Sweet fruit from hard land
In the first week of June, in the cool weather of the romantic and poetic Central Highlands, we had a long business trip to Dam Rong (Lam Dong) to carry out a series of articles about typical agricultural products that have been certified with a trademark.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang - Head of Ro Men Pineapple Cooperative, harvesting pineapples.
If my hometown Binh Dinh in the Central region has sweet and sour pineapples, and the West has sweet pineapples, then Dam Rong has sweet honey pineapples - a unique, cool flavor that captivates travelers.
Vice Chairman of Dam Rong District People's Committee Lieng Hot Ha Hai shared: "In recent years, people have converted honey pineapple to replace less effective plants. Thanks to the suitable climate and soil, the tree grows well, has delicious fruit, stable economic value, and brings in an income of 270 - 320 million VND/ha/year. The pineapple growing area has reached more than 40ha".
Not only is pineapple easy to grow, has few pests and diseases, and requires little water and cost, it is also suitable for the cultivation level of ethnic minorities. Thanks to that, many poor and near-poor households in Ro Men have begun to have the opportunity to rise up and escape poverty sustainably.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang - Head of the Ro Men Pineapple Cooperative (Dam Rong), said that the cooperative was established in 2021, initially with only 7 members and an area of 11 hectares. Up to now, it has increased to 17 members (7 members are ethnic minorities) with 23 hectares, of which 17 hectares have been harvested, with an estimated output of more than 400 tons/year.
When Dam Rong honey pineapple has established intellectual property rights for the certification mark and receives attention from local authorities in coordination with media units to support promotion and business connection, people will certainly feel secure in investing in production and improving cultivation.
Many households in Dam Rong, especially Ro Men commune, have chosen pineapple trees to replace other less effective trees.
“THT is a model to attract farming households with the goal of reducing poverty and building a family economy from pineapple. We hope that local authorities will promote the conversion of small, idle land areas to pineapple cultivation instead of other short-term, ineffective crops. At the same time, they will plan the growing area and expand it to other communes in the area,” said Mr. Nguyen Minh Thang.
The story of the people who 'keep' honey
In the afternoon sun, we met Mr. Buon Yã Ybang – an old farmer who fell in love with pineapple after many years of ineffective coffee farming. Dry hilly land makes coffee difficult to grow, low productivity, and corn is just enough to eat.
“Switching to pineapple, I feel like it opens up a new direction. Pineapple is easy to grow, requires little care. It can be harvested in less than 14 months, and can be harvested for 6 months each year, mainly from April to July. The price is not sky-high, but it sells steadily, and I have money to spend all year round,” Mr. Ybang’s eyes lit up with confidence.
For Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - another member of Ro Men pineapple cooperative, pineapple trees are not only suitable for the climate and soil but also for the people. "We always pay attention to taking care of the fruit so that it has yellow nectar, delicious flavor, beautiful appearance, and serves consumers best. Pineapples are now not only sold at markets but also in supermarkets and large chain stores," he shared.
Dam Rong honey pineapple is preparing to go to the provinces.
Previously, pineapple production was mainly small-scale, spontaneous, lacking linkages and unstable output. However, since the product achieved 3-star OCOP certification and had the Dam Rong honey pineapple certification label, it has attracted customers from within and outside the province. Many consumption contracts were signed, households boldly invested, expanded the area, and created more jobs for local workers.
To contribute to creating conditions for the sustainable and stable development of Dam Rong honey pineapple products and increasing income for farmers, enhancing reputation, brand and protecting against infringements, creating momentum for the district's socio-economic development. The People's Committee of Dam Rong district has successfully established the Dam Rong honey pineapple certification mark, and at the same time established a growing area code to aim for sustainable development. This will be the basis for honey pineapple to reach out to the large market, participate in the value chain of Vietnamese agricultural products, and even aim for export.
In the land of Dam Rong, which was once considered a remote and difficult area, now the honey pineapple has become a new symbol of innovative agriculture. Not only providing a stable source of livelihood, honey pineapple also contributes to hunger eradication and poverty reduction, changing the production mindset of local people. From the arid hillsides, it is now bearing sweet fruit. And anyone who has tasted Dam Rong honey pineapple will surely love the sun, the wind and the simple, rich love of the Central Highlands people even more.
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/ngot-lanh-dua-mat-dam-rong/20250608093733529
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