Sweet fruits from the middle land

In the middle of the Phu Tho midland, where the Lo River meanders and embraces the lush green hillsides, Dan Chu commune is known by the surrounding people as the “capital” of the famous Gia Thanh seedless persimmon variety. With suitable soil and climate conditions, Gia Thanh persimmons not only bring high economic efficiency, but also contribute to hunger eradication and poverty reduction, promoting sustainable agricultural development in the locality.

Mrs. Han Thi Thanh Binh's family in Zone 1 grows 120 seedless rose bushes, bringing in a stable income and becoming a well-off household.

Before merging Gia Thanh, Bao Thanh, Tri Quan, Ha Giap communes into Dan Chu commune today, the old Gia Thanh commune was an area with uneven terrain, many undulating hills, following each other like an upside-down bowl. During the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, the forests here sheltered cadres, soldiers, agencies, and State warehouses stationed in the locality. With the success of the August Revolution, the people in the commune ended their lives of slavery, stood up to take control of their own destiny... From the victorious spirit of the August Revolution, the people in the commune were urged to be steadfast and steadfast through the wars to protect and build the Fatherland, to build an increasingly renewed homeland.

The undulating hills that were once dense forests sheltering revolutionary cadres have now been replaced by rose gardens, grapefruit, fruit trees with heavy branches and large-scale livestock farms, bringing high economic value, in which the expansion of seedless persimmon growing area has affirmed the right direction of the local government. Gia Thanh seedless persimmons are diamond-shaped, not round, with pointed ears, and when ripe, the fruit is light yellow, crispy and sweet. Preserved persimmons also contain many vitamins that are good for health, making them an attractive gift for those far from home and tourists from all over visiting Phu Tho.

According to statistics from the Commune People's Committee, currently, the area of ​​​​rose cultivation in the area has expanded to nearly 200 hectares, of which the harvested area is 98 hectares with an average annual output estimated at 15 tons/ha. Revenue from the specialty rose tree brings about 450 million VND/ha. This seedless variety has an economic value 30-40% higher than traditional rose varieties. The application of modern farming techniques, such as automatic irrigation and the use of organic fertilizers, has helped reduce production costs and improve fruit quality, bringing stable income to hundreds of households in the commune.

One of the pioneering households growing seedless persimmons on a large area in the commune is the family of Mrs. Han Thi Thanh Binh in Zone 1. Mrs. Binh shared: “In response to the large market demand for special persimmons, a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival, my family decided to cut down the garden of mixed trees, which had no value, and switch to growing persimmons. After 4-5 years, we started to sell the first crop, bringing in quite high income compared to other crops. Seeing that, many households in the commune learned, renovated their gardens, and converted some areas to grow persimmons - a perennial fruit tree, increasing income and bringing sustainable value as a legacy for future generations.” It is known that from 120 fruit-bearing persimmon trees, on average, each year, Mrs. Binh's family harvests about 10 tons of fruit, with a revenue of about 400 million VND. However, this year's persimmon crop, due to the impact of heavy rain, has caused the seedless persimmon output of Mrs. Binh's family in particular and hundreds of households in the commune in general to decrease relatively, estimated at 500-600 tons of fruit. However, the quality and appearance are not affected. The price of persimmons this year is still quite high, from 50,000-60,000 VND/kg and will increase even higher in the coming time.

With the value that the specialty fruit variety brings, from September 2022, Gia Thanh seedless persimmons of Gia Thanh Agricultural Service Cooperative have been recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as products that meet the 4-star OCOP standards at the provincial level, and are favored by consumers. Thereby, affirming the right direction from the policy of converting ineffective forestry and mixed garden areas to growing specialty persimmons that bring high economic value, contributing to increasing people's income, promoting local socio-economic development.

Hong Gia Thanh is a hometown gift that brings the flavor of every autumn.

Comrade Pham Quang Dang - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dan Chu Commune said: "Many programs to support farmers, such as training in cultivation techniques, providing high-quality plant varieties and connecting with purchasing enterprises have been deployed to each persimmon growing household, contributing to increasing income. Identifying Gia Thanh seedless persimmon as the main crop, bringing high economic value to the people, the commune government has oriented to expand the planting area with specific solutions such as: Focusing on caring for existing persimmon gardens; paying attention to caring for trees that have produced stable fruit, advising people to prune branches, create canopy, have a reasonable fertilizer and irrigation regime to compensate for the nutrition of the previous crop. At the same time, continue to mobilize and encourage people to expand the new planting area. In the face of challenges such as climate change and pests, the commune will continue to coordinate with specialized agencies to support people in applying high technology in care and harvesting, bringing sustainable value to local specialty varieties".

The economic efficiency brought by seedless persimmons has proven that with perseverance and proper support, agricultural production can become a driving force for sustainable economic development in the midland region. Gia Thanh sweet persimmons will continue to spread, bringing a more prosperous life to the people of this midland region.

Hong Nhung

Source: https://baophutho.vn/trai-ngot-tu-vung-dat-giua-239735.htm