Developing fruit trees in a sustainable direction

Forming specialized areas

The fruit tree development project has changed the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities in developing fruit trees in the area; changing people's awareness and production methods. Accordingly, localities have renovated mixed gardens, converted crop structures to fruit trees, and formed specialized areas.

After 3 years of implementing the Project, the whole province now has 3,982.5 hectares of fruit trees, 1,524.9 hectares have been harvested; the estimated output is 15,257.8 tons. Of which, Dien Bien district has the largest area (1,215 hectares), followed by Tuan Giao district (600 hectares), Muong Ang district (400 hectares)... In the province, a number of concentrated fruit growing areas have been formed: Pineapple (Muong Cha), mango (Muong Ang, Tuan Giao, Dien Bien); citrus fruit (Dien Bien, Tuan Giao, Muong Ang districts).

Muong Ang district forms a specialized citrus fruit growing area.

In two highland communes: Pu Nhung and Rang Dong (Tuan Giao district), if in the past people only focused on growing corn, in recent years, with the guidance, mobilization and encouragement of local authorities, households have gradually switched to growing fruit trees such as: Mango, green-skinned grapefruit, pineapple... Up to now, Pu Nhung (100ha) and Rang Dong (50ha) have become concentrated fruit growing areas of Tuan Giao district.

Mr. Lau A Sinh, Chairman of Rang Dong Commune People's Committee, said: People mainly grow mango and jackfruit. In 2023, people will harvest the first crop of fruit with a total output of about 20 tons and 100% of the products will be guaranteed.

Many areas of corn and rice fields in Rang Dong commune have been converted to grow mango trees.

By the end of 2023, Tuan Giao district had over 600 hectares of fruit trees, of which the harvested area was about 400 hectares. Ms. Pham Thi Tuyen, Vice Chairman of Tuan Giao District People's Committee, said: Implementing the Resolution of the Tuan Giao District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term, the district has flexibly applied policies and capital sources to expand the area of fruit trees. Up to now, the resolution's objectives have been basically completed, forming concentrated fruit growing areas in the communes of Quai Nua, Quai Cang, Pu Nhung, Rang Dong, Mun Chung, and Na Tong.

Similarly, with appropriate orientation and support policies, the fruit tree area of Nam Po district has increased to nearly 170 hectares, including: 18.67 hectares of oranges; 18.95 hectares of pineapples; 16.5 hectares of longans; 7 hectares of lychees; 28.3 hectares of mangoes; 16.5 hectares of plums; 5.2 hectares of grapefruits; 52.3 hectares of bananas... Ms. Pham Thi Thu Yen, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Po district, said: Implementing the Project, communes have increased the conversion to fruit tree planting. Many good quality varieties have been put into cultivation, the production value on the cultivated land area has been raised, leading to an increase in income and people's lives compared to before.

People of Nam Tin commune take care of orange garden.

Building sustainable links

Identifying the building of sustainable production links between enterprises, cooperatives and people as an important goal, Tuan Giao district has implemented 56 fruit tree planting projects in the direction of value chain linkage with a total area of 484.2 hectares. Including: 248.1 hectares of mango; 52.9 hectares of jackfruit; 22 hectares of late-ripening longan; 80.9 hectares of pear; 66.9 hectares of grapefruit; 13.4 hectares of purple passion fruit. Many areas of fruit trees have been harvested, bringing high economic efficiency to households.

To date, Tuan Giao district has 3 hectares of fruit trees with a growing area code. In 2023, Tuan Giao district sold over 100 tons of mangoes to the Central Fruit and Vegetable Joint Stock Company, at a selling price of 7,500 - 10,500 VND/kg.

From the funding source of national target programs, Muong Ang district has built a project "Linking production in growing and consuming fruit trees", focusing on connecting with reputable and capable businesses. Businesses are responsible for guiding people on technical processes for tree care, surveying the market, and implementing product consumption according to the contract and agreed price. Currently, the area of fruit trees under linkage in Muong Ang has increased to nearly 200 hectares, 100% of the area has been harvested, bringing high economic efficiency to the people. In 2022, Muong Ang district has 1 green-skinned grapefruit product of the Clean Fruit Tree Cooperative certified as a 3-star OCOP product at the provincial level.

Mr. Tong Van Ong's family in Co Nong village, Bung Lao commune (Muong Ang district) has 480 Taiwanese mango trees. Up to now, the entire mango area has been harvested and the products have been guaranteed. Mr. Tong Van Ong said: Previously, this area was used by the family to grow corn and cassava, but after many years of low productivity, I registered to participate in the fruit tree planting project with the hope of finding a long-term direction in economic development. Up to now, the garden has brought higher economic efficiency than previous crops.

Mr. Tong Van Ong, Co Nong village, Bung Lao commune (Muong Ang district) takes care of the Taiwanese mango area.

The Project's objective is that by 2025, the province will form 5 concentrated and sustainable fruit tree production areas: Tuan Giao, Muong Ang, Dien Bien, Muong Cha and Dien Bien Phu city with a total area of 1,800 hectares; serving the consumption needs of the province and creating raw material areas for processing enterprises. At the same time, creating many sustainable links between organizations and households in the production and consumption of fruit tree products.

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