Elevating Lo Giang sapodilla OCOP products associated with tourism

After being recognized as a 3-star OCOP, Lo Giang sapodilla products have become more widely known and the consumption market has expanded more than before. The Party Committee, government and garden owners here are focusing on developing sapodilla gardens according to VietGAP procedures associated with rural tourism development to increase the production value of sapodilla trees and upgrade the product to a 4-star OCOP.

This year's sapodilla crop is expected to bring in about 90 million VND to the family of Ms. Cao Thi Nhan, Lo Giang commune.

From a few old sapodilla trees in her garden, Ms. Cao Thi Nhan, Hoang Nong village, Lo Giang commune, boldly converted her family's 8 sao of ineffective rice fields to grow over 40 sapodilla trees. Ms. Nhan pays close attention to the care process according to the instructions of the Lo Giang Sapodilla Cooperative so that each tree bears fruit, large and sweet.

Ms. Nhan said: Usually, after harvesting the fruit, I prune and remove dry and old branches. In January and February, when there is spring rain, I fertilize each rose apple tree with 2-3kg of phosphate fertilizer to ensure the next batch of fruit is more abundant, larger, of better quality, and sells for a higher price. The soil here is suitable, so the rose apple tree grows quickly, the fruit has red flesh, is sweet and cool, and has a distinctive aroma different from other types of rose apples.

Previously, in Lo Giang, each household only planted a few trees, but in the last 10 years, especially since the sapodilla product achieved 3-star OCOP, many people have known about it, the demand for sapodilla has increased, seizing that opportunity, many households have chosen the parent tree, grafted branches, renovated their home gardens and converted ineffective rice growing areas to grow. Up to now, sapodilla has become a tree that brings wealth to many households here.

Ms. Luong Thi Chien, Phu Nong village shared: Since the Lo Giang Sapodilla Cooperative has cooperated with training units, providing guidance on grafting techniques, tree care, fruit harvesting, etc., the productivity and quality of sapodilla have increased, the selling price is higher, and consumption is better. Income from sapodilla is 10 times higher than rice cultivation. My family earns over 100 million VND/year. Recently, I participated in a training course on agricultural economic development according to the value chain and rural tourism development, I found a lot of useful knowledge, including how to build and supply local tourism products. I will research and learn to develop a sapodilla garden to attract groups of tourists to visit and experience in order to increase my family's income, thereby promoting unique local products to more people.

Lo Giang commune currently has over 30 hectares of sapodilla. Sapodilla produces one crop per year but flowers and fruits in many batches, so the harvest period lasts from 6 to 7 months. It is a one-time crop that can be harvested for decades. On average, each sao of sapodilla produces over 1 ton of fruit per year, earning an income of 15 to 20 million VND per year.

Mr. Vu Viet Hung, Chairman of the Commune Farmers' Association, Director of Lo Giang Sapodilla Cooperative, said: The cooperative has coordinated with related units to organize many training courses for member households and people in the commune on how to care for and develop sapodilla gardens according to VietGAP procedures associated with rural tourism to ensure the best quality; packaging and labeling to help customers trace the origin and feel secure when using the product. Organizing product promotion through many channels, such as conferences, participating in exhibitions, introducing and promoting OCOP products at festivals, fairs... and on social networking sites.

The model of increasing the production value of sapodilla trees to develop agriculture associated with tourism in Lo Giang is one of the economic development models proposed by the Resolution of the Dong Hung District Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term. Up to now, many delegations from inside and outside the province have come to visit, experience and test at the sapodilla gardens of Lo Giang.

Mr. Vu Viet Hung added: The cooperative is proposing to the superiors to continue expanding the planned area of 10 hectares of sapodilla in the two villages of Hoang Nong and Phu Nong; coordinating with related units to organize training courses to guide people to plant new trees according to the plan near traffic routes to facilitate development associated with eco-tourism and experiential tourism.

A group of tourists from Hanoi visited and took souvenir photos with the sapodilla garden in Lo Giang.

Nguyen Lan Huong, class 6A, Lo Giang Primary and Secondary School said: Recently, my teacher took me and my friends to experience some sapodilla gardens in Phu Nong village, I really liked it. The garden owner guided me on how to graft, plant, care for sapodilla, select ripe fruit to pick, and especially enjoy delicious tree-ripened sapodilla. This is useful knowledge that helps me complete my assignment to introduce the specialty of sapodilla from my hometown to my friends.

Sapodilla is not only a famine-relief fruit but has become a local specialty product, enriching many persimmon-growing households in Lo Giang. Small-scale growers earn 30-40 million VND/year, while large-scale growers earn several hundred million VND/year. Persimmon-growing households are continuing to preserve and enhance the OCOP product of sapodilla, aiming to become a unique eco-tourism area of Dong Hung district.