Growing organic longan, profit 200 - 400 million VND/ha/crop

CAN THO In the context of agriculture increasingly focusing on sustainability and environmental protection, the use of organic microbial fertilizers has become a popular trend.

Mr. Pham Van Lo, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative, next to the cooperative's organic longan garden. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Longan variety that is not affected by witches' broom disease and bears fruit all year round

Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative in Phong Dien District (Can Tho City) has successfully applied organic microbial fertilizers to Ido longan trees, contributing to improving productivity and product quality. Ido longan is a variety of longan with outstanding fruit quality, sweet taste, thick flesh and small seeds. This longan variety is not only popular in the domestic market but also has great export potential.

Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative currently has 29 members growing longan according to VietGAP standards with a total area of ​​nearly 23 hectares. Accordingly, on average, the Cooperative supplies the market with about 450 - 500 tons of longan each year.

In 2023, Ido longan of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative was recognized by Can Tho City People's Committee as a 4-star OCOP product. Ido longan variety has very good yield and is almost free from broom disease, and can be processed to produce fruit all year round. This not only brings high income to cooperative members but also many local idle agricultural workers have a stable income of 9 - 12 million VND/month with the job of picking, classifying, and transporting longan for hire.

Mr. Pham Van Lo, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative, said: Currently, members of the cooperative are harvesting longan, with an average yield of 20 tons/ha, and a selling price of 15,000 - 25,000 VND/kg. The cost of fertilizer, pesticides, and labor is about 100 million VND/ha, after deducting costs, the profit is from 200 - 400 million VND/ha/crop. In addition, members also intercrop almond trees (apricot trees) in the longan garden, increasing each household's income by 30 - 50 million VND each year.

Gardeners use organic microbial fertilizers to help improve soil and plant health and produce quality products. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Growing Ido longan on 6 hectares of his land, Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, a member of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative, said: In 2024, despite the hot weather, thanks to regular monitoring, careful care and especially the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides, most of his garden bore fruit, with a yield not inferior to that of 2023.

“My garden has 200 Ido longan trees. Although the weather this year is extremely hot, we regularly monitor and promptly provide water and fertilizer for the trees, so the yield is not affected, and may even be higher than in 2023. I estimate that one hectare will yield about 2 tons. Although the price purchased by traders has decreased compared to 2023 (at the same time), thanks to the high yield of the longan garden this year, the profit is still quite good. Accordingly, with a price of 15,000 - 25,000 VND/kg, the family earns 35 - 40 million VND/hectare,” Mr. Nguyen Van Trung shared.

Increase the "health" of Ido longan thanks to organic microbial fertilizer

Organic microbial fertilizers are fertilizers containing beneficial microorganisms that help improve soil and plant health. Key benefits include improving soil structure, developing microorganisms to loosen the soil, increasing water and nutrient retention, providing continuous nutrition for microorganisms to slowly decompose organic matter, providing long-term nutrition for plants.

Tay Do Organic Fertilizer Company Limited demonstrates the use of organic microbial fertilizers at Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

In addition, organic microbial fertilizers help strengthen the plant's immune system, helping plants resist pests and harsh conditions. Besides, it also protects the environment, minimizes soil and water pollution, and maintains the agricultural ecosystem.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tri, Director of Tay Do Organic Fertilizer Company Limited, said that the use of the Company's organic microbial fertilizers at Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative with product lines such as Organic Viomax, Dafa My Organic... in the stages of Ido longan cultivation has helped improve the structure and fertility of the soil.

Regular fertilization with organic microbial fertilizers helps provide nutrients, support growth, enhance the natural resistance of plants, and reduce the need for chemical pesticides by 15 - 20%.

Currently, members of Nhon Nghia Longan Cooperative are harvesting fruit, with an average yield of 20 tons/ha, and a selling price of 15,000 - 25,000 VND/kg. Photo: Le Hoang Vu.

Ms. Bien Thi Bich Chi, Deputy Head of the Plant Protection and Cultivation Station of Phong Dien District (Can Tho City) said that the whole district currently has nearly 9,000 hectares of fruit trees of all kinds, of which more than 3,000 hectares are planted with longan. In recent times, in addition to supporting farmers to grow longan according to VietGAP and organic standards, the district has also actively guided and encouraged farmers to increase the use of biological organic fertilizers and gradually reduce the use of chemical fertilizers to improve production efficiency, especially in the context of high prices of many types of inorganic fertilizers as present.

Increasing the use of organic microbial fertilizers not only helps farmers reduce production costs but also helps longan trees to age slowly and produce fruit with good yield and quality, as well as being safe for users.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/trong-nhan-huong-huu-co-lai-200--400-trieu-dong-ha-vu-d390859.html