12,593 hectare of low-yield rice fields converted into orchards

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development yesterday announced more than 12,593 hectare of infertile paddies in the Mekong delta has been converted to grow fruits to earn good income from the beginning of the year.

Farmers in the Mekong delta grow jackfruit on infertile paddies (Photo: SGGP)

Of 12,593 hectare of low-yield rice fields, rice crop farmers switched to grow jackfruits, mangoes, orange and red-flesh dragon fruit on 4,728 hectare; 1,470 hectare; 1,470 hectare and 1,234 hectare respectively.

Many rice farmers who have switched to fruits in recent years in their fields can earn many times the money they do from only rice, according to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

For example, those who turned rice field into a durian fruit orchard now earns around VND900 million (US$ 38,793) per hectare a year while their peers who grow pomelo, orange or dragon fruits earns VND500 million a hectare.

Additionally, the agriculture sector has encouraged farmers to rotate fruits with five main fruits including dragon fruits, mangoes, durians and longans in 59,000 hectare. Rotation helps good consumption and increase production efficiency.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development warned farmers of drought in the end of the year. Therefore, local administrations and farmers should have measures to protect the orchard gardens.

Farmers should maximize using organic fertilizers to keep trees warm as well as prune branches of tree. Moreover, they should take heed of intensification of irrigation and embankment systems to prevent saltwater intrusion.