Developing multi-value fruit orchards.

In the context of agricultural production being increasingly affected by market forces and climate change, increasing the value per unit of cultivated land is becoming an urgent requirement for many localities in Thanh Hoa province.

Tourists visit and experience strawberry picking at the circular agriculture model Farm in Hop Tien commune.

While previously fruit farming models primarily focused on increasing productivity and output, many farmers have now shifted towards multi-value development, combining clean agricultural production with experiential tourism, practical education, and local product promotion. This approach not only helps increase people's income but also opens up more opportunities for sustainable rural economic development.

In Hop Tien commune, Ms. Le Thi Trang's farm model is one of the exemplary models in developing fruit trees in a multi-value direction. Walking around the more than 1-hectare farm with its lush green grapevines, strawberry plants laden with fruit, and meticulously cared-for rows of clean vegetables, few would imagine that this area was once abandoned rice paddy land for many years.

Driven by a desire to build a clean agricultural model linked to ecological experiences, Ms. Trang boldly invested in improving the land and researching techniques for growing new crops suitable for the local climate. After three years of "learning by doing," the farm gradually took shape with approximately 4,000 square meters of grapevines, 3,500 square meters of strawberries, along with a seasonal crop rotation area for organic vegetables, a fish pond, and a porcupine breeding area. The total investment of over 4 billion VND was harmoniously arranged between production and an experiential space for tourists.

For crops with high investment costs and demanding cultivation techniques, such as grapes and strawberries, Ms. Trang believes that relying solely on selling agricultural products would make long-term economic stability difficult. Therefore, from the very beginning of establishing the farm, she has oriented her development towards a multi-value model, combining clean agricultural production with ecological experiences and practical education .

Nowadays, many people visit farms not only to buy produce but also to directly tour the farms, pick their own fruit, and learn about the planting and care processes. In particular, families are increasingly interested in spaces close to nature so that children can have more hands-on experiences outside of school.

Besides weekend visitors, many preschools and primary schools in the area also choose this place to organize field trips for their students. At the farm, the children get to experience caring for plants, harvesting vegetables and fruits, and learn about the environment and the process of clean agricultural production.

"Agricultural tourism is a very promising model, creating a stable source of income for farmers while contributing to spreading a green lifestyle, close to nature, and raising awareness about clean agriculture among children," Ms. Trang shared.

In response to the trend of developing agriculture linked to ecological experiences and enhancing product value, local authorities are guiding and encouraging people to transform their production models to better suit market demands.

Mr. Le Van Hoang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hop Tien commune, said: "In recent years, the locality has been guiding people to convert inefficient agricultural land to develop fruit tree models that increase value instead of just focusing on yield as before. In particular, the commune encourages models that combine agricultural production with ecological experiences, practical education, and promotion of local products."

Along with Hop Tien commune, many households in Yen Phu commune are also gradually shifting from small-scale production to developing orchard-based economic activities aimed at increasing value. Mr. Le Van Thanh's family in Bui Thuong village is one of the households that boldly converted nearly 2 hectares of low-yield crop land to cultivate Dien pomelos, pear guavas, and longan. According to Mr. Thanh, previously, their main source of income depended on rice and other crops, resulting in unstable earnings. After switching to fruit tree cultivation, his family's life has gradually improved. Besides selling fruit to traders, his family also proactively promotes their products through social media and invests in improving the orchard's landscape to attract visitors during the harvest season.

In reality, developing fruit trees in a multi-value direction is opening up a suitable path for many localities in the province. Not only does it improve land use efficiency and increase people's income, but these models also contribute to changing the mindset of agricultural production from "producing a lot" to "producing quality," from selling products to selling additional experiences and green value.

However, for sustainable development models, many localities believe that more support policies are still needed in terms of technology, investment capital, branding, and product consumption linkages. At the same time, strengthening the links between farmers, cooperatives, and businesses is crucial to forming stable production chains and increasing the value of local agricultural products.

Given the growing consumer interest in clean agricultural products and nature-friendly experiences, developing multi-value fruit orchards is expected to continue to be an effective approach, contributing to the development of Thanh Hoa's agriculture in a more modern and sustainable direction.

Text and photos: Chi Pham

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phat-trien-vuon-cay-an-qua-da-gia-tri-289421.htm