Elderly people share their farming experiences.

Elderly people engaged in agriculture play a leading role in many rural areas of Vietnam, due to the migration of younger workers. They are both a vital productive force and pioneers in green transformation, organic farming, and rural development. Many elderly people have proven the saying "the older the ginger, the spicier it gets" by boldly starting businesses, participating in agricultural production, improving their family's economic situation, and spreading a positive spirit in their communities.

Having successfully cultivated this dragon fruit orchard, Mr. Vu Dinh Long says he won't have to worry about finances in his old age.

According to Ms. Le Thi Anh Tuyet, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Nai province, this is an important force that not only directly produces products but also contributes to sharing experience, providing technical guidance, and spreading effective production models to the community.

Dragon fruit, a crop that is "suitable" for the elderly.

Amidst the lush green orchards of Xuan Dinh commune, it's not difficult to spot elderly people diligently working in their fields and gardens every day. No longer doing heavy labor, climbing high, or carrying heavy loads, they have chosen a suitable path: growing dragon fruit, a crop that is "within their capabilities," providing a stable and sustainable income.

A prime example is the family of Mr. Vu Dinh Long in Nam Ha hamlet, with 7 sao (approximately 0.7 hectares) of dragon fruit, bringing in about 700 million VND annually. According to Mr. Long, dragon fruit has the advantage of bearing fruit in multiple cycles throughout the year, averaging about 10 times, with a time from flowering to harvesting of only about 2 months, allowing growers to be more financially independent. Importantly, dragon fruit does not require overly strenuous care. The plants are grown low, are easy to prune, and can be harvested within easy reach, making it very suitable for elderly people.

"In the coming period, the provincial agricultural sector will continue to pay attention to and create conditions for veteran farmers to play a key role and work alongside the locality in developing agriculture in a sustainable direction."

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment

LE THI ANH TUYET

Mr. Long shared: "Growing this plant is easy; it doesn't require climbing or strenuous work like many other crops. For me, each harvest not only brings income but also joy and motivation to stay committed to farming. The land here is very suitable for growing dragon fruit. The care isn't too strenuous, but growers must be constantly present in the garden. The economic efficiency of dragon fruit is very high, averaging 700-800 million VND per hectare, with some households earning up to 1 billion VND per year," Mr. Long said.

For Mr. Vu Dinh Long, growing dragon fruit is not only a way to make money but also a way to maintain his health and find joy in his old age. His daily work mainly involves checking for pests and diseases, pruning, and fertilizing according to each stage; when it's time to harvest, he can simply stand under the tree and pick the fruit. What keeps him committed is that the dragon fruit trees provide a consistent harvest for many years, becoming increasingly stable, bringing not only income but also a sense of peace and meaning in his work.

"This model is very suitable for elderly people. The work is not too strenuous, mainly involving monitoring, caring for, and weighing the produce by the kilogram at harvest time," Mr. Long said.

According to Mr. Long, dragon fruit is a crop that doesn't require heavy labor; the work mainly needs diligence and experience. When it's time to harvest, it only takes a few hours to complete, so even at his advanced age, he still handles most of the production process himself.

Elderly people grow pomelos.

In Tan An commune, lush, fruit-laden pomelo orchards are bringing prosperity and stability to many farming households. In this area, the pomelo tree is not just a familiar fruit tree but has become a "money-making tree," helping many families become well-off right on their homeland. Among them, the model of growing sweet pomelo with orange-leafed leaves by the family of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Mrs. Trinh Thi Hoa is considered a prime example of efficient production, creating high and sustainable economic value.

Every day, Mr. Nhan and Mrs. Hoa regularly go to their garden, diligently pruning branches and checking on the fruit, a habit deeply ingrained in their hearts. Having been involved with pomelo trees for nearly 40 years, Mr. Nhan and Mrs. Hoa understand each dry and rainy season, and the growth characteristics of the sweet pomelo variety, a famous specialty of Dong Nai province .

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan shared: "In my garden, grapefruit trees bear fruit all year round. After each harvest, I take care of and nurture the trees, and after a short while, they continue to flower and bear fruit. There's almost no downtime."

Thanks to its characteristic of bearing fruit year-round, the pomelo variety known as "sugar-leaf pomelo" maintains stable demand. Not only does it have an attractive appearance, a glossy peel, and sweet, refreshing segments, but this variety is also resistant to pests and diseases and has high yields. Mr. Nhan's family orchard is cultivated using safe farming practices, preserving the traditional flavor, making it highly sought after in the market.

Currently, Mr. Nhan's family cultivates over 8 hectares of pomelo trees. Each year, the yield reaches nearly 300 tons of fruit, with selling prices ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 VND/kg, bringing in billions of VND in revenue.

Ms. Trinh Thi Hoa added: "My family has been growing pomelos for decades, and we've never worried about unsold produce. As soon as the pomelos are harvested, traders buy them, as long as the fruit meets quality standards."

Besides being successful in business, Mr. Nhan and Mrs. Hoa actively share their experience and provide guidance on grapefruit cultivation techniques to local people, from selecting varieties to sustainable gardening practices. As a result, more and more households in Tan An commune are developing stable livelihoods from grapefruit farming.

According to Mr. Nhan, to ensure healthy growth and high yields of pomelo trees, it's essential to select good, healthy, and straight-trunked varieties from the start. The soil must be loose and well-drained because pomelo trees cannot tolerate waterlogging. During cultivation, the trees often encounter several pests and diseases such as leaf miners, stem borers, aphids, mites, and red spider mites, so regular monitoring is necessary for timely treatment. "During the rainy season, my family prioritizes the use of biological products to control pests and diseases, which both protects the environment and ensures safety for gardeners and consumers," Mr. Nhan added.

Besides enriching the family, the pomelo farming model also creates regular jobs for 5-7 local laborers, contributing to the promotion of rural economic development in Tan An commune.

Hien Luong

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202601/nguoi-cao-tuoi-chia-se-kinh-nghiem-lam-nong-nghiep-f7d66c6/