Growing sugarcane on fatty soil

From barren, rocky land, farmers in Dong Tam commune, Dong Nai province, have transformed the area into a green haven for sugarcane cultivation, turning the previously rocky and barren land into a verdant landscape. Few would have expected the sugarcane to thrive, yielding high productivity and providing a stable income for local farmers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chau tends to his family's sugarcane field. Photo: Thuy Linh

Hamlet 3, Dong Tam commune, is located in a hilly area with many areas of fertile, gravelly soil lacking nutrients. Farming on this land is very difficult. Therefore, Mr. Nguyen Van Chau switched from fruit trees to growing sugarcane. From this sugarcane farming model, his family earns several million dong per day, and their lives are becoming increasingly stable.

Sugarcane grown in acidic soil is not only cultivated in acidic soil.

During a visit to Can Tho , Mr. Chau researched and purchased sugarcane seedlings of the "su phen" variety to plant in his garden. Initially, he cleared 2 hectares of old fruit trees to plant sugarcane. Later, seeing that the sugarcane grew well in the fertile soil, he decided to plant an additional 3 hectares, including 2 hectares intercropped in his coconut garden. Sugarcane of the "su phen" variety is widely grown by farmers in the Mekong Delta provinces, but it is also very suitable for cultivation in Dong Tam commune.

Following Mr. Chau to the sugarcane field, which was planted just over a month ago, the seedlings are about 80cm tall. Several workers are weeding the soil around the base of the plants and fertilizing them. Mr. Chau said: "For sugarcane, only nitrogen fertilizer should be used; manure should not be used to avoid the sugarcane juice having a foul odor." Sugarcane can be planted using cuttings or shoots. Planting with shoots allows for faster growth. Sugarcane is usually planted during the rainy season, as this is the most favorable time for good plant development... Compared to other sugarcane varieties, sugarcane has many advantages, including drought resistance, good pest and disease resistance, strong tillering, and higher yields.

Previously, Mr. Chau had grown many sugarcane varieties such as ROC 16 and VD, but the yield was not as good as that of the "su phen" sugarcane. One hectare of this sugarcane can yield 100-120 tons, double that of some other varieties. The investment cost for growing this sugarcane is 60-65 million VND/hectare.

Getting rich by growing sugarcane

For many years, Mr. Chau's family has run a sugarcane juice stall for travelers on National Highway 14. Besides growing sugarcane and selling the juice at home, Mr. Chau also supplies finished sugarcane wholesale to many customers both within and outside the commune. Currently, the wholesale price of raw sugarcane is 3,000 VND/kg, and finished sugarcane is 5,000 VND/kg. Each year, 1 hectare of sugarcane yields an income of approximately 300 million VND, leaving over 200 million VND after deducting expenses. By selling both sugarcane juice and wholesaling finished sugarcane, Mr. Chau earns over 2 million VND per day, not including the income from selling seedlings. Sugarcane cuttings and shoots are sold at prices ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 VND/kg. Some people from other localities, knowing that Mr. Chau is a successful propagator of sugarcane on fertile soil, have come to buy shoots to plant.

In his garden spanning over 20 hectares, besides sugarcane, Mr. Chau also cultivates more than 10 hectares of rubber and coconut trees. He shared: "While waiting for other crops to yield a harvest, sugarcane is the main source of income for my family, providing a higher income than some other crops."

Not only is Mr. Chau a pioneer in developing the sugarcane cultivation model using the "su phen" variety in Dong Tam commune, but he also provides seeds and technical guidance for cultivation to local people. “Mr. Nguyen Van Chau has propagated and maintained the sugarcane cultivation model using the "su phen" variety for nearly 10 years in the locality. This is a very effective model because this sugarcane variety yields high productivity and the market demand is always high. Recently, the Dong Tam Commune Farmers' Association has organized visits for its members to learn from the model, especially for households with hilly, sloping land that is difficult to cultivate and wants to switch to sugarcane cultivation. To date, this model has been replicated both within and outside the commune, contributing to increased household income,” said Ms. Luan Thi Hue, Chairwoman of the Dong Tam Commune Farmers' Association, Dong Nai province.

Thuy Linh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202509/trong-mia-su-phen-tren-dat-mo-ga-e4d219b/