For a joyful mangosteen crop

After a time of being affected by the price of the pandemic, the mangosteen lost their crops due to adverse weather. For this year, the joy has returned to mangosteen farmers when the trees bear more fruit and the harvest is higher. Most farmers say that they are not too worried about the market but feeling low about the prices. They always expect to have a good harvest.

Farmers are excited because this year mangosteen has a good harvest. In the photo: Nguyen Quang Tro is in the family's mangosteen orchard

Good crops

Dubbed the queen crop, mangosteen is the main fruit tree of Thuan An city with the brand name of Lai Thieu mangosteen. In recent years, along with the speed of urbanization as well as price instability, and continual crop failure, many farmers are still devoted to mangosteen trees with great determination to keep the traditional crops of their ancestors. This year the weather did not disappoint as the mangosteen trees covered the orchards, dispelling the worries of farmers.

Taking us on a visit to an 8-hectare orchard, Nguyen Quang Tro from Phu Hung hamlet of An Son commune in Thuan An city, happily said: “This mangosteen orchard was planted before 1975 as one of precious orchards in the land. Last year, when the mangosteen flowered, there were heavy rains, and the flowers fell a lot, causing farmers to lose their crops. The orchard has more than 500 trees, but last year only sold VND 70 million. This year, the price is unknown, but in the immediate future, the output may double or triple, making the farmers very happy."

Nguyen Quang Tro said that the first 5 years of mangosteen care is a bit extreme, but the harvest life is very long with trees up to hundreds of years. Especially, the older the trees are, the higher the yield is. His family's mangosteen orchard is purely organic without being located in water-polluted land, so the plants are strong with great roots. Currently, he mainly sells goods online, which is almost picked all locally.

Known as the new mangosteen growing area, Dau Tieng mangosteen after a period of adapting and being suitable for the soil has become the district's strength, especially in Thanh Tuyen commune. Mangosteen has become a significant source of income for many households. Nguyen Tri Hien of Group 10 at Suoi Cat hamlet in Thanh Tuyen commune has been growing mangosteen for 30 years with about 60 roots, now with newly planted trees on 2,000m2, is also excitedly waiting for the harvest. According to Hien, the sun this year should hit the crop. “For my garden, if the crop is about 70kg in one season, the average income is VND 30 million a crop. There is still more than 1 month left until the harvest, I just hope that the price will gain after 2 years of consecutive crop failures and loss of prices," said Hien.

Nguyen Ngoc Mau - Chairwoman of Thanh Tuyen Commune Farmers' Association, said: "Currently, the commune has about 36 mangosteen growing households, of which, 9 have been recognized with VietGAP standards. Up to this point, the trees bear a lot of fruits, making the farmers very excited with great hope that this year the price will be better.”

To support farmers

According to Nguyen Thuy Minh Chi - Chairwoman of Thuan An city Farmers' Association, if the mangosteen of the provinces ripens at the same time, it is easy to fall into a high supply at competitive prices. Lai Thieu mangosteen does not have a backlog because of low production. Before 2021, according to the decision to support specialty fruit orchards, the city Economic Division has provided free of charge paper boxes of Lai Thieu mangosteen brand for packing; thereby, distinguishing Lai Thieu mangosteen as the product value was confirmed and raised.

“In 2023, the policy to support orchards ended. However, we are consulting the city People's Committee to authorize the People's Committees of communes and wards to help farmers register and pay their own expenses to order boxes printed with Lai Thieu mangosteen brand, contributing to ensuring the consumption and price through affirmed brand of quality. This year mangosteen has a good harvest, if it is difficult for sales, the authority is ready to focus on supporting farmers to consume," added Nguyen Thuy Minh Chi.

Similarly, Le Van Anh, Chairwoman of Dau Tieng district Farmers' Association, also said that the district is implementing a brand introduction program for the mangosteen growing cooperative groups that have met VietGAP standards, thereby improving the value of products and promoting consumption.

Dang Tan Loc - Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Thuan An city, said that if the original Lai Thieu mangosteen is not too worried about the price, the output will also be not enough to supply the market. In order to support farmers in the technical process, the center recommends adequate fertilization to grow fruits and prevent pests in each crop.

Reported by Tien Hanh – Translated by Vi Bao