Why does Long An province set a goal of growing 6,000 hectares of high-tech dragon fruit by 2025?

In 2024, Long An province will deploy the plan to localities, continuing to implement 7 high-tech dragon fruit growing models.

Farmers in Long An mainly grow dragon fruit in two ways: trellis planting and pole planting. Photo: QD

When participating in the high-tech dragon fruit growing model, farmers in Long An province have had positive changes in production.

100% of dragon fruit growing households no longer use fresh chicken manure to fertilize dragon fruit. The use of organic fertilizers has been increased, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides has been reasonable and effective, helping to reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers by 10-15%, contributing to reducing production investment costs and increasing profits by 15-20% compared to before participating in the project.

In addition, households participating in the model are regularly trained and transferred scientific and technical advances into production, equipped with knowledge and guided to farmers on technical measures in dragon fruit production according to the VietGAP process, which is friendly to the environment and protects the health of consumers. Thereby, helping to reduce investment costs by 10-20% compared to outside the model, thereby helping to increase economic efficiency by 15-25% compared to outside the model.

Farmers take care of dragon fruit trees in Ben Luc district, Long An province. Photo: QS

The dragon fruit production model according to GAP was organized to implement 6/6 production models, with a scale of 10 hectares/model, including:

The model is implemented at Thanh Phu Long Agricultural Cooperative, Vinh Cong Agricultural Cooperative, Hoa Phu Agricultural Cooperative, Phuoc Tan Hung Agricultural Cooperative (Chau Thanh District), Binh Tam Agricultural Cooperative (Tan An City), and Que My Thanh Dragon Fruit Cooperative (Tan Tru District).

In addition, Long An province also maintains high-tech application models in the 2016 - 2020 period.

Early completion of 6,000 hectares of high-tech dragon fruit in Long An

Accordingly, 3/3 models will be implemented in the activities of maintaining high-tech dragon fruit growing models, phase 2016 - 2020, in the communes: Vinh Cong, Duong Xuan Hoi and An Luc Long (Chau Thanh district) with a total area of 79.5 hectares/122 participating households. Participants are cooperative farmers who have participated in high-tech dragon fruit models in the phase 2016 - 2020.

Dragon fruit is one of four crops that Long An province prioritizes for high-tech development. Photo: QD

Currently, the management, use and printing of geographical indication (GI) stamps for Chau Thanh Long An dragon fruit are being implemented effectively. 140,000 stamps have been printed and issued to 4 organizations that are granted the right to use the GI of Chau Thanh Long An dragon fruit, including: Long An Dragon Fruit Association, Thanh Phu Long Agricultural Cooperative, Duong Xuan Cooperative, and Tam Vu Dragon Fruit Cooperative.

Organize inspection and evaluation of selected units for piloting the granting of geographical indications of Chau Thanh Long An dragon fruit; print 5,000 propaganda leaflets, organize 14 training courses to introduce the system of legal documents related to the geographical indications of Chau Thanh Long An dragon fruit and forms guiding the registration of geographical indications of Chau Thanh Long An dragon fruit.

At the same time, organize training and review, recognize independent certification organizations participating in the appraisal and assessment of conditions for using geographical indications of Chau Thanh Long An dragon fruit.