Million-dollar farm

Right in the hilly region of Thanh Hoa province, a farm generates a profit equivalent to approximately $1.65 million per year – it sounds unbelievable, but it's true. This is the fourth year of harvest, and revenue continues to increase each year, further confirming the farm owner's modern agricultural mindset and production approach.

The 83-hectare citrus farm generates approximately 40 billion VND in revenue annually.

Although it wasn't our first time seeing them, the sight of the orange trees, Xa Doai oranges, and green-skinned pomelos laden with fruit left an unforgettable impression on us. This was our fourth visit to the high-tech citrus-growing valley in Van Du town (Thach Thanh district), and the members of our delegations were all amazed by the vast scale and modern farming processes. This is Chung Thuy Farm – the largest concentrated citrus-growing farm in Thanh Hoa province, covering 83 hectares and invested in systematically.

To introduce the production area to the visitors, Mr. Nguyen Van Chung, the farm owner, had to use his car to lead the way for the other vehicles following behind. Occasionally, he would stop the car so the group could get out and experience firsthand the lush green orange and pomelo orchards on what was once barren land. In a valley surrounded by mountains, rows of fruit trees stretch endlessly, creating a rich and picturesque landscape. According to Mr. Chung, because it is protected by the rocky mountain system, this high-tech orchard, as planned by Thach Thanh district, is almost unaffected by storms and strong winds.

In late November, the land formerly belonging to the Van Du Agricultural Farm experiences the first dry, chilly winds of the season. This is considered the time when oranges begin to look their best, with increased sugar content and sweetness. The selective harvesting also begins. As the Lunar New Year approaches each year, nearly a hundred laborers are involved in the harvest, with several trucks from traders in the northern provinces arriving daily to purchase the oranges.

Each mandarin orange tree at Chung Thuy farm in Van Du town (Thach Thanh district) yields hundreds of kilograms of fruit.

In this farm, which is roughly the size of a lowland commune, every orange tree is laden with fruit. Of the nearly 40,000 trees already bearing fruit, almost every one has to be propped up with sturdy bamboo or wire supports to prevent the branches from breaking. Many branches, as thin as chopsticks, are also heavily laden with several kilograms of plump, ripe fruit. Using his experience, Mr. Chung turns over the branches and leaves, revealing clusters of fruit stacked in layers underneath. Orange trees weighing 300-400 kilograms of fruit have become commonplace here.

To achieve the success it has today, it took unwavering determination and relentless effort. About a dozen years ago, this hilly area was almost barren, overgrown with weeds and bushes, becoming a grazing ground for local people's buffalo and cattle. Having visited Van Du many times, this man from Ha Son commune (Ha Trung district) recognized its enormous potential. And, the way Mr. Chung leased land for production was professional from the very beginning. In 2016, his company, Thuy Ngoc Trading and Construction Co., Ltd., and his friends applied to establish a high-tech citrus fruit cultivation project, which was approved by the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee.

Also starting in 2016, the first 42 hectares of land were granted land use rights for planting perennial trees with a 49-year term. He and his company hired specialized agencies to collect soil samples, conduct tests, and thoroughly research the soil and climate of the area. Based on the scientific results, he identified four main crops for the farm, all citrus fruits. Given the large area, he quickly hired experts to design the land plots and develop a mechanization plan. With the company's existing resources, a main drainage system, secondary drainage, and raised beds were established to prevent flooding. The challenging problem of irrigation water in the hilly area was also solved with industrial wells and pumps storing water in modern lined ponds.

With trees spaced 4 meters apart and rows 5 meters apart, tens of thousands of sweet orange and Xa Doai orange saplings are being planted. A green pomelo growing area has also been established with tens of thousands of trees stretching as far as the eye can see. Notably, an automated irrigation system using rotating sprinkler heads and drip irrigation pipes to each tree, based on Israeli technology, has been installed – becoming the earliest and largest application of modern irrigation technology in the mountainous district of Thach Thanh.

Many delegations have visited and learned from the experience at Chung Thuy citrus farm in Van Du town.

After establishing a 42-hectare production area, the company continued to lease 41 hectares of land from surrounding entities to expand the farm to 83 hectares. The internal farm roads were paved with gravel and concrete, resembling the roads used by local people in mountainous areas. This facilitated the easy access of machinery and the delivery of fertilizers and products by trucks to every corner of the farm. From the very beginning, the farm prioritized clean production according to food safety and hygiene standards and modern processes as a crucial criterion for survival, as the large volume of products required a strong reputation for sustainable sales. Earthworm farming areas and organic fertilizer composting facilities were also established within the farm.

Soybeans, corn, composted organic matter, vermicompost, and several types of organic fertilizers imported from Japan have been the source of nutrients for each crop on the farm for many years. As proof of the farm's clean produce, the owner took oranges from the trees and offered them to guests to taste. The Canh oranges were sweet and refreshing, while the Xa Doai oranges had a golden-yellow flesh like honey, a rich sweetness, and a cool, refreshing sensation on the tongue. Since 2020, oranges and pomelos from this farm have been harvested on a large scale. Currently, the products are mainly sold in Hanoi and many provinces and cities nationwide. This is also the first farm in the province to be certified with GlobalGAP standards for its oranges and pomelos.

To date, 12,000 Xa Doai orange trees, 20,000 Canh orange trees, and nearly 4,000 green pomelo trees have all been bearing fruit for the fourth year. Recently, the farm also planted an additional 2 hectares of Buddha's hand citron, which is now also beginning to bear fruit. According to the calculations of the owner of this largest citrus farm in Thanh Hoa, the farm's income has reached 40 billion VND per year after deducting all expenses. It is also rare for a farm in the North to build a housing area for its workers. 80 professional workers from many provinces have stable jobs here with an average income of 7.5 million VND/person/month, with free food and accommodation.

Having spent eight years building and developing his exemplary fruit farm, Nguyen Van Chung has lost count of how many delegations have visited, including many farm owners who came to learn from his experience. He has always been willing to share his knowledge. For this owner, born in 1975, the more people who do well, the more the fruit-growing community in Thanh Hoa province will thrive, building a brand for the concentrated growing areas.

Text and photos: Le Dong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/trang-trai-trieu-do-231639.htm