Growing custard apples on rocky mountains helps Mong ethnic people escape poverty

From the practice of converting crop structure in rocky mountainous areas, the custard apple growing model of Mong ethnic people in Quang Son commune, Thai Nguyen province has affirmed its clear effectiveness in developing household economy, contributing to increasing income, sustainable poverty reduction and building new rural areas.

Custard apple trees help Trung Son people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, and gradually become rich.

The effectiveness of bold crop conversion

Previously, people in Trung Son hamlet, Quang Son commune mainly grew corn on rocky mountain slopes, a traditional crop with low productivity, only one crop per year, unstable income, making life difficult.

From the reality and realizing the potential of the rocky land, some households began to explore the model of growing fruit trees on the rocky mountains and boldly changed the crop structure, in a more suitable direction. Among them, custard apple trees, which are familiar and suitable for the soil conditions and rocky terrain, easy to care for, and have high economic value, were chosen as the main crop.

According to the leader of Quang Son commune, initially only a few households planted the model of growing custard apples on rocky mountains in Trung Son hamlet, but now the model of growing custard apples on rocky mountains in Trung Son hamlet is expanding day by day, the whole hamlet has more than 15 hectares of custard apples, of which 10 hectares have produced stable harvests and high productivity. Many households now have custard apple growing areas of 2,000 - 5,000 square meters. Custard apple trees have proven to be economically effective, becoming the main tree helping Trung Son people to escape poverty and gradually become rich.

Custard apples here are highly valued for their quality, large, sweet, few seeds, and naturally delicious. When the harvest season comes, traders come to buy them, so people don't have to bring them to the retail market. The average selling price is 20,000 - 25,000 VND/kg, sometimes up to 50,000 VND/kg. Many households earn tens of millions of VND per crop, and their lives have improved significantly.

Ms. Duong Thi Sang, a Mong ethnic in Trung Son, shared that when she saw that custard apple trees were suitable for mountainous soil and gave big, sweet fruits, her family decided to switch to growing custard apples. At first, the government supported her, but later, with some savings, the family bought seeds to grow more. Up to now, the family has about 700 custard apple trees. Each crop, if well cared for, can be sold for 20,000 - 30,000 VND/kg, a much higher income than before when they only grew corn.

According to Ms. Sang, since converting the model to growing custard apple trees, her family has risen from a poor household with difficult circumstances, had a better income and a more fulfilling life.

Quang Son commune leaders added that the success of the custard apple growing model first comes from choosing crops suitable to the terrain and climate characteristics. Rocky mountain soil, seemingly arid, is the ideal environment for custard apple trees to grow, producing delicious, high-quality fruit.

Quang Son commune continues to encourage people to expand the custard apple area, and actively coordinates with specialized agencies to organize technical training courses, support high-quality varieties, guide people on care, pest control, ensure productivity and product quality, and link with traders to consume products. In addition, the locality also focuses on changing the crop structure, developing agriculture towards commodities, in which custard apple is one of the main crops along with tea and some other fruit trees, creating a stable livelihood for people in the highlands.

Market connection is also of interest. Many traders buy directly from the garden, helping people save on transportation costs. Some households have joined together in production groups, sharing experiences, forming a production model according to the value chain, gradually building a custard apple brand.

Custard apple trees are carefully cared for by people, applying new techniques such as pruning, artificial pollination, and effective pest control.

Mr. Duong Van Hong, Trung Son hamlet said: “Custard apples grown on rocky mountains do not need as much fertilizer as on flat land, but still grow well. The secret is to prune the branches at the right time, take good care of them, and regularly prevent pests and diseases. Thanks to active care for the trees, they yield good yields, which gives us more income to support our lives.

Practice shows that when people are provided with technical support, production orientation and have stable output, they can completely escape the mindset of small-scale production and move towards commodity economy.

The custard apple growing model in Trung Son hamlet, Quang Son commune not only brings high income but also contributes significantly to the implementation of the goals of the National Target Program on sustainable poverty reduction and new rural construction. This is a vivid demonstration of the policy of "Taking the people's internal strength as the center, taking the State's support as the driving force."

From the initial results, valuable lessons can be drawn for mountainous areas and ethnic minority areas, which are to carefully survey natural conditions to determine suitable crops and livestock; not to apply stereotyped models from other regions. Promote the transfer of science and technology, replicate effective models associated with product consumption chains. Support the formation of cooperatives and cooperative groups, create conditions to access preferential capital, and build distinctive product brands. Integrate resources from poverty reduction and new rural areas programs, and encourage people to be proactive and creative in production and business.

The story of growing custard apples on Trung Son rocky mountain is a vivid demonstration of the effectiveness of innovative production thinking, from spontaneous cultivation to planned production, applying techniques, gradually forming specialized fruit growing areas. From a dry rocky mountain area, custard apple orchards have now been formed, bringing a more prosperous life to the Mong ethnic people.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/trong-na-tren-nui-da-giup-dong-bao-dan-toc-mong-thoat-ngheo-10393822.html