Prospects of fruit tree intercropping model in coffee gardens

According to Mr. Ngo Van Ha (village 9A, Ea Hiao commune), gradually converting part of the coffee area to intercropping fruit trees 8 years ago was a very wise decision of his. In 2017, when his family's coffee garden of more than 3 hectares was not very effective, Mr. Ha decided to gradually convert part of the area to growing fruit trees such as crispy persimmons, macadamia, and durian.

After 4 years of planting, 100 crispy persimmon trees intercropped in the coffee garden yielded more than 8 tons of fruit and continued to increase year by year. Realizing that this was a potential direction, Mr. Ha continued to buy land to expand the area of ​​intercropping durian, lychee, and macadamia. Up to now, in his garden there are a total of 100 crispy persimmon trees, 200 durian trees, 800 macadamia trees, and 200 pink lychee trees. In addition to the annual income of 15 tons of coffee beans, intercropped fruit trees (persimmon, durian, macadamia, lychee) have brought his family an income of more than 600 million VND/year.

Mr. Ngo Van Ha checks the durian garden during the flowering period.

Similarly, in 2015, Mr. Pham Van Hoa (village 5B, Ea Hiao commune) decided to renovate 2 hectares of old coffee trees to grow fruit trees. After 2 years of growing crops and waiting for the soil to be treated, he planted 200 durian trees and 200 booth avocado trees. According to Mr. Hoa, intercropping with large-canopy fruit trees such as durian and avocado helps shade the coffee trees, especially during the dry season. Currently, each year his family harvests more than 6 tons of booth avocado and more than 10 tons of durian; each year they earn over 700 million VND in profit from coffee, durian, avocado and other fruit trees.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huu, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ea Hiao Commune, said that in the past 7 years, fruit trees have "taken root" in this land, and have been prioritized by many farmers to convert and replace ineffective crops, thereby gradually increasing income. From the economic efficiency brought, fruit trees have gradually become the main crop, not just a secondary crop or intercrop as before.

Coffee model intercropped with durian of Mr. Pham Van Hoa's household.

To support farmers, the People's Committee of Ea Hiao commune has directed the Farmers' Association and mass organizations, village and hamlet cadres to propagate, mobilize, and guide people to expand production scale, change crop and livestock structure, focus on intensive and specialized farming measures, develop cooperative economy, and farm economy.

From 2015 to present, the Ea Hiao Commune Farmers' Association has supported the establishment of 4 agricultural cooperatives; 1 agricultural cooperative group for planting, caring for, processing and consuming durian; 1 professional association for planting, caring for and processing high-quality coffee; 2 professional associations for planting Doi and Lychee...

The Association has also stood as a credit guarantee with the District Social Policy Bank Transaction Office for farmers in the commune to borrow more than 17 billion VND to invest in economic development; built an Association Fund of 392 million VND and mobilized 500 million VND from the Farmers Support Fund for 30 households to borrow to develop production. Every year, more than 640 farming households in Ea Hiao commune achieve the title of excellent production and business at all levels.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202505/trien-vong-mo-hinh-trong-xen-cay-an-trai-trong-vuon-ca-phe-84e1ca7/