Application of high technology to growing dragon fruits is right direction

Up to now, Long An has over 11,800 hectares of dragon fruit, an increase of over 12 percent compared to 2017, of which, Chau Thanh district has about 9,100 hectares. The application of high technology to growing dragon fruits is the right direction and brings high efficiency for farmers.

The application of high technology to growing dragon fruits is the right direction and brings high efficiency for farmers

Bringing high efficiency for farmers

Currently, many high-tech dragon fruit planting models bring high profits such as cooperative group in Binh Xuyen hamlet, Binh Quoi commune. This cooperative group was established in 2017. To date, there are 34 members with a production area of about 15 hectares. It also cooperates with dragon fruit farmers following GlobalGAP and VietGAP standards to export through specific contracts. It instructed on methods of planting, provides materials and capital to farmers to grow and buy fruits after harvest. On the other hand, farmers must comply with GAP production processes and standards.

Although prices of dragon fruits fluctuate seasonally, Binh Xuyen cooperative group always sells its products higher than the market price from 2,000 to 3,000 VND per kilogram. Especially, when the price of dragon fruit in the market dropped, the cooperative group still sold products at a floor price of 10,000 VND per kilogram. Therefore, farmers trust the cooperative group; the profit of each hectare is over 200 to 300 million VND per year.

According to the representative of the cooperative group - Mr. Nguyen Van Siem, when joining the cooperative group, farmers are instructed on the method of planting following high technology and GAP standards. Dragon fruit productivity of the cooperative group is always higher than neighboring areas.

“In addition to the members in Binh Xuyen hamlet, the cooperative group also has many members in other hamlets in Binh Quoi commune. Since its establishment until now, the cooperative group has constantly developed and expanded its markets and become one of the cooperative economic units that have grown sustainably in the locality. Currently, the cooperative group still focuses on planting dragon fruits following clean and GAP standards to reach the district's plan of 30 hectares of high-tech dragon fruits in Binh Xuyen hamlet. In the near future, we will establish cooperatives, seek customers, build warehouses and develop more members. At present, this model has many advantages. However, the members have not dared to expand the area because there is no warehouse ”- Mr. Siem added.

According to Vice Chairman of Binh Quoi commune People's Committee - Phan Dai Bao, at present, local authority develops over 100 hectares of dragon fruits with high technology application. Thanks to cooperative groups in the area, the model of growing dragon fruits following GAP standards has been increasingly popularized and replicated. Dragon fruits following GAP standards have been strongly exported, so the farmers have not been affected by the "oversupply". Currently, the commune has 7 cooperative groups. In the coming time, the local authorities will mobilize farmers to implement the GAP model to ensure output. Recently, authorities and functional agencies have been interested in supporting this production linkage model as well as actively transferred technical advances for farmers to apply in production.

Right policies

According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Nguyen Chi Thien, the province is implementing the Project of building a 2,000-hectare high-tech dragon fruit production area by 2020 in Chau Thanh district. The goal of the project is to develop concentrated dragon fruit production areas and apply high technology to create conditions for raising the export value of dragon fruits. This is a sustainable basis for developing the dragon fruit brand of the province, expanding consumption markets and international integration. In the past 4 years, the province has implemented the project of 2,082.05 hectares with about 3,465 households, reaching 104.1 percent of the plan; built many models to link production and consumption of dragon fruits following VietGAP standard.

Understanding the meaning of production following VietGAP standards, many farmers have actively participated and strictly complied with VietGAP's requirements to be certified. Producing dragon fruits according to VietGAP standard has met the increasing value of dragon fruit products and export demand; contributed to improving the production environment; reduced the abuse of plant protection drugs; reduced the infestation of pests and diseases; increased productivity and quality of dragon fruit, etc. The model of economical watering helps farmers save 80 percent of their labor as well as save electricity, water, fertilizers and plant protection drugs. The average profit increased from 2.5 to 5 million VND per hectare.

Chairman of Chau Thanh District People's Committee - Nguyen Van Thinh said: “In the coming time, in order to produce dragon fruits more effectively, the district has asked the communes to focus on linking production, establishing cooperative and cooperative groups, encouraging major enterprises to invest in dragon fruits, especially dragon fruits for export to Japanese, American and European markets in order to increase the value.

In addition, the district will build a value chain in dragon fruit production, establish facilities for preserving, processing and diversifying dragon fruit products. The district will coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade to strengthen trade promotion in some countries; mobilize the linkage in production-consumption in order to create a stable output. Besides, in order to improve product quality, the district continues to propagate and mobilize people to follow the model of applying high technology to ensure hygiene and quality following VietGAP standards.".