BINH PHUOC - After successfully converting his green pomelo orchard from traditional to organic farming methods, the pomelos tasted significantly better. He felt relieved and very happy.
BINH PHUOC - After successfully converting his green pomelo orchard from traditional to organic farming methods, the pomelos tasted significantly better. He felt relieved and very happy.
That's Mr. Nguyen Van Tam, the owner of a nearly 2-hectare green pomelo orchard in Minh Long ward, Chon Thanh town, Binh Phuoc province.
He boasted, "This green pomelo orchard is almost ten years old. Initially, we took care of it like any other orchard, using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The yield was good, but the pomelos were difficult to sell, the market was unstable, and my wife sometimes took them to the market to sell them for dirt cheap, but they still didn't sell."
In 2021, thanks to a group of organic farming consultants who showed me how to do it, I followed their advice. Initially, the trees lacked vitality, the fruit was less abundant and smaller, but I saw many insects, bees, butterflies, and ants in the garden. By the second year, the trees looked healthier, the fruit was still the same, even less attractive in appearance, but the segments were juicier and sweeter.
I realized the immense benefits of organic farming, so I decided to do it. Now, after 4 years of caring for my plants using organic methods, only biological products for pest control and nutrition as advised, the soil in my garden is becoming more humus-rich, softer, and more porous. When I put my hand in the soil, it feels cool, and seeing the earthworms wriggling in my hand gives me a feeling of vitality in the soil – it's wonderful.”
The smile of farmer Nguyen Van Tam after successfully converting his pomelo orchard from traditional to organic farming. Photo: Hong Thuy.
Following Mr. Tam into the grapefruit orchard, I was surprised to see weeds growing profusely, reaching knee-high, making it look like a deserted garden. Walking a few dozen meters deeper into the orchard, my pants were not only soaked from the recent rain but also covered in weed seeds.
“I haven’t mowed the grass for the past week because I had to go to the city. The soil is now loose and fertile, and it’s the rainy season, so the grass is growing very quickly. Tomorrow I’ll have to hire more people to help, and it will probably take two days to finish mowing. But I’ll only use a manual mowing machine around the base of the grass; I’ll leave most of it to create a favorable environment for beneficial insects to live in and maintain ecological balance in the garden,” Mr. Tam said.
Mr. Tam's pomelo orchard currently uses only composted organic fertilizer made from organic soil, bat guano, chicken manure, fish emulsion, earthworm castings, oilseed cake, and agricultural by-products mixed with probiotics. To control pests and diseases, he uses a preparation made from the leaves of the Chinese cherry tree, lemon, lemongrass, garlic, and chili peppers. Thanks to this, investment costs have been significantly reduced.
Currently, after adopting organic farming practices, the pomelos in his orchard are more fragrant, tender, and sweeter, and the yield is gradually increasing. In 2020, the first harvest after switching to organic farming yielded 10 tons of fruit per hectare, but the selling price remained at only 25-30 thousand VND/kg depending on the quality. By the second year, the yield increased, and the consulting group introduced him to several distributors in Dong Xoai City (Binh Phuoc) and Ho Chi Minh City. Although the price wasn't high, all the produce was sold.
By 2023, productivity had reached the same level as traditional farming, and selling prices had also increased significantly. Although he didn't have a brand yet and the price wasn't high, he no longer had to sell his fruit door-to-door in the market, and he no longer had unsold fruit. "In the past, I used to give pomelos to neighbors and family members, but I only said they were home-grown. Now, when I give them as gifts, I add that they are organic and high-quality, so I feel happier," Mr. Tam said with a smile, proudly.
Mr. Tam's pomelo orchard is overgrown with weeds, but the pomelo trees are still thriving. Photo: Hong Thuy.
Mr. Tâm shared that he gradually gained more knowledge while working with organic farming. According to him, organic farming in general is not simply about not using chemicals, but must adhere to a whole process from seeds, soil, water, the types of products used, how to care for and monitor the plants, and then harvesting, preserving, and selling the produce...
“Natural farming requires accepting that the initial yield will be lower than traditional methods, the amount varying depending on each person's experience. Another difficulty is that the initial product may not look aesthetically pleasing. But with perseverance, many great benefits will be reaped. These include environmental protection, safety for one's own health and that of consumers, fertile land, and a foundation for sustainable development. As for the product, once it is known to consumers, there is no worry about sales, prices are better, and it is easier to preserve and has a longer shelf life,” said farmer Nguyen Van Tam.
Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/vuon-buoi-de-mac-suc-cho-co-moc-d406588.html
Comment (0)