Land of "golden fruit"

Early in the morning in Da Kai (Duc Linh district), dew still lingers on the lush green durian leaves. The first sunlight of the day falls, sparkling and shimmering through each leaf like honey. Standing in the middle of the orchard in harvest season, Mr. Luon Van Chung (village 10, Da Kai commune) attentively looks at the plump durian fruits waiting to be cut, saying slowly: “Back then, I just planted them randomly, without thinking much... I just felt like I was floating. I never expected this tree variety to 'get along' with this land and produce "golden fruits" of high value.”

Báo Bình Thuận•05/06/2025

Sow the seeds and reap the rewards

Da Kai is a semi - mountainous area , known as a land with great potential but has not been effectively exploited . In the past, people lived mainly by slash-and-burn farming, growing cashews, working for hire... Life was hard, all year round just hoping to have enough to eat. During the cashew harvest season , the price dropped, and the whole year was considered empty-handed. In that situation, some people began to think differently. And under the cashew canopy, the first durian trees were planted. Not by scientific calculation, but simply... daring. Planting for fun, trying, because this land was not so bad .

Mr. Chung next to the durian garden preparing to harvest.

However, the plant has persevered. With a temperate climate, red soil that retains moisture well, light winds, and enough rain, Da Kai has become an ideal area for durian to take root and grow well . After a few years of hard care, in the 6th and 7th years, the tree began to bear fruit regularly. Then, year after year, durian not only “can eat the soil” but also began to bring new life to those who have placed their faith in it. Mr. Luong Van Chung, one of the pioneers in converting from cashew to durian , is now the owner of a large durian garden with more than 3 hectares of cultivated land. He said: " At first, I intercropped under cashew trees, not daring to destroy them all . But the durian trees grew so well that when they bore fruit, they were no match for the cashew trees . Now the only thing left is durian." Currently, his garden yields 20-25 tons/ha. With the purchase price at the garden fluctuating from 40,000-50,000 VND/kg, each hectare brings in an income of 800 million to more than 1 billion VND. There are trees that bear fruit worth tens of millions of VND each season .

Mr. Lam is now the owner of 10 hectares of durian .

Not only Mr. Chung, people in Da Kai commune have now changed dramatically. From a few households and a few hectares of durian , now many agricultural areas here are covered with durian . According to Mr. Ha Van Thuan, Chairman of Da Kai Commune People's Committee, the whole commune currently has more than 1,500 hectares of durian , concentrated in villages 10 , 11, 12. The main varieties are Ri 6 and Thai, both of which produce large fruits, thick flesh, and a characteristic aroma, and are favored by traders and the market. " The economic efficiency of durian is indisputable . But the biggest change is the farming mindset. People now no longer grow in the old way, but learn systematically, focusing on quality and output," said Mr. Thuan.

" Trees know how to listen to people"

The saying of Mr. Mai Thanh Lam, a resident of the Tay Yen region who settled in village 11 (Da Kai commune), is repeated by the people here: "The land does not fail the people, the important thing is whether you dare to change or not ? ". That saying sounds simple, but to do it requires a whole journey. Mr. Lam, who now owns more than 10 hectares of durian , said that the luckiest thing is not choosing the right tree, but "daring to think differently". Durian trees require meticulous care , high investment capital, and many years of perseverance before harvesting. But once the tree bears fruit, it will "repay" the grower with sustainability and stability much better than traditional crops. There are families who used to live in wooden houses with shabby corrugated iron roofs , but have now built new, spacious houses with solar power installed. Life changes every day, every season .

“ Village 11 used to be a place where people from all over the country flocked to live, known as the “ rice and bean” area , most of whom lived off the forest and worked as hired laborers. But now, the whole village has 54 official households, but there are nearly 300 households that cultivate intensively and rent land to do business. Without durian , no one would think that this area would develop like this,” said Mr. Lam.

According to Mr. Lam, durian trees are not easy to grow. They require careful care and a lot of investment. But if you persevere, they will not fail you. “ The sweetness of durian is the sweetness of sweat , of time and of faith,” said Mr. Lam.

Da Kai land has produced "golden fruit" bringing prosperity to the people.

From around May to July, Da Kai enters the main harvest season. The concrete roads built by the government and the people usually have few vehicles passing by, but during the harvest season , they are bustling with the sound of motorbikes and people calling each other to pick the fruit. Trucks, three-wheeled vehicles, and motorbikes line up, carrying baskets full of golden, plump durians to the purchasing points. The locals here jokingly call it “the harvest season of the village ” – the season of laughter , of plenty , of achievements after many years of hard work with the land. As an old farmer once said: “ Trees know how to listen to people. How we take care of them, they will repay us. The sweetness of durian is the sweetness of sweat , of change, of a long journey.” However , the commune authorities still advise people not to expand the area indiscriminately. " We learned from pepper and rubber, which grew rapidly and then plummeted. Durian is a valuable tree , but its output still depends on the export market, especially China," said Mr. Thuan - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee. Instead of expanding, the commune focuses on improving quality: granting codes for growing areas , providing guidance on traceability, training in cultivation according to VietGAP processes, limiting chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and using organic fertilizers. Some villages such as village 10 have completed granting codes for growing areas , and village 11 is speeding up the progress. At the same time, the locality also increases support for linking farmers with businesses to ensure consumption and keep prices stable.

Everywhere are durian gardens full of fruit.

From a land of many difficulties, Da Kai has quietly transformed itself, not only with the durian tree , but also with the people's desire for change . Durian is not only the " golden fruit " of this land , but also a symbol of rising up , daring to think, daring to do. As Mr. Mai Thanh Lam said: "The land does not fail people, the important thing is whether we dare to change or not ? ".