The season of abundant oranges

These days, the fruit-growing regions of the province are entering the busiest harvest season of the year. After a year of diligent cultivation and care, farmers welcome the sweet harvest with the hope of bringing in a stable income, contributing to painting a peaceful and prosperous picture of the countryside.

Visiting Luc Yen commune these days, you can easily spot rolling hills covered with orange groves ready for harvest. The orchards, laden with fruit, gleam with a vibrant yellow under the winter sun, making life here more lively than ever. As each new day begins, the roads leading to the orchards become bustling with the sounds of trucks carrying fruit and people calling out to each other as they embark on the harvest season.

In Na Tang village, the orange orchard of Ms. Ha Thi Nghien's family is entering its peak season. Having been involved with orange cultivation for nearly 10 years, from the early days when they were still quite inexperienced, Ms. Nghien's more than 2 hectares of orange trees now provide a stable income each year. This year, the weather has been favorable, resulting in abundant fruit with thin, plump skins. The estimated yield is nearly 40 tons, bringing in approximately 500 million VND.

That success comes from perseverance and organic farming practices. Using manure, fishmeal for irrigation, weeding around the base of the plants, and applying lime to prevent pests and diseases after harvest – all are done regularly according to the seasons.

"Taking care of orange trees can't be rushed. You have to know how to wait and keep the trees healthy. Every year, seeing the abundant fruit makes us very happy!" - Mrs. Nghiên shared.

Not only in Luc Yen, the "capital" of oranges, the golden hues of the ripening orange season continue to spread to Nghia Tam commune – a land that has been associated with orange cultivation for many years. On the rolling hills, oranges are in season, branches laden with fruit, and the atmosphere is bustling with activity from early morning to late afternoon. Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, Nghia Tam oranges have a rich sweetness, a delicate aroma, and an attractive appearance, making them popular in the market, especially during the Lunar New Year.

With over 20 years of experience in orange cultivation, Mr. Do Quang Trong in Kien Ria village is known as one of the most dedicated and pioneering individuals in developing the Nghia Tam orange growing area in a systematic and sustainable manner. To date, Mr. Trong's orange orchard on hillside land covers approximately 50 hectares, primarily planted with high-quality varieties such as sweet oranges, lotus oranges, and V2 oranges. Each year, his orchard yields 300-500 tons of fruit, generating billions of dong in income.

Mr. Do Quang Trong shared: “Caring for orange orchards is a seasonal job, the most arduous period being after harvest and when the trees flower and bear fruit. Right after the harvest, we prune branches, shape the canopy, and fertilize to restore the trees. Organic fertilizers and macro and micronutrients are used regularly to nourish a healthy root system, resulting in sweet and firm fruit. The ripe oranges are the fruits of a year of cultivation, opening up new hope for the farmers.”

During the peak season, the atmosphere in Nghia Tam becomes bustling with activity. Every day, dozens of local laborers participate in harvesting, sorting, and packaging oranges. This seasonal work provides additional income, helping many families make ends meet, especially at the end of the year.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh from Kien Ria village said: “The oranges are harvested daily, packaged right in the orchard, and transported for consumption in many provinces and cities nationwide. Our work starts early in the morning and sometimes doesn't finish until late evening. Each day, we can earn from 300,000 to 700,000 VND, depending on the amount of work. It's hard work but enjoyable, especially at the end of the year when we have extra income to prepare for Tet.”

Nghia Tam commune currently has over 696 hectares of citrus fruit trees, of which more than 510 hectares are yielding stable harvests, with an estimated production of about 6,000 tons per year.

Mr. Vu Hung Anh, Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, said: "Orange trees have become the main crop, providing a stable source of income for local people. Thanks to the application of safe production processes according to VietGAP standards, the yield and quality of oranges have been increasingly improved, averaging about 12 tons/ha, bringing in an income of about 100 billion VND/year."

The orange-growing region is experiencing a bumper harvest and favorable prices, not only providing stable income but also showcasing the increasingly vibrant appearance of the rural areas. This represents a transition from small-scale production to the development of a market-oriented, safe, and sustainable agricultural economy . The once barren hillsides are now covered in the green of orange trees; diligent hands have transformed the arid land into fields of sweet, ripe oranges – a vivid testament contributing to the sustainable development of Lao Cai.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/mua-cam-triu-qua-post891349.html