her husband, of the Phu La ethnic group in Coc Sam 2 village, Phong Nien commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province, have remained dedicated to growing custard apples. Their efforts have paid off, with each harvest bringing sweet fruits to Ms. Thuy's family. On March 7th, 2025, Binh Duong province inaugurated the Biwase Tour of Vietnam. This is the first women's cycling race in Vietnam, part of the 15th annual Binh Duong International Women's Cycling Tournament, competing for the Biwase Cup, and included in the international competition system. "Every inch of land is worth its weight in gold," yet two impoverished Van Kieu households, those of Mr. Ho Van Lat and Mr. Ho Van Chun in Huong Hoa district (Quang Tri province), have donated nearly 1,000 square meters of land to expand a school. This noble gesture by the two households is contributing to spreading kindness to the local community... This is a summary of news from the Ethnic and Development Newspaper. This afternoon's news on March 7th includes the following noteworthy information: The 100-Year Journey of Salt Production - A Lifetime. Visiting Si Ma Cai to admire white pear blossoms. The beauty of ancient Thai villages amidst the vast forests of Nghe An province. Along with other current news from ethnic minority and mountainous regions: The extraordinary general meeting of Vietcombank shareholders elected Mr. Le Quang Vinh - Deputy General Director in charge of the Executive Board - as an additional member of the Board of Directors for the term 2023-2028, and simultaneously dismissed Mr. Nguyen My Hao, who retired on November 1, 2024. With these decisions, the Vietcombank Board of Directors currently still has 9 members. Within the framework of the Vietnam Salt Industry Festival – Bac Lieu 2025, on the afternoon of March 7, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) coordinated with the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province to organize a conference to review the implementation of Government Decree No. 40/2017/ND-CP on the management of salt production and business. On the afternoon of March 7, in Hanoi, the Customs Department organized a conference to announce the Decision stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Customs Department and its internal organizations; Announcement of Decisions on personnel matters of the Customs Department. Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi attended and delivered a speech at the Conference. On the afternoon of March 7th, in Hanoi, General Secretary To Lam and the Central Working Group worked with the Central Policy and Strategy Committee on the development of the private economy. Summary of the Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper. This afternoon's news bulletin on March 7th includes the following noteworthy information: The 100-Year Journey of Salt Production - A Lifetime. Visiting Si Ma Cai to admire white pear blossoms. The beauty of ancient Thai villages amidst the vast forests of Nghe An. Along with other current events in the ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

Ms. Lùng Thị Thuỷ introduces the custard apple agricultural product.

Previously, Coc Sam 2 village in Phong Nien commune was just a barren, rocky area. But with hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering determination to overcome difficulties, Thuy and her husband transformed the desolate land into a fertile area with over 1,000 custard apple trees. Under Thuy's care, the custard apple trees thrive.

For the past 10 years, Ms. Lung Thi Thuy's family has been one of the leading households in growing off-season custard apples on the sloping hillsides of Phong Nien. This year marks the sixth year that Ms. Thuy's family has applied technical methods to make the custard apple trees bear fruit out of season.

Ms. Thuy said: After diligently researching, studying, and visiting models in other localities to learn about science , technology, and techniques for caring for, pruning, and pollinating custard apples, she created a variety that produces off-season fruit. The custard apples have firm flesh, a sweet taste, and a distinctive aroma, making them well-known and not found everywhere. Currently, all of Ms. Thuy's custard apples are purchased directly from her orchard by traders.

According to Ms. Thuy, growing custard apples doesn't require complicated techniques, but it does demand care, and at times, continuous care is necessary. Besides fertilizing and watering, regular pruning is essential to ensure the custard apples produce large fruits and set fruit at the right time. After fruit set, remove any underdeveloped or misshapen fruits. When the custard apples are about 4-5 cm in diameter, wrap them in mesh bags to protect them from fruit flies and other sucking insects.

Ms. Lùng Thị Thuỷ, of the Phù Lá ethnic group, takes care of the custard apple tree.

Thanks to the application of science and technology along with years of experience, Thuy's family produces custard apples in two main seasons: the main season (from July to August) and the off-season (from October to November).

Currently, Ms. Thuy's family owns over 1,000 custard apple trees, of which about 600 are already bearing fruit. Including both seasons, Ms. Thuy's custard apple orchard yields nearly 5 tons of custard apples per year, with prices at the orchard during peak season ranging from 50,000 to 65,000 VND/kg depending on size. Off-season custard apples fetch higher prices than those in the main season, bringing Ms. Thuy's family an income of over 200 million VND per year.

"The custard apples grown by Ms. Lùng Thị Thuỷ's family are one of the models for growing clean custard apples according to VietGAP standards that the commune is aiming to develop into an OCOP product to gain more market recognition."

Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Nien Commune, Bao Thang District

Currently, the custard apples, both in-season and off-season, grown by Ms. Lùng Thị Thuỷ's family are well-known throughout Phong Niên commune and beyond. Her family's custard apple cultivation model not only helps them develop economically but is also being emulated by many households in the village and commune.

According to Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phong Nien commune, custard apple trees in Phong Nien commune were previously mainly grown in mixed gardens, and the people had not yet identified them as a key crop and strength of the locality. For the past nearly 10 years, as people have seen that this tree is suitable for the soil and climate, and the product quality is increasingly known and appreciated by customers, the area planted with custard apple trees in Phong Nien has expanded. The custard apples of Ms. Lung Thi Thuy's family are one of the models of clean custard apple cultivation according to VietGAP standards that the commune is aiming to develop into an OCOP product to gain wider market recognition.

The story of getting rich from the capital of black stonecrop.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/lam-giau-tu-trong-na-dai-1741315224732.htm