Making macadamia a key crop in poverty reduction

Officials of the Ethnic Affairs Department of Tuan Giao district guide people on techniques for planting and caring for macadamia trees.

Macadamia is a crop that is considered suitable for the district's area, and can help people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and become rich. Therefore, the district has identified the development of macadamia plantations in the area as a major policy and a top priority task of the entire political system.

Mr. Lo Van Cuong, Secretary of Tuan Giao District Party Committee

Following the policy of the District Party Committee, the Tuan Giao district government has actively promoted and mobilized people to convert ineffective crop areas to macadamia trees. The district focuses on opening training courses, instructing people on techniques for digging holes, planting and caring for macadamia trees. Along with that, implementing national target programs for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, and sustainable poverty reduction programs, the district has deployed support for seedlings and fertilizers to help people expand the macadamia growing area.

As in Pu Xi 1 village, Quai To commune, with enthusiastic guidance from commune and district officials, at the end of 2023, Mr. Ho A Lu's family, one of 172 households, completed planting new macadamia trees; 100% of the family's macadamia trees with a survival rate of more than 90%. According to Mr. Ho A Lu: When the officials came to propagate and enthusiastically guide, he and many families registered and received macadamia seedlings to plant. This year, Mr. Lu's family registered to plant about 1.5 hectares of macadamia trees to develop the economy.

People of Xa Tu village, Pu Nhung commune receive fertilizer to support macadamia planting

With the participation of authorities at all levels and the consensus of the people, in recent years, the macadamia growing area in Tuan Giao district has been significantly expanded. In 2022, the district planted 150 hectares of macadamia; by 2023, the district planted nearly 1,700 hectares of macadamia with the participation of 2,800 households. Currently, the macadamia area in the whole district is growing and developing well, with a survival rate of over 90%.

Tuan Giao district aims to have over 8,000 hectares of macadamia by the end of 2025, with each household owning an average of 100 macadamia trees, creating jobs for tens of thousands of workers and bringing stable income to the people. In 2024, Tuan Giao district has promoted and mobilized 5,500 households to register to grow macadamia, bringing the total number of households participating in macadamia growing in the district to nearly 8,000, accounting for nearly 50% of the agricultural population in the area.

The district strives to complete the planting of 3,300 hectares of new macadamia trees by the end of June 2024, ensuring proper techniques and timing. After the new planting season in 2024, the macadamia area in the district will increase to more than 6,000 hectares, making Tuan Giao a locality with the largest macadamia area in the country. Thereby, creating a clear change in agricultural restructuring, creating a direction for hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and sustainable enrichment for people in the district.

Tuan Giao district forces during the macadamia tree planting festival in May 2024

According to Mr. Lo Van Cuong, Secretary of Tuan Giao District Party Committee: Macadamia trees are hundreds of years old, not only have the effect of greening barren land and hills, but also bring high economic value to growers due to large market demand. Income from macadamia trees can reach 120 - 130 million VND/ha/year, many times higher than growing corn and cassava. Macadamia is a crop that is considered suitable for the district's area, can help people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and become rich. Therefore, the district identifies developing the area of ​​macadamia trees in the area as a major policy, a top priority task of the entire political system from the district to the grassroots level.

With the planted macadamia area and the consensus and determination of the entire political system, Tuan Giao district will effectively develop and expand the macadamia area, making macadamia a key crop in economic development and poverty reduction for the people.

To ensure the consumption market, Tuan Giao district signed a memorandum of understanding with TH Group. Accordingly, the district committed to creating all conditions according to regulations for TH Group and its member units to implement the macadamia planting project in the area. In return, TH Group committed to purchasing all macadamia products of Tuan Giao district for 50 years. Along with that, Tuan Giao district invited experts to guide the development of planting area data so that when macadamia trees enter the canopy closing stage, covering bare hills and mountains, they will simultaneously be eligible for forest environmental services and eligible to participate in the carbon credit market.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/dua-mac-ca-thanh-cay-chu-luc-trong-xoa-doi-giam-ngheo-1717989077290.htm