The proactive farmer gets rich on challenging land.

In the early years, Mr. Tu's family only had 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) of land to grow beans, corn, and cassava to make ends meet. When the coffee cultivation movement boomed, he boldly invested, reclaiming land and expanding his production area to over 3 hectares. However, with fluctuating coffee prices and unstable yields, Mr. Tu pondered and sought new directions to improve economic efficiency.

Undeterred by difficulties, Mr. Tu sought out and learned from the experiences of successful farmers in the region. In 2010, he converted a portion of his land to planting 200 pepper plants – at that time, pepper prices were high, over 200,000 VND/kg. Initially, the pepper plants thrived, providing a good income. However, after only a few years, pepper prices plummeted, pests and diseases plagued the area, and many households suffered losses. Instead of giving up, Mr. Tu once again proactively changed direction, choosing to plant hill pineapples, a crop that is easy to care for, less susceptible to pests and diseases, and most importantly, suitable for the climate and soil of the Yang Mao region.

Mr. Tran Duy Tu's family's pineapple plantation on the hillside generates hundreds of millions of dong in income each year.

That bold decision paid off. In just two years, lush green pineapple plantations covered the once barren hillsides. On average, the 3 hectares of pineapples yielded the family between 200 and 300 million VND in profit annually after deducting expenses. Seeing the high economic benefits of pineapple cultivation, Mr. Tư and his three children boldly leased more than 10 hectares of land to expand production. To date, his family owns nearly 20 hectares of pineapple plantations, earning approximately 1 billion VND per year, while also providing seasonal employment for many local workers.

Recognizing the trend of developing commercial agriculture , Mr. Tu continued to convert a portion of his land, previously used for growing low-yielding pineapples and coffee, to durian cultivation – a crop that brings high economic value. Thanks to studying successful models both within and outside the district, he invested in a water-saving irrigation system for his four durian orchards, focusing on safe and effective pest and disease control. To date, his durian orchard has approximately 450 trees, of which over 100 are producing a stable harvest, and nearly 100 others are yielding their first harvest, generating revenue of over 700 million VND per year.

With an annual income of billions of dong, Mr. Tran Duy Tu's family is considered one of the exemplary farmers and entrepreneurs in Yang Mao commune. In 2025, he was selected to attend the Dak Lak Provincial Conference of Exemplary Farmers and Entrepreneurs.

Not only did Mr. Tư enrich his family, but he also wholeheartedly shared his experience with the local people because he believed that "farming nowadays cannot be done the old way anymore. We must learn, boldly switch crops, and apply science and technology in order to stand firm."

Inspired by Mr. Tư's daring and innovative spirit, many local farmers have converted their cultivated land to pineapple and durian cultivation, yielding significant economic benefits. Many families who were previously struggling now have a comfortable life, contributing to the transformation of the Yang Mao countryside.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202512/nguoi-nong-dan-nang-dong-lam-giau-tren-vung-dat-kho-7561661/