Nghia Phuong wins big thanks to planting custard apples in different seasons

Nghia Phuong custard apple market is bustling every morning.

The custard apple tree has been associated with the people of Nghia Phuong for decades. According to the elders, custard apples were planted in the 1960s, initially as a family fruit tree on the hillsides and foothills.

The land here belongs to the red-yellow soil group and thin soil layer, with suitable pH, combined with the continental climate of the northeastern mountains, creating ideal conditions for custard apple trees to grow. Initially, custard apples were only grown intercropped with rice and other fruit trees, but gradually, realizing the economic efficiency many times higher than traditional crops, people began to expand the specialized growing area.

In the past 15 years, custard apple has truly become a key crop and the local government has actively promoted and encouraged people to convert their land from fields with difficult irrigation to custard apple. Up to now, the whole commune has more than 1,000 hectares of custard apple, with an estimated yield of 8,000 tons/year, bringing in an income of about 400 million VND/ha - a figure that is much higher than that of rice or other crops.

Not only that, the growth rate of custard apple trees in Nghia Phuong is also thanks to the creativity of local farmers. People research and apply pruning techniques after each harvest, helping the trees flower and bear fruit on the trunk instead of the branch tips, reducing fruit loss due to wind and storms.

In particular, the supplementary pollination method, first applied in Nghia Phuong, has extended the harvest season to 5 to 6 months/year (from July to December). Currently, 87% of the custard apple area is produced in a spread-out manner, with 60% being harvested in the main season and the rest being custard apple (off-season).

In addition, the use of organic fertilizers and straw ash to supplement potassium has increased the fruit set rate, improved flavor and preservation ability. Custard apple is famous for its superior quality: large fruit, thin skin, white, chewy flesh, rich sweetness, few seeds, light aroma. Each fruit weighs from 0.5-1.2 kg, especially Thai custard apple is grown by many households for two harvests/year, with fruits up to 0.8-1.2 kg. Compared to custard apples in other regions, Nghia Phuong custard apples are sweeter thanks to their high sugar content and less acid.

This comes from the natural conditions of low hills, little drought, and unique care techniques such as using biological products, avoiding chemical pesticides. To improve quality, Nghia Phuong commune has invested heavily in production according to VietGAP standards. The whole commune has 105 hectares certified by VietGAP, and more than 1,000 hectares of production in this direction.

People use organic fertilizers and biological pesticides to ensure food safety and environmental friendliness. Mr. Hoang Van Huong, Director of Nghia Phuong custard apple cooperative, said: “VietGAP production helps our custard apples gain trust and use in the market. This year, the output of Nghia Phuong custard apple cooperative reached more than 14,300 tons, with the main crop price higher than last year.”

Among the lush custard apple gardens in Lien Giang village, Nguyen Van Dung is a shining example of the journey to get rich from custard apple trees. His family has more than 1,000 custard apple trees, 7-10 years old, mainly using organic fertilizer. "Since I was young, I have been used to growing custard apples, but it was not until the past 10 years, when applying the technique of spreading the crop, that the custard apple garden really brought in a large income," said Dung. Every day, he and his wife wake up at 2-3 am, use a lamp to pick custard apples in time to bring them to the market.

This year, despite the stormy weather affecting the growing process, custard apples still had a good harvest, with large, beautiful fruits. “My custard apples are mainly sold to traders in Hanoi and Hai Phong. Thanks to VietGAP, customers can rest assured about the quality,” added Mr. Dung. Not only did he grow the fruit, Mr. Dung also joined a cooperative, learning additional pollination techniques to extend the season. “Previously, custard apples were ripe and prices were easily squeezed.

Now, the harvest is spread out, the price is more stable. The income from custard apples helps my family build a new house and send my children to university. " Since 2021, the custard apple products of Nghia Phuong Cooperative have been recognized as 3-star OCOP. The cooperative has promoted through traceability stamps, QR codes, printed packaging, and participated in electronic booths. More importantly, the Luc Nam custard apple brand (including Nghia Phuong) was granted a certificate of protection for the geographical indication "Luc Nam" on July 20, 2020 by the Department of Intellectual Property.

This is the second geographical indication for fruit growing area in Bac Ninh , after Luc Ngan litchi. Despite its success, Nghia Phuong custard apple still faces challenges: Consumption is mainly through small retail channels, traditional markets such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hung Yen. In years of good harvest, it has to be sold at low prices, people want support from the State in processing and preservation technology to prolong freshness, expand exports, and stabilize custard apple prices.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hau, a trader with 10 years of experience in trading custard apples, shared: Every day I buy 1.5-2 tons of custard apples from Nghia Phuong to distribute in Hanoi. The custard apples here are quite beautiful and of good quality, but growers need to preserve them better to avoid spoilage and loss of value. This year, the whole country has a good crop of custard apples and longans, the market is fiercely competitive, prices are cheap, if not transported and preserved properly, traders can have to make up for losses at any time.

With the journey from family crop to economic symbol, the custard apple tree in Nghia Phuong not only brings income but also affirms its cultural and tourism value. In the future, with proper investment, the custard apple will continue to be the “sweet fruit” that helps Nghia Phuong people rise up.

Article and photos: DANG GIANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nghia-phuong-thang-lon-nho-trong-na-rai-vu-post906249.html