Building growing area codes for Da Chais plum trees

In the spring of 2024, plum growers in Da Chais commune, Lac Duong district received joy, their plum trees were just granted the first growing area code. The Tam Hoa plums, Com plums, and Hau plums of the highlands have created a premise on the road to expanding the gateway plum area.

Mr. Cao Van Than, the first farmer to establish a growing area code for Da Chais plum trees.

Mr. Cao Van Than, a farmer in Dong Mang village, Da Chais commune, Lac Duong district, has just received the growing area code for his family's plum garden. Originally a farmer in the Hung Yen plain, Mr. Cao Van Than has been attached to Dong Mang land all his youth. Mr. Than recounted that, like most farmers in Lac Duong district, people in Dong Mang village used to live on coffee trees. With a lot of work, high costs, large investments, and unstable harvests, coffee farmers face many difficulties. Therefore, he switched to plum trees, a fruit tree of the northern mountainous region.

With an area of nearly 2 hectares, specializing in growing the famous Tam Hoa plum variety of the Northern mountainous region, each year, Mr. Cao Van Than harvests dozens of tons of fruit. Not only providing fresh plums, Mr. Than also creates a vast space of white flowers every time Tet comes and spring comes. When the plum garden blooms, the floating white halos attract many tourists to Dong Mang village. Mr. Cao Van Than and many other people have created an attractive and charming feature for tourists along the city gateway route, connecting Lam Vien plateau with Nha Trang sea.

Da Chais plums, with the orientation of serving mainly for tourism, have begun to make an impression on tourists. However, in order for the plum trees to build a brand, creating conditions for tourists and consumers to enjoy real Da Chais plums, Mr. Cao Van Than has actively built a growing area code. And, he received a growing area code for his family plum garden in the spring days of Giap Thin. He said that when building a growing area code, he had to update the entire production process, so that consumers can know which variety of plums are picked from the tree, how they were watered during high temperatures and little rain, how the rootstock is grafted on the peach tree, etc., creating great peace of mind for consumers about the origin as well as the care process.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dan - Head of the Dong Mang Farmers' Association said that in Da Chais commune, Dong Mang village is the village with the largest plum output, and people grow it in large areas. Mr. Dan shared that people in Dong Mang village grow plums mainly for tourism. After Tet, the white plum gardens have attracted many tourists to visit and sightsee. After two months, the Dong Mang plum trees have borne sweet fruit. As one of the earliest plum farmers in Dong Mang village, Mr. Dan commented that the plum trees grown in Da Chais have a different flavor and quality than the plum trees from the North. Da Chais people grow popular plum varieties such as Tam Hoa plum, Hau plum, and Com plum. Da Chais plums are not as big as plums from the Northern mountains but have a special crunchiness. At the same time, the appeal of being able to pick plums from the tree yourself, the fresh, crunchy taste of local plums has helped tourists love Da Chais plum trees. Mr. Dan added that the Farmers’ Association as well as the commune government have greatly supported the people in expanding the plum growing area. From just a few initial gardens, plums are now planted scattered throughout the villages along Highway 723.

Mr. Vu Hoang Dang Khoa - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Da Chais commune said that in the local agricultural planning, plum trees are encouraged for cultivation, focusing on tourist routes. The commune, from many financial sources, has prepared plum varieties to support farmers in the rainy season. In addition, the commune also encourages farmers with experience in growing plums to transfer techniques to new farmers. Mr. Vu Hoang Dang Khoa commented that with the love of consumers for Da Chais plum trees, farmers can create an additional source of good income from this specialty fruit. And, to accompany farmers in building a brand for Da Chais plum trees, the commune government as well as the Department of Agriculture support farmers in building growing area codes.

Mr. Vu Hoang Dang Khoa said that the first growing area code has been granted to the plum garden of farmer Cao Van Than's family. This is the first step for plum growers to continue to increase productivity, improve quality, focus on production, form a concentrated plum growing area to serve tourism as well as pick fruit for consumers in and outside the province. This will also be a highlight on the tourist route, connecting the mountain town of Da Lat and the coastal city of Nha Trang.

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