Releasing bees to restore traditional Dalat carrots

Carrot variety CR21.36 grown according to the demonstration model in Xuan Tho commune, Da Lat city has higher economic efficiency than growing old varieties by 18-25%.

After about 100 days from sowing, caring for and harvesting the CR21.36 carrot variety outdoors, many farmers in Xuan Tho commune, Da Lat city confirmed that this is an easy-to-grow carrot variety, effectively resistant to harmful diseases, the harvested tubers are quite large and uniform in size, and are well received by customers. In the coming time, the CR21.36 carrot variety will be one of the choices of farmers here to expand and replace the area of crops with lower profits.

To achieve the above demonstration results of the CR21.36 carrot variety "crystallized from the good soil" of Xuan Tho commune, Da Lat city, the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center has researched and tested for more than 4 years from selecting from the cultivated carrot population, then planting new tubers to select seeds through many seasons, and finally isolating them in a greenhouse, releasing bees to pollinate and form seeds to form the name of the newly planted variety. Specifically, according to the technical staff of the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center: “From 2021, the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center will select from the traditional carrot variety population of Dalat to apply technical solutions to take seeds from newly planted tubers until 2024, continuing to select the most fertile plants grown in a greenhouse environment for pollination by bees. Pollination for 3.5 - 4 months will collect seeds for testing in many agricultural areas in the Central Highlands provinces. By early 2025, after completing the seed creation process and providing optimal care, the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center has planted and demonstrated the CR21.36 carrot variety in Xuan Tho commune, Da Lat city with results highly appreciated by many practicing farmers.

Notably, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center conducted small-scale trials in Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Dak Lak. The CR21.36 carrot variety showed many outstanding characteristics compared to the initial mass cultivation population of farmers in the agricultural areas of Da Lat. Accordingly, the CR21.36 variety grew quite well, had high uniformity, stable yield all year round, the yield rate was 15 - 20% higher than the control variety, and the variety was resistant to ring spot and leaf burn diseases that frequently caused damage. The shape of the harvested CR21.36 carrot root was dark orange, evenly elongated, with a small core and an average sweetness of 8.5 - 9.5%.

The variety has been granted a self-declaration of circulation by the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and posted on the website of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection. “Compared to imported carrot varieties, the CR21.36 carrot variety has achieved high and stable yield all year round, suitable for the climatic conditions of the agricultural regions of Dalat and neighboring districts. Especially in Xuan Tho and Xuan Truong communes, Dalat city, with its characteristic aroma and crunchiness, the CR21.36 carrot variety has created a competitive advantage in the consumer market…”, said Nguyen The Nhuan, Director of the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center.

Since the beginning of 2025, the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center has coordinated with the Farmers' Association of Xuan Tho commune to build a Demonstration Model of the new carrot variety CR21.36 on a scale of 2 hectares in Da Quy village. As a result, the plants grow healthily, are less susceptible to pests and diseases, yield 46 - 50 tons/ha, the harvested tubers are mostly of the same elongated shape, rarely split, are popular with the market, and have higher economic efficiency than growing old varieties by 18 - 25%.

In the coming time, it is expected that the Dalat Potato, Vegetable and Flower Research Center will annually produce 150 - 200 kg of CR21.36 carrot seeds to provide to farmers in Dalat City and surrounding areas for replication according to demand.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/kinh-te/202506/tha-ong-phuc-trang-giong-ca-rot-truyen-thong-da-lat-2bd1574/