Farmers in Tuong Da commune have stable income from growing green-skinned grapefruit.

Farmers in Chau Thanh district exchange experiences in cultivating green-skin pomelos following VietGAP standards effectively.

Tuong Da Commune Farmers' Association has 10 branches and 95 traditional associations, with 1,783 members; 71 professional farmer associations. The whole commune has 238 hectares of green-skinned grapefruit. Of which, 60 hectares have been granted 3 growing area codes and certified to meet VietGAP standards as well as signed a contract to purchase products from Huong Mien Tay Ben Tre Agricultural Products Import-Export Company Limited (2 growing area codes) and Ben Tre Green-skinned Grapefruit Agricultural Cooperative (1 growing area code).

From the garden into the house, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (commonly known as Tam Tam), 72 years old, residing in Self-governing People's Group No. 17, An Hoa Hamlet, confided: "For more than 25 years, I have been involved in intercropping green-skinned grapefruit and coconut in an area of ​​nearly ^6,000m2 . With green-skinned grapefruit, growers need to focus on improving the soil, providing organic fertilizer, pruning and canopy creation processes and appropriate flowering treatment to create good growth for crops as well as improve product quality."

With a distance of 4 - 8m, Mr. Tam Tam plants 2 coconut trees on one side of the garden and 1 green-skinned grapefruit tree on the other side. After more than 15 years of cultivating green-skinned grapefruit following VietGAP standards, he has an average income of over 30 million VND/year. For the past 5 - 7 years, he has increased the planting of coconut trees in the garden due to his old age, but still maintains the area of ​​green-skinned grapefruit growing to create a stable source of income for his family.

In 2013, the commune established the Hiep Loi Green-Skin Grapefruit Cooperative with 10 members (TV) participating, with a total area of ​​green-skin grapefruit cultivation of over 5 hectares. Now, there are 69 members participating, with a total area of ​​32 hectares (from 0.2 - 2 hectares/TV). In 2023, the Tuong Da Commune Community Agricultural Extension Team was established, with 17 members. The team coordinates with the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center to advise and guide members of the Hiep Loi Green-Skin Grapefruit Cooperative on green-skin grapefruit cultivation techniques.

In 2024, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center supported 50% of the cost (more than 80 million VND) for the project "Planting and caring for green-skinned grapefruit" according to VietGAP standards in Tuong Da commune. Local farmers participating in the project contributed the remaining 50%. The Tuong Da Commune Farmers' Association linked up and mobilized the Provincial Center for Seeds and Ornamental Flowers to support 51 local farming households in difficult circumstances with 2,040 green-skinned grapefruit branches. The Standing Committee of the Chau Thanh District Farmers' Association supported 1.6 tons of MCM (Korea) organic microbial fertilizer for farmers growing seedless pink-fleshed green-skinned grapefruit in Tuong Da commune.

According to the Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tuong Da Commune, Nguyen Bang Giang, local farmers have always maintained the cultivation of green-skinned grapefruit, as evidenced by the fact that the total cultivated area in the commune has been maintained and increased. In recent times, the association has focused on linking units as well as relevant agencies in supporting capital and transferring science and technology to farmers in planting and caring for green-skinned grapefruit to ensure the productivity and quality of grapefruit to meet market requirements. In the future, the association will continue to promote propaganda and mobilize members and local farmers to expand the area of ​​green-skinned grapefruit; coordinate the transfer of scientific and technological applications in grapefruit cultivation and link to create stable output for farmers.

Article and photos: Le De

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/nong-dan-xa-tuong-da-thu-nhap-on-dinh-tu-trong-buoi-da-xanh-09052025-a146349.html