Mr. Tang Van Lai, from Suoi Tut village, Quang Chieu commune, is tending to his family's orange orchard.
Born and raised in Suoi Tut, Mr. Tang Van Lai understands those difficult times better than anyone else. He vividly remembers the failed harvests and meager meals consisting solely of corn and potatoes. Despite working hard year-round, his family never had much money left over. A turning point came in 2015 during a study tour of economic models in Laos. Amidst the mountain slopes, he encountered lush orange groves laden with fruit. What particularly caught his attention was that this orange variety grew vigorously, was resistant to pests and diseases, required little care, and was well-suited to the hilly terrain. “Looking at those orange groves over there, I immediately thought of Suoi Tut. Our land is also sloping, with a similar climate. I wondered why we shouldn’t try bringing this orange variety back to plant on a trial basis,” Mr. Lai recalled the moment the idea struck him.
Without hesitation, Mr. Lai returned to Suoi Tut village, bringing with him 100 Lao orange saplings to plant as a trial. He also dedicated time to learning cultivation techniques and gaining experience from local people across the border. Instead of rushing to persuade his neighbors, he chose to start by cultivating his family's rocky land. The early days were not easy for him. The dry, sloping land required a lot of effort to improve and inevitably faced skepticism from many. But surprisingly, the Lao orange trees thrived in the soil and climate of Suoi Tut, growing and developing well. As a result, after three years, the first harvest of oranges began to flower and bear fruit, with clusters of golden, heavy fruit appearing on the previously barren hillside. From the initial 100 saplings, Mr. Lai's family has now developed nearly 500 trees, each yielding an average of 60-70 kg. After deducting all expenses, his family earns a profit of over 100 million VND per year.
Inspired by the successful orange cultivation model of Mr. Tang Van Lai's family, many villagers have come to learn from him, seeking his experience to adapt and follow suit. To date, the people of Suoi Tut village have planted over 20 hectares of oranges, with many areas beginning to yield harvests. Thanks to suitable climate and soil conditions, the orange trees thrive, producing sweet, attractive fruit that is popular in the market. On average, each hectare of oranges yields over 100 million VND per year. Notably, Suoi Tut oranges are grown naturally, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Currently, the locality is developing the Suoi Tut orange brand into an OCOP (One Commune One Product) product. If successful, this will be an important step for Suoi Tut oranges to reach the market and bring sustainable income to the local people.
Text and photos: Khac Cong
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nguoi-dua-trai-ngot-len-vung-dat-kho-284601.htm
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