Chairman
of the Dong Lai communal People’s Committee Bui Hai Chau said the area for grapefruit
cultivation has increased four times to 168 hectares from 39 hectares in 2013
with higher economic efficiency. Of which, 70 hectares have been harvested. The
prices range between 23,000-25,000 VND a grapefruit.
Ripening grapefruits bring happiness to
growers in Dong Lai commune (Tan Lac). Photo taken at Tan Lai hamlet.
We went to Dong Tien hamlet where the famous sweet red-flesh grapefruits were originated. It is home to 68 households, almost of them are growing grapefruits, including some decade-old gardens. Bui Van Vinh has grown grapefruits since 2008, and this is the fifth consecutive year his family has harvested the fruit.
His son Bui Van Quang said "This crop, many traders have come to buy the fruit, but my family has not sold. In previous crops, 100 grapefruit trees brought stable income to my family, including the biggest revenue of 300 million VND in a crop. However, it was just the sale from fruits, not mentioning about selling air-layered branches, which also brings significant income to my family.” With diligent care, the garden has been growing well.
Grapefruits have changed the life of Dong Tien people, head of the hamlet Le Duc Canh said with excitement. "Previously, we just grew sugarcanes and maize, so the income was very unstable. Since growing grapefruit trees, life has changed. Many households in the hamlet have income of hundreds of millions of dong each year. In the past, the hamlet had 24-25 poor households, but now there are only seven with annual average per capita income of 28 million VND.”
Meanwhile, the area for grapefruit in Tan Lai hamlet has increased quickly in recent years. "Our hamlet has about 100 out of the 175 households growing grapefruit trees. The total cultivation area is 34 hectares, including 20 hectares of harvesting. Over the past six years, grapefruits have become the main source of income for farmers”, Pham Quang Duy, head of the hamlet said.
In Dong Lai hamlet, grapefruit trees producing hundreds of fruits each year have become common. Even there are trees bearing over 1,000 fruits each year. The nearly 20-year-old grapefruit tree of Bui Van Luong’s family in Com hamlet is an example. Last year, Luong raked in 110 million VND from selling grapefruits. This crop, the prices range between 22,000-24,000 VND a fruit. It is expected to bring him about 130 million VND.
Thanks to economic restructuring, the life of people in Dong Lai commune has been significantly improved. Before 2013, the average per income was just over 16 million VND; however, this figure increased to 22 million VND in 2016 and expected to reach 27 million VND in 2017. "The grapefruit has helped improve local living standards. To ensure sustainable development, Dong Lai commune established a clean farm produce cooperative last year. "Buoi do Tan Lac” (Tan Lac red-flesh grapefruit) has been recognised as a collective mark. This is a great motivation for the commune to continue developing the quality of this fruit, Chairman of the commune’s People’s Committee Bui Hai Chau said.
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