Poverty alleviation through the cultivation of plum trees.

In early May, people in Cao Loc district (Lang Son province) are busy harvesting early-ripening plums. This year's plum crop, despite unfavorable weather and prolonged drought causing reduced yields, still brings joy to many farmers because the early-ripening plums fetch good prices, significantly contributing to poverty reduction.

Mr. Lang Van Cu, from Ban Lanh village, Hoa Cu commune (Cao Loc district), shared: "My family has over 300 plum trees that are currently bearing fruit. This year, due to the dry weather and lack of rain during the flowering and fruiting stages, the yield and quality of the fruit have decreased. In previous years, my family harvested three to four tons of fruit, but this year we only harvested about 1 to 1.5 tons. At the beginning of the season, plums were bought by traders at prices ranging from 35,000 to 40,000 VND/kg. To expand the market, I had to increase product promotion on social media, so the plums fetched a better price than other households, ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 VND/kg (depending on the size of the fruit). This year, my family estimates we will earn about 20 to 30 million VND."

Like Mr. Cu's family, Mr. Luong Van Thuong, from Tong Rien village, Hai Yen commune (Cao Loc district), happily shared: "My family's plum orchard has 260 trees, mostly 7 to 10 years old. Previously, we paid very little attention to caring for, pruning, or fertilizing them, so the trees bloomed a lot but set fruit poorly, resulting in unstable yields. However, in the last two years, thanks to implementing integrated intensive farming methods as guided by scientists , the yield and quality of the plums have increased, especially the fruits are larger, more uniform, more beautiful, and have a more delicious flavor, so the purchase price is over 16,000 VND/kg."

According to Mr. Duong Trung Hieu, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Environment Department of the district: Plum trees are one of the crops suitable for the climate and soil in the area, helping people increase their income. In recent years, many households have taken advantage of their hillside gardens to plant plum trees, with each household planting an average of 50 to 100 trees. Plum trees are easy to grow, so people plant them on hillsides, in streams, and in single-crop rice fields lacking water; they bear fruit after only three years and can continue to bear fruit for more than 20 years… Some farmers, by applying science and technology to plum tree care, have increased both yield and quality, making it their main source of income, helping families escape poverty, build sturdy houses, and provide for their children's education…

Currently, the district has over 255 hectares of plum trees, with approximately 205 hectares in production, mainly early-ripening varieties. This is also the district with the largest plum cultivation area in the province. Plum trees are concentrated in communes such as Hoa Cu, Hai Yen, and Loc Yen… Plums are one of the crops that bring economic benefits to the people in the district. When green, plums are very crisp and have a sour but not harsh taste; when ripe, they are juicy and have a balanced sweet and sour taste, making them very popular. It is estimated that this year, the plum yield will reach about 3.5 tons/ha, with a total production of about 720 tons, a decrease of 97 tons compared to 2024.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Chieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lang Son province, the province currently has over 700 hectares of early-ripening plum trees, of which more than 570 hectares are bearing fruit, yielding approximately 2,680 tons. Early-ripening plum trees are mainly grown in the districts of Cao Loc, Van Lang, Van Quan, and Loc Binh... Thanks to its characteristic of harvesting earlier than other plum varieties, early-ripening plums have brought significant income to farmers. Recognizing that early-ripening plums are a valuable local specialty fruit tree that needs long-term preservation, since 2021, the Provincial Department of Science and Technology has included the preservation of this variety in its provincial-level scientific tasks, with the implementation of the project "Research on the Conservation and Development of Early-Ripening Plum Genetic Resources in Lang Son". Currently, the project has been completed and has brought practical benefits to early-ripening plum growers.

However, currently, the development of plum cultivation in the province is fragmented and small-scale. Most of it is done spontaneously by the people, resulting in plum trees not being properly cared for, such as fertilizing, pruning, and pest control. Consequently, yields are not high or stable. In the future, the province needs to focus on promoting, encouraging, and guiding people to further expand plum cultivation areas, considering plums as a cash crop, and potentially forming specialized areas for clean fruit production to supply markets both within and outside the province.

Text and photos: HUNG TRANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xoa-doi-giam-ngheo-tu-cay-man-com-post885133.html