Growing macadamia nuts according to VietGAP standards.

Thanks to agricultural extension programs, many households in the border areas of Lam Dong province have chosen to plant macadamia trees. Since then, they have continued to participate in the VietGAP macadamia cultivation project, contributing to stable income.

People participated in the workshop outside the model.

Macadamia trees not only provide high nutritional value but also contribute to soil erosion control, emission reduction, and climate change adaptation. Currently, 29 provinces nationwide cultivate macadamia trees, with a total area of ​​approximately 20,000 hectares, mainly concentrated in the Northwest and Central Highlands. Among them, the border region of Lam Dong stands out as a bright spot, gradually establishing macadamia as a crop that helps people increase their income and move towards sustainable livelihoods.

However, macadamia production in the province still faces many limitations, with small-scale and fragmented linkages lacking sustainability. Most growing areas have not focused on quality and food safety standards, and have not formed a unified raw material area, causing difficulties in processing and consumption.

In light of this situation, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center is leading the implementation of the Central Agricultural Extension project "Building a model of intensive macadamia cultivation according to VietGAP standards, linked with product consumption in some Central Highlands provinces," with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as the managing agency.

Technical staff instruct Mr. Dieu D'ray (on the right) on how to care for macadamia trees.

In Lam Dong province, the model was implemented in Quang Truc commune, covering 15 hectares and involving 19 households. The project aims to develop over 70 hectares of intensive farming, increasing productivity by over 10% and economic efficiency by over 10% compared to conventional production.

Mr. Dieu D'ray's family in Prang I hamlet, Quang Truc commune, owns more than 2 hectares of hilly land. In 2010, with funding from the national agricultural extension program, Mr. Dieu D'ray received support in the form of seeds and fertilizers to plant 1 hectare of macadamia trees. Mr. Dieu D'ray said: "Thanks to the agricultural extension program, I have been growing macadamia trees for 15 years now, and I am guided to plant them according to VietGAP standards. By applying measures to improve the quality of the orchards, people are gradually increasing their income and alleviating poverty."

Ms. Thi Nhen, residing in Bu Prang II hamlet, Quang Truc commune, also cultivates over 1 hectare of macadamia nuts. According to Ms. Thi Nhen, participating in the program provided her with training courses, technology transfer, and support with seeds and agricultural supplies organized by the government. With over 1 hectare of macadamia trees, she harvests approximately 1.3 tons of fruit annually, selling it at prices ranging from 90,000 to 120,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, this yields a profit of around 100 million VND per year.

The process of selecting and pre-processing macadamia nuts at the purchasing facility in Quang Truc commune.

According to Mr. Pham Tan Minh, the project leader, in 2025, the Agricultural Extension Center organized two training courses and three off-model classes, with over 150 farmers participating. Notably, the classes attracted many ethnic minority households, opening up opportunities to adopt new techniques in remote areas. The instructors, who were highly qualified professionals, guided participants on techniques for flowering, fruit setting, pest and disease management, harvesting, preservation, and product traceability according to VietGAP standards.

“The consumption linkage activities have been strongly implemented through workshops and production and consumption groups for macadamia nuts according to VietGAP standards in the growing areas. Notably, the group has signed a purchase contract with Long Viet Agricultural Service Cooperative, committing to purchasing the entire 15 hectares of the model, with an expected yield of 30 tons, at market price plus 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg depending on quality,” Mr. Minh said.

Along with supplementing the supply of high-quality seedlings, the purchasing and processing system is increasingly developing with 34 establishments and businesses, with a capacity of approximately 8,500 tons of nuts per year. Macadamia products from Lam Dong are now available in supermarkets and convenience stores domestically and exported to South Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Australia, etc. Many prominent businesses are operating, such as: Macadamia Viet Co., Ltd., Macadamia Mai Thao (Di Linh), TBK Green Food, Huy Hieu (Tan Ha - Lam Ha), Macadamia Viet Xanh Company (Duc Trong)...

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Director of the Lam Dong Agricultural Extension Center, the intensive macadamia cultivation model following VietGAP standards in the Quang Truc border region not only helps farmers improve techniques and increase productivity but also creates an important foundation for forming a concentrated, safe, and traceable raw material area. "This is a prerequisite for participating in large supply chains," Mr. Chuong added.

Currently, the province's macadamia nut cultivation area is approximately 13,097 hectares, with a production of 12,508 tons and an average yield of 22.4 quintals/hectare. 42 out of 124 communes in the province have been identified as key macadamia nut production areas, including 33 communes in the former Lam Dong province and 12 communes in the former Dak Nong province. This is a significant advantage for forming concentrated raw material areas, creating favorable conditions for attracting businesses to invest in deep processing.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/trong-mac-ca-theo-huong-vietgap-404755.html