Right in the hills of Thanh Hoa, a farm brings in a profit equivalent to about 1.65 million dollars per year, which sounds far-fetched but it is true. It is the 4th year of harvesting and each year the revenue increases, further affirming the farm owner's modern agricultural thinking and production direction.
Although it was not the first time we saw it with our own eyes, the images of Canh oranges, Xa Doai oranges, and green-skinned grapefruits... bearing fruit, all left an unforgettable impression on us. The fourth time coming to this high-tech citrus growing valley in Van Du town (Thach Thanh), the members of the working groups could not help but admire the large scale and modern farming process. That is Chung Thuy Farm - the largest concentrated orange and grapefruit farming model in Thanh Hoa at present with 83 hectares in the area and well-invested.
To introduce the production area to the guests, Mr. Nguyen Van Chung - the farm owner had to use a car to lead the way for other cars following. Occasionally, he stopped the car so that the group could get off and feel with their own eyes some of the lush green orange and grapefruit plantations on the formerly barren land. In the middle of a valley surrounded by steep mountains, rows of fruit trees stretch far and wide, covering the rich colors and poetic scenery. According to Mr. Chung, because it is protected by a system of rocky mountains, this high-tech tree planting area according to the planning of Thach Thanh district is almost not significantly affected by storms and winds.
These last days of November, the land of the old Van Du Farm has seen the first dry winds and cold air of the season. This is considered the time when oranges begin to “beautifully look” and the sugar content increases. The pruning harvest also begins. As the Lunar New Year approaches every year, nearly a hundred workers harvest, and every day, several trucks of traders from the northern provinces come to the site to purchase.
In this farm area equivalent to the area of a delta commune, each orange tree is laden with branches. Of the nearly 40,000 trees that have produced fruit, almost every tree must be supported by bamboo or sturdy zinc poles to prevent the branches from breaking. Many branches are only as big as chopsticks, but also "carry" a few kilos of plump fruit. With experience, Mr. Chung turned the branches and leaves, revealing more clusters of fruit lying in layers underneath. Orange trees weighing 300-400 kg of fruit have become a common sight here.
To achieve the results as today, it is both determination and a process of continuous striving. Because about ten years ago, this hill area was almost deserted with weeds and bushes, becoming a place for local people to graze buffalo and cows. Many times coming to Van Du, the man from Ha Son commune (Ha Trung) saw the great potential. And, the way Mr. Chung hired land for production was also professional from the beginning. In 2016, Thuy Ngoc Trading and Construction Company Limited of him and his friends applied for a project to grow concentrated citrus trees in the direction of high technology, which was approved in principle by the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province.
Also since 2016, the first 42 hectares of land have been granted certificates for planting perennial trees for a term of 49 years. He and the company have hired specialized agencies to take soil samples, test, and carefully study the soil and climate here. From the scientific results, he has determined that the farm will have 4 main types of crops, which are citrus trees. With a very large area, the work of hiring experts to design plots and build a mechanization plan was quickly implemented. With the available potential of the enterprise, the main drainage system, secondary drainage and high rows of beds were formed to plant trees to avoid flooding. The difficult problem of the hilly area is irrigation water, which is also solved by industrial wells, pumped into modern tarpaulin-lined ponds.
Every tree is 4m apart, row is 5m apart, tens of thousands of tangerine trees and yellow-heart oranges are planted. The green-skinned grapefruit growing area is also established with tens of thousands of trees stretching far and wide. Notably, the automatic irrigation system is the rotating sprinkler nozzles and drip pipes to each tree using Israeli technology, which has been installed - becoming the earliest and largest model of applying modern irrigation technology in the mountainous district of Thach Thanh.
After forming a 42-hectare production area, the company continued to rent 41 hectares of land from surrounding entities to expand the farm to 83 hectares. The roads inside the garden are paved with aggregate and poured with concrete, just like the roads in the mountainous areas. From there, mechanical machinery can enter and exit production conveniently, trucks transport fertilizers, and products for consumption to every corner of the garden. Right from the beginning, the farm has determined that clean production according to food hygiene and safety standards and modern processes is a survival criterion, because the large amount of products requires prestige to have a sustainable output. Earthworm farms and organic compost houses have also been formed right on the farm.
Soybeans, corn, composted organic matter, then vermicompost and some organic fertilizers imported from Japan have become the source of nutrients for each plant on the farm for many years. As proof of the clean product, the farm owner took oranges from the trees and invited guests to taste them. Canh oranges are sweet and refreshing, while Xa Doai oranges are golden like honey, sweet and cool on the tip of the tongue. Since 2020, oranges and grapefruits here have been harvested en masse. Currently, the products are mainly consumed in the Hanoi market and many provinces and cities across the country. This is also the first farm in the province to be certified to meet GlobalGAP standards for orange and grapefruit products.
Up to now, 12,000 Xa Doai orange trees, 20,000 Canh orange trees, and nearly 4,000 green-skinned grapefruit trees have all produced fruit for the fourth year. Recently, the farm has also planted 2 hectares of Buddha's hand, which has also begun to bear fruit. According to the accounting of the owner of this largest citrus farm in Thanh Hoa, the farm's income has reached 40 billion VND per year after deducting all expenses. It is also rare for a farm in the North to build a housing area for workers. 80 professional workers from many provinces have stable jobs here with an average income of 7.5 million VND/person/month, with meals and accommodation provided.
Having built and developed a typical farm for 8 years, he has not remembered how many delegations have visited, including many farm owners who came to learn from his experience. Mr. Nguyen Van Chung is always willing to share his experience. For this owner, born in 1975, the more people who do well will create a growing fruit growing community in Thanh Hoa, and build a brand for concentrated growing areas.
Article and photos: Le Dong
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/trang-trai-trieu-do-231639.htm
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