Converting inefficient rice land into fruit crops in Can Tho

Can Tho City’s agricultural sector recently has recommended converting inefficient rice land into high-quality fruit crops to gradually build a concentrated raw material area.

Farmers in Thoi Lai District have actively changed the inefficient rice cultivation into growing custard apple. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Many farmers in the districts of Thoi Lai, Co Do, Phong Dien, O Mon and Thot Not have significantly improved their life in recent years thanks to planting fruit trees on their ineffective rice land. Fruit crops that the households have converted over the years are mango, durian, star apple, longan, mangosteen, orange, jackfruit and custard apple.

Mr. Dao Huy Luc in Dinh Khanh A hamlet, Dinh Mon commune, Thoi Lai District, who ú used to have 7ha of unproductive rice field, decided to switch to fruit in the past three years. In 2019, he invested nearly VND1 billion in planting jackfruit and durian. Currently, he is harvesting jackfruit and has a good income which helps him cover all the cost of fertilizers and pesticides for the durian.

Luc said: "Durian is actually the key crop". The durian species that his family chose to grow were Ri 6 and Monthong. It is expected that when the durian gives fruit, he will cut down some jackfruit to make room for the durian to grow.

Mr. Ngo Van Loi in Thoi Hung commune, Co Do District who used to have been cultivating 1.5ha of rice for decades, now has decided to use 1ha for growing dragon fruit. Loi borrowed an investment capital of more than VND150 million in building and purchasing electricity, irrigation systems and seedlings. After more than 10 months, the dragon fruit which grows on the land which used to be special for rice cultivation now gives fruit every day.

He made a good fortune in the first dragon fruit crop due to the high price. Loi harvested nearly 1 ton of the fruit and sold it to the barn for more than VND30,000/kg. After that, he can harvest once every four months and sell at an average price of about VND15,000 - 20,000/kg.

Mr. Loi said: Previously, he planted three crops of rice a year, but his life was not good enough due to low productivity. Watching TV, he saw farmers in Long An and Tien Giang growing dragon fruit and got high income, so he decided to change to do the same. Although dragon fruit has only been harvested for a few years, his family’s life is better than before when they just depended on growing rice.

Although currently due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the price of dragon fruit is low. Hopefully, he said, when the pandemic stops, dragon fruit exports will be more favorable thus the price will increase. "Anyway, the family's conversion of rice into dragon fruit is the right direction," Loi affirmed.

Mr. Tran Thai Nghiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Tho City, said: “Over the past five years, farmers have changed inefficient rice fields, mixed and non-specialized gardens to cultivation of specialty fruits such as durian, mango, longan, star apple and Ha Chau strawberry with high economic value. Up to now, the total area of fruit trees in Can Tho City has reached more than 21,000 hectares.”

Accompanying farmers, the agricultural sector and local authorities have organized many activities to support them, specifically provide them with technical training, seedlings and building a connection of supply and demand to help them achieve high economic efficiency. In particular, guide farmers to produce according to VietGAP standards. Linking farmers and cooperatives to form concentrated fruit-growing areas, granting planting area codes associated with product branding.

Up to now, Can Tho City has 26 cooperatives, farmers' groups and clubs that grow fruits with high quality, safety and hygiene. In which, 15 cooperatives and farmers groups are supported by authorities in the cultivation of more than 266 hectares following the VietGAP process. The whole city has more than 100 hectares of fruits certified by VietGAP including Hoa Loc mango, longan, star apple, jackfruit, orange, and durian.

Mr. Nghiem added: “The Can Tho agricultural sector is very interested in supporting farmers to build concentrated fruit growing areas to ensure quality, be granted a planting area code and production standards to meet the market demand. Fruit products that want to be exported to other countries, on sale in supermarkets and high-level channels, should meet inquiries of quality, food safety and traceability.