Many farmers in Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, not only grow one type of tree but also combine many different types of trees, such as coffee, pepper, durian, and areca. "Planting haphazardly" seems like "taking everything and throwing away the tray", but farmers have a steady income all year round, do not worry about crop failure, and reduce risks related to prices and markets.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen, in village 6, Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, said that this year the weather was unusual, when the pepper was blooming, there was a lot of rain, causing the yield to decrease by about 30% compared to previous years. Ms. Chuyen's family has 300 pepper trees, in 2024 they harvested 1.6 tons.
Green pepper gardens are intercropped with coffee, durian, and areca by farmers in Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, helping to utilize land, increase income, and promote sustainable development.
"Farmers like us are also happy, although costs have increased, from harvesting labor to fertilizer, everything has increased. However, with such a good price, I will continue to reinvest in damaged pepper poles, hoping for a better harvest next season," Ms. Chuyen shared.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen is picking pepper on a 10m high pillar, carefully picking each bunch to ensure safety.
In addition to growing pepper, Ms. Chuyen's family also intercrops many other crops on an area of over 1 hectare such as coffee, durian, areca, and locust. Thanks to that, the income is spread evenly throughout the year.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen is picking off branches and leaves mixed in with peppercorns to ensure clean and good quality pepper.
"Every year, after the pepper crop is the areca harvest season (June - October), in September - October we start picking durian, and in November - December we enter the coffee harvest season. In addition, locust trees are also harvested year-round, providing a stable income.
Although it is more difficult, thanks to intercropping, we have continuous work and are not dependent on a single crop.
Each season has a different fruit, each month has a different source of income, helping my family be more stable in the face of market fluctuations," said Ms. Chuyen.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen is checking the locust tree. According to her, this year the price of locust flowers is a little lower than previous years but still fluctuates between 80,000 - 100,000 VND/kg.
Right next to Mrs. Chuyen’s garden is the 1.3-hectare garden of Mr. Vo Ba Quyen’s family. Mr. Quyen’s family also intercrops with 300 pepper plants, 500 coffee trees, 100 areca trees and 80 durian trees.
According to Mr. Quyen, this durian garden was planted in 2021, the trees are now growing well and starting to bear fruit. Combining many types of crops not only helps optimize land area but also creates a stable source of income through each season.
Mr. Vo Ba Quyen is tying pepper vines to the poles to help the plants cling firmly and climb straight up in the desired direction. This helps the pepper plants grow healthily, cling well and produce high yields.
Coffee and pepper are two main crops, bringing in the main income, while last year's areca crop sold at a very high price of 60,000-90,000 VND/kg.
Besides, durian promises to be a big source of income in the future when entering the business stage.
"Intercropping not only makes good use of land resources but also helps plants support each other in growth. This multi-layered crop system also helps limit erosion, retain soil moisture and minimize risks when agricultural prices fluctuate," said Mr. Quyen.
Ms. H'Bliak in K'Ram village, Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district could not hide her joy when talking about her family's garden, especially when this year the price of agricultural products is at a very good level.
On 2.5 hectares of land, she grows all kinds of things: coffee, pepper, durian, areca nuts... There is everything, and every season brings in harvest, so the family always has income.
Ms. H'Bliak in K'Ram hamlet, Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district is plucking coffee shoots to help the trees grow well and focus nutrients on the trees.
"My family grows many types of crops, so when pepper and coffee are over, we grow areca nuts, then durian. We rotate like that, and we have money every month, without worrying about a good harvest and low prices," Ms. H'Bliak shared.
This year, the prices of pepper, coffee, and areca nuts have all increased, making everyone excited. Not only the main crops, but also the secondary crops bring in significant income.
"I mainly grow areca trees along the fence, it doesn't take much care, but last year I earned nearly 100 million VND. High agricultural prices, good income, everyone has the motivation to continue investing and taking care of the garden, hoping for a good harvest and good price every year," Ms. H'Bliak said with a smile.
Mr. Nguyen Dac Tien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cu Kuin Agricultural Service Cooperative, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, happily stands next to clusters of ripe red pepper.
Mr. Nguyen Dac Tien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cu Kuin Agricultural Service Cooperative, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province, said that currently pepper output in the area has decreased but not significantly.
"We guide people to intercrop pepper with coffee to both stabilize income and make good use of land resources. The intercropping model not only helps diversify income sources but also creates conditions for more effective zoning and pest control.
In particular, most people here grow pepper using living poles, helping the plants grow naturally, with fewer pests and diseases, thereby providing stable productivity over the years," Mr. Tien shared.
Mr. Nguyen Dac Tien talked with reporters and Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu (a farmer in Ea Tieu commune, Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province) about the economic value of locust trees, the benefits of planting them and their potential for future development.
According to Mr. Tu and Mr. Tien, with the number of flowers as in the photo, this durian tree can yield about 150 kg of fruit this year if well cared for.
In addition, with this year's pepper crop, traders come to the garden to buy, so farmers do not have to worry about transportation or finding outlets. This helps pepper consumption go smoothly, allowing farmers to focus on production.
According to the report of the People's Committee of Cu Kuin district, in 2024, the total production value of the whole district reached more than 11,400 billion VND, exceeding 2.5% compared to the plan and increasing 9.3% over the same period in 2023.
The average production value per capita (calculated at current prices) reached nearly 110 million VND/person/year, equivalent to 101.78% of the plan, up 19.22% over the previous year. These figures show the positive growth of the local economy, contributing to improving the lives of people in the district.
Source: https://danviet.vn/o-dak-lak-co-kieu-lam-vuon-trong-lung-tung-tuong-om-dom-tham-bat-bo-mam-ai-ngo-lai-hay-2025032117463854.htm
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