10 years ago, the people of Phuc Lai commune, Doan Hung district found a way to introduce the four-season lemon variety to replace the ineffective acacia hills and mixed gardens. The lemon trees then took root, grew green leaves, bloomed, and bore fruit on the hillsides, opening up a new direction for economic development, helping farmers escape poverty and become rich.
The four-season lemon tree yields a harvest all year round, helping many families in the commune become rich.
Like many other farmers in Phuc Lai commune, although having a large area of garden and hill, due to lack of knowledge and farming techniques, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dan's family in Zone 2 only knows how to grow forestry trees and some common fruit trees. After studying lemon growing models in many places, Mr. Dan realized that the natural conditions and soil in his hometown are suitable for lemon trees to grow. From a few dozen experimental trees, the lemon trees grew well and bore fruit all year round, so he discussed with his family and decided to convert the entire 4.5 hectares of mixed gardens and forestry hills to grow four-season lemons. To date, 2 hectares of lemon trees are being harvested. In 2024, his family harvested 40 tons of fruit, after deducting costs, the profit reached 600 million VND.
Leading us up the hill to visit the lemon garden with clusters of fruit hanging heavy on the branches, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dan was excited and smiled happily: “The lemons have just had a good harvest and good prices, so we lemon growers are very happy. Traders' cars come to the foot of the hill to buy. The area for intensive cultivation of four-season lemons is expanding day by day. From mixed gardens and low-yield grapefruit gardens, we have cut down the branches, kept the roots to graft with four-season lemon varieties, and invested in installing an automatic watering system to reduce the care work. Lemon trees not only help my family escape poverty but also create conditions for investment in economic development, striving to become rich.”
In order for lemon trees to grow and develop well, yield high quality, and have beautiful appearance as desired, lemon growers must regularly learn techniques and methods to prevent pests and diseases on trees and fruits. From barren hills, farmers have improved by using organic fertilizers, limiting inorganic fertilizers to make the soil loose, retain water well, create fertility, and provide enough nutrients for the trees to flower and bear fruit all year round. Along with that, when newly planted, weeds must be regularly cleared, roots must be loosened to create moisture for the lemon trees to grow well. With the above technical methods, lemon trees planted by branches will be harvested in 5 years and grafted lemon trees will be harvested in 8-10 years.
According to statistics from the Commune People's Committee, the whole commune has expanded the area of four-season lemon cultivation to 33.5 hectares (an increase of 3.5 hectares compared to 2024), with an estimated output of 20 tons/ha/year. With a selling price ranging from 18,000-20,000 VND/kg, lemon trees have brought in an income of 360-400 million VND/ha/year. Thanks to its outstanding economic efficiency compared to other crop varieties, four-season lemons have become a key crop, helping many families in Phuc Lai commune to become rich. In the commune, there are currently 5 households growing lemons on a large area of 1 hectare or more. Many economic models of family farms and farms growing four-season lemons have been built and replicated, contributing to creating jobs and increasing income for people.
Comrade Nguyen Huu Hop - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Lai Commune said: "Thanks to the effectiveness of the four-season lemon tree, many households in the commune are converting the area of low-yield grapefruit trees to lemon trees by grafting on grapefruit roots. With the current stable price and output of lemons, it will help people in the commune increase their income, contributing to changing the face, promoting the local socio-economic development."
Standing on the top of the lush green lemon hill, immersing ourselves in the faint scent of lemon flowers blending in the quiet space of the hills, we hope for a bumper crop for the farmers on the Phuc Lai hills. Replacing low-economic efficiency mixed garden crops with four-season lemon trees has opened up a new direction, suitable for the economic conditions of many households in the area, helping farmers to get rich from agricultural production right in their own gardens.
Hong Nhung
Source: https://baophutho.vn/lam-giau-tu-trong-chanh-tu-thi-230133.htm
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