Thuong Xuan develops concentrated fruit trees

To maximize the potential of its climate and soil conditions, Thuong Xuan district focuses on selecting new, high-yield, and high-quality crops for production. Among these, fruit trees that are popular in the market and have high economic potential have been chosen by the people, expanding their production area. This not only contributes to the effective implementation of approved programs and projects but also improves the lives of the people.

The area planted with Diễn pomelos by Mr. Lê Đình Thực's family in Luận Thành commune (Thường Xuân district).

Mr. Trinh Van Truong, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Thuong Xuan District, said: According to the orientation in Decision No. 198/QD-UBND dated January 12, 2022, of the Provincial People's Committee on approving the Project for the concentrated development of fruit trees in Thanh Hoa province until 2025, with a vision to 2030, Thuong Xuan district has intensified propaganda, mobilization, and guidance for the people to apply advanced breeding techniques, cultivation methods, water-saving irrigation, and mechanization in production. At the same time, it has directed localities to focus on building specialized fruit-growing areas according to VietGAP standards and to pay attention to building planting area codes, brands, and trademarks for local fruit products.

In accordance with Decision No. 198/QD-UBND dated January 12, 2022, of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee approving the Project "Development of concentrated fruit tree cultivation in Thanh Hoa province until 2025, with orientation to 2030," on June 5, 2022, the Thuong Xuan District People's Committee developed and issued a plan for the development of fruit trees in the district for the period 2022–2025. Accordingly, the district has integrated support funds from various programs, projects, and local budgets to encourage people to accelerate the restructuring of crop cultivation on areas with low economic efficiency. Fruit trees are among the crops encouraged for production and expansion. At the same time, people are encouraged to gradually replace old, diseased, low-yielding, and inefficient fruit orchards with new varieties. Use high-quality, disease-free seedlings to ensure the yield and quality of the planted area.

Since 2018, dozens of households in Minh Son village, Luan Thanh commune, have planted 2.5 hectares of Dien pomelo and Tan Lac red pomelo trees with support from the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction. The people received training in production techniques and support with quality seedlings, so after only more than 3 years of production, the fruit trees have yielded harvests, bringing higher economic efficiency than other crops, so people have boldly invested and expanded production in the area. Mr. Le Dinh Thuc, a resident of Minh Son village, said: "My family received support of more than 1,000 Tan Lac red pomelo and Dien pomelo seedlings. At the same time, we received training in production techniques, planting at the correct spacing, and caring for the trees at the right stages, so the pomelo trees are growing and developing quite steadily." Since 2022, the pomelo trees have been yielding harvests and proving highly economically efficient, so the family continued to invest in and develop nearly 2 hectares of other fruit trees such as green-skinned pomelo, guava, oranges, etc., following VietGAP standards and proactively seeking out markets for consumption. To date, the family's fruit production reaches approximately 70-80 tons per year, generating revenue of over 1 billion VND and a profit of about 300 million VND per year, significantly higher than other crops.

It is known that, through support from Programs 30a, 135, etc., many other localities in the district, such as Tho Thanh, Tan Thanh, Luong Son, Thuong Xuan town, etc., have also received support in the form of fruit tree seedlings and guidance on applying good agricultural practices such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic farming to create high-quality fruit products with high economic value. In addition, to improve production efficiency, the Thuong Xuan District People's Committee has encouraged economic entities to consolidate and concentrate land to develop large-scale production models applying high technology. At the same time, budget allocations have been made to support investment in two projects to build infrastructure for concentrated fruit-growing areas in Ngoc Phung and Tho Thanh communes, resulting in a significant increase in production efficiency.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Thuong Xuan District, as of June 2024, the entire district had developed 507.16 hectares of fruit trees, equivalent to 92.2% of the plan. Of this, the concentrated fruit tree area is 110.75 hectares, while the remainder is for renovating small-scale orchards. Thanks to investment, support, and development orientation, the district has several fruit tree cultivation models linked to product consumption along the value chain, such as: the Kim Hoang Hau yellow melon production model in Tho Thanh commune; the Dien pomelo cultivation model in Ngoc Phung commune... To achieve the goal of having 550 hectares of fruit trees with a production of over 8,500 tons/year by 2025, Thuong Xuan district directly directs communes and towns to review land use plans to build concentrated fruit tree production areas suitable to the land conditions and advantages of each locality. At the same time, organizations and individuals are encouraged to consolidate and concentrate land for large-scale, high-tech production. Along with this, the agricultural sector and communes/towns should focus on removing difficulties and obstacles to help businesses, cooperatives, and people access mechanisms and policies supporting fruit tree development. This is not only a solution to improve production efficiency but also contributes to changing people's mindset about large-scale commercial agricultural production and sustainable development.

Text and photos: Le Hoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thuong-xuan-phat-trien-cay-an-qua-tap-trung-218324.htm