Developing key crops in mountainous areas

In order to promote the potential and strengths of mountainous areas, localities have promoted land accumulation and concentration, and transformed crop structures to develop large-scale agriculture, apply science and technology, especially develop advantageous crops associated with production and product consumption.

Developing key crops in mountainous areas Mango tree planting area on the hills of Xuan Hoa commune (Nhu Xuan).

As a locality assessed to have great potential for fruit tree development, Nhu Xuan district has implemented Decision No. 198/QD-UBND, dated January 12, 2022 of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on approving the Project on Concentrated Fruit Tree Development in Thanh Hoa province until 2025, with a vision to 2030. Currently, the whole district has planted 1,323 hectares of fruit trees, of which about 1,000 hectares have been harvested, the concentrated planting area of 1 hectare or more is 388.4 hectares, mainly oranges, green-skinned grapefruit, Dien grapefruit, Keo mango, guava, dragon fruit... At the fruit tree farm of Ms. Dao Thi Hang, Xuan Hoa commune, a large hill area has been converted by the family to grow grapefruit and Keo mango. Taking us to visit the hill, Ms. Hang said: "Although fruit trees take a long time to harvest, their economic value is high compared to other crops, they do not require much care, most fruit trees are suitable for the soil and climate of mountainous districts and are growing well." According to her, in addition to planting and caring for them in traditional ways, in the past, she has been guided and encouraged by the District Agricultural Service Center and agricultural officers of Xuan Hoa commune to apply the process of planting and caring for fruit trees according to VietGAP standards to improve productivity, product quality as well as facilitate product consumption. Currently, her family's grapefruit growing area has begun to be harvested, and a contract has been signed for the production and product consumption linkage with enterprises for the mango growing area.

Mr. Le Tien Dat, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nhu Xuan district, said: Determining fruit trees as one of the suitable crops with great potential for development in Nhu Xuan district, in recent times, in addition to propaganda work and encouraging people to change crop structure, the district has also guided people to apply quality standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP in production with the goal that by 2025, the total area of fruit trees will reach 2,560 hectares, the area of concentrated fruit trees will reach nearly 1,700 hectares, the economic value will reach 220 million VND/ha/year and at least 80% of fruit tree products will ensure food hygiene and safety standards, with 30% of the area certified for production according to VietGAP standards. Nowadays, the cassava and acacia hills... with low economic efficiency have been replaced by lush, fruit-laden orchards, helping people have a more prosperous and stable life. Besides, there are some types of crops that also bring high economic efficiency to people such as corn, tea...

The districts of Thach Thanh, Nhu Thanh, Ngoc Lac... are also prioritizing the expansion of area, forming concentrated planting areas, actively applying science and technology to select varieties, implementing advanced cultivation processes, restoring native fruit tree varieties such as mandarin orange, stinky mandarin orange, Van Du orange, Luan Van grapefruit..., importing and developing fruit tree varieties such as Keo mango, Dien grapefruit...

Besides fruit trees, some types of crops are currently being expanded in planting areas such as medicinal plants (soybean, Indian pennywort, black tea, pearl...) in Ba Thuoc, Lang Chanh, Thach Thanh districts... Bamboo and bamboo for export and processing with main products being handicrafts, chopsticks, toothpicks, bamboo strips, activated carbon, paper pulp, votive paper... are also maintained in mountainous districts.

However, at present, most of the areas of strong crops in mountainous areas are still small and scattered, the concentrated and large-scale planting areas are still limited, and the development of specific crops with local brands has not been developed. In addition, people have not focused on applying science and technology to production due to backward and traditional production practices. On the other hand, post-harvest products are mainly sold fresh to traders, and the consumption market is unstable. In order to develop advantageous crops to increase income and stabilize people's lives, localities need to focus on reviewing and identifying crops suitable for soil, climate, and production conditions of the people to expand the area. Focus on selecting and developing new crop varieties with high yield, high quality, and resistance to pests and diseases, improving crops such as rice, corn, sugarcane, and animal feed. In addition, it is necessary to actively carry out training, technology transfer, and support people in applying science and technology to production, expanding production areas according to VietGAP standards, to attract businesses to invest in production linkages and product consumption.

Article and photos: Le Ngoc

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