Tet in Chan Thinh orange growing region

In the final days of the year, many orange orchards in Chan Thinh commune have only a few scattered clusters of fruit left. At the foot of the hill, plastic baskets and styrofoam containers have been neatly stacked in the corners of the yards. Gone is the bustling scene of traders coming and going like during the peak season, but joy is evident on the faces of the orange growers. A bountiful harvest is coming to an end, bringing with it a prosperous Tet holiday for hundreds of households in the orange-growing region of Chan Thinh.

For months now, the family of Mr. Dang Van Vuong in Khe Sung village has been constantly busy. November marks the start of the harvest season for mandarin oranges, tangerines, and Vinh oranges; December is the season for Canh oranges, and currently, the V2 orange is in its peak season, with harvesting potentially continuing until the end of April.

Mr. Vuong shared: "My family has 3 hectares of orange trees. This year, the weather has been favorable, resulting in abundant fruit of beautiful appearance. The yield is expected to reach about 60 tons, of which over 40 tons have already been harvested from the main varieties from the previous season, and about 20 tons of late-ripening V2 oranges are still being harvested. The average selling price at the orchard is 15,000 VND/kg, sometimes even higher for selected varieties. After deducting expenses, my family estimates a profit of about 500 million VND."

Mr. Dang Van Vuong (on the left) checks the quality of V2 oranges before and after Tet (Lunar New Year).

Thanks to growing oranges, Mr. Vuong's family has been able to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in their spacious new house for two years, complete with modern amenities. A new set of furniture is elegantly placed in the living room, and a large-screen TV has just been installed to replace the old one that had been with them for many years.

Outside, Mr. and Mrs. Vuong are busy wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), preparing meat, and smoked sausages… Mr. Vuong has also selected the most beautiful oranges to arrange on the five-fruit offering tray, representing both the fruits of their labor and the pride of the orange growers of Chan Thinh.

Besides ensuring a prosperous Lunar New Year, he's also planning for the long term. With the income from this year's orange harvest, he bought an additional 1 hectare of land to plant 200 late-ripening mandarin trees after the Lunar New Year, extending the supply period until April or May each year. He also invested tons of organic fertilizer to help the orchard recover after the harvest.

Mr. Vuong shared: "Farming now requires a systematic approach, maintaining consistent quality, and diversifying varieties so that traders will come regularly."

It's not just Mr. Vuong's family; many orange growers in Chan Thinh share the joy of a bountiful harvest. Mr. Hoang Hanh from Day 2 village excitedly said: "For the past few years, the orange yield has been quite high, and the price has been stable, so my family has not only paid off all our debts but also planted an additional 2 hectares of mandarin oranges according to VietGAP standards. We even have some money left over for Tet (Lunar New Year) and some for our children's education."

Mr. Hoang Hanh has planted an additional 2 hectares of mandarin oranges according to VietGAP standards.

Throughout the year, from flowering to fruiting, farmers practically "eat, sleep, and breathe oranges." Prolonged rain requires careful drainage, while drought necessitates meticulous watering. Pests, diseases, and fluctuating weather are constant worries. Therefore, when the last trucks leave the hills, carrying crates of glistening golden oranges, it's a reward for all those days of hard work under the sun and rain.

The entire Chấn Thịnh commune currently has over 500 hectares of orange groves, of which 410 hectares are producing a stable harvest. This year, the total yield for the commune is estimated at over 4,000 tons of fruit, generating revenue exceeding 60 billion VND. Orange trees have truly become a key crop, contributing to increased income and sustainable poverty reduction for local people.

In recent years, the commune has focused on encouraging farmers to produce in a safe manner, improving quality instead of chasing quantity. Currently, the entire commune has 110 hectares of newly planted oranges following VietGAP procedures, from seed origin and production logbook keeping to the use of biological fertilizers and pesticides according to the "four correct principles".

The entire Chấn Thịnh commune has 410 orange trees that are producing a stable harvest, generating annual revenue of over 60 billion VND.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Duong, Head of the Economic Department of Chan Thinh commune, said: The commune continues to guide orange growers to produce according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP quality standards to obtain planting area codes, product barcodes, and traceability, and strengthen consumption linkages to stabilize output. The goal is to ensure the sustainable development of orange cultivation, bringing stable long-term income to the people.

Thanks to orange cultivation, many families in Chan Thinh have been able to build new houses, buy modern conveniences, and raise and care for their children. These days, the inter-village roads in Chan Thinh are filled with more laughter and conversation. Villagers are joining together to clean up, clear bushes, hang national flags, and decorate the village roads and alleys.

Many village roads and alleys in Chan Thinh commune have been decorated to welcome Tet.

The concrete road winding around the orange groves looks like it's been given a new, cleaner, and brighter coat. Adults work, children run around excitedly, their laughter echoing, signaling that a prosperous Tet holiday is fast approaching. In every home, the fruit platter always includes a few golden oranges – a reminder of the fruits of their labor.

As Tet approaches, people are still busy pruning branches, clearing weeds, and preparing for a new production cycle. For orange growers in Chan Thinh, Tet is not only a time for family reunions, but also marks the end of a year of diligent work – a year in which nature and the market have "smiled."

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/tet-o-vung-cam-chan-thinh-post893829.html