In recent years, due to the impact of climate change and ever-changing market demands, many households in My Trung A hamlet, My Thuan commune, have proactively shifted their crop structure to suit local conditions. Among these, the acerola cherry cultivation model has proven effective, providing many families with a substantial income and gradually improving their living standards.
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| Mr. Phan Khac Tai next to his family's cherry orchard. Photo: THAO LY |
Easy to grow, harvest year-round.
From a relatively new crop just decades ago, the acerola cherry has now become a familiar plant, closely associated with the lives of many households in My Trung A hamlet (My Thuan commune).
Many households growing acerola cherries say that the biggest advantage of this tree is that it is quite easy to grow, requires little care, and can be propagated right in the garden by grafting, saving on the cost of buying seedlings. The tree grows quickly, has a wide canopy, and bears fruit year-round, so many households with only 2-3 acres of land can stabilize their lives and gradually become more prosperous.
With 3.5 acres of acerola cherry trees, cultivated for over 7 years, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan's family (My Trung A hamlet) enjoys a stable year-round income. “Previously, our family mainly grew rice, but the income was unstable, heavily dependent on weather and market prices. After switching to acerola cherry cultivation, the economic efficiency has increased significantly, about 3-5 times compared to rice farming. On average, each tree yields about 25kg of fruit, and my family harvests over 2 tons per season. Calculated per acre, one acre of land can bring in tens of millions of dong per season. Thanks to this, our family's life is more stable than before,” Mr. Tuan shared.
Mr. Phan Khac Tai, Deputy Head of My Trung A Hamlet, who has been growing acerola cherries for over 20 years, said: "Previously, this area mainly grew rice, but the economic efficiency was not high. After researching suitable models, many households switched to growing acerola cherries and found that the trees thrive in this land. Acerola cherries are easy to grow, have few pests and diseases, and require little care. They start bearing fruit about a year after planting and can be harvested continuously throughout the year. A year can yield 5-6 harvests, so people have a much more stable income compared to growing rice."
According to Mr. Tai, the entire hamlet has about 30 households growing acerola cherries, some of which have been growing them for nearly 20 years. On average, each hectare yields about 1 ton per harvest. The current selling price ranges from 12,000 to 14,000 VND/kg, and the market is quite stable. After deducting input costs of about 30% per hectare, if the harvest is good and the price is high, farmers can earn a profit of more than 30 million VND per hectare per season. Currently, many traders from Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho City, Ca Mau, etc., come directly to the orchards to buy the cherries, so the people feel secure in their production. With a stable market, the people are very happy.
Besides generating income for orchard owners, the acerola cherry farming model also creates jobs for local laborers. During the harvest season, many households hire workers to pick the fruit at a rate of around 25,000 VND per hour, providing additional income for many rural workers.
Stable source of income
In recent years, the acerola cherry cultivation model in My Thuan commune has become increasingly effective. Acerola cherry trees help people adapt their production to climate change, opening up a direction for sustainable agricultural economic development for the locality.
According to the People's Committee of My Thuan commune, the acerola cherry tree is currently considered one of the crops suitable for the local soil conditions. Thanks to its good adaptability, resistance to pests and diseases, and year-round fruiting, this tree helps farmers have a more stable income compared to many traditional crops.
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| Acerola cherries are easy to grow, require little care, bear fruit year-round, and have a fairly stable market. Photo: THAO TIEN |
Besides its economic value, the acerola cherry tree also contributes to improving the ecological environment. With its wide canopy and strong root system, acerola cherry orchards help limit erosion and effectively retain soil during the rainy season. Lush green orchards also contribute to creating a greener, cleaner, and more beautiful rural landscape.
To improve production efficiency, many households have boldly invested in water-saving irrigation systems and utilized organic fertilizers to reduce input costs and promote safe production. Some households have also proactively learned techniques for caring for and pruning trees to ensure more stable yields. Linking with consumers to market their products is also being gradually strengthened.
Currently, many traders from within and outside the province are buying fresh acerola cherries to supply processing facilities that make jam, syrup, and juice, contributing to diversifying the product's outlets. This is considered a positive sign, helping people feel secure in expanding production.
In the coming period, My Thuan commune will continue to coordinate with specialized agencies to organize technical training courses, guiding people to cultivate in a safe manner and improve product quality. At the same time, it will review, adjust, and supplement the plan for restructuring the agricultural sector to suit the current production situation and climate change conditions; and strengthen the encouragement of applying advanced technology to production, especially to high-tech application models.
SONG THẢO
Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/cong-nghiep/202605/thu-nhap-kha-tu-mo-hinh-trong-so-ri-b404cc2/
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