Harvested Tac Cau pineapples in Kien Giang Province’s Chau Thanh district.(Source: VNA) Kien Giang (VNA) - Growing Tac Caupineapple, a specialty fruit in southern Kien Giang province, under Vietnamesegood agricultural practices (VietGAP), has offered high profits for farmers inChau Thanh district’s Binh An commune.
Ho Van Dao, who has grown the fruit under theVietGAP standards for one year, said he had harvested 6,000 pineapples perhectare per year compared to 4,500 pineapples per hectare a year in theprevious years.
VietGAP pineapples are bought at a higher pricebecause they look better, he said.
They sell for 7,000 -12,000 VND (0.3-0.52 USD) afruit, which is 1,000-2,000 VND higher than pineapples planted undertraditional farming methods.
Farmers growing pineapples under the VietGAPstandards earn a profit of nearly 50 million VND (2,160 USD) per hectare ayear.
Organic fertiliser, which improves soilfertility, helps to reduce labour costs spent for tending the fruit.
Tac Cau pineapples have been planted in theMekong Delta province for more than 70 years, mostly in Chau Thanh and Go Quaodistricts.
Tac Cau pineapples are planted in fields orintercropped in coconut and areca orchards. The pineapple is resistant todisease and is well known for its deliciousness and sweetness compared to otherpineapple varieties.
Chau Thanh district has about 1,700ha of Tac Caupineapple with a yield of 10-12 tonnes a year, including 1,260ha in Binh Ancommune.
Binh An has chosen the pineapple as a keyagricultural produce since its soil is affected by alum and saltwaterintrusion, which is suitable for growing pineapple.
In Binh An, 49 households have been grantedVietGAP certificates to grow Tac Cau pineapples on a total area of 70ha.
The commune’s authorities provided farmers withtechniques to cultivate fruit under VietGAP standards as well as 200kilogrammes of organic fertiliser per hectare a year.
Luc Duc Long, an official in the Binh AnEngineering Economy Division, said the households previously had problemsgrowing the fruit but then agreed to implement the standards if they receivedtraining.
The cultivation of VietGAP pineapples hasenhanced farmer awareness about VietGAP standards and improved the quality ofpineapples, he said.
Under VietGAP standards, farmers have to strictlyfollow the processes of choosing seedlings, tending and harvesting under thestandards.
The output of pineapples under VietGAP standardsis 15-25 percent higher than pineapples planted under traditional farmingmethods.
The weight of VietGAP pineapples is 1.6 -1.7kilogramme a fruit compared to 1.2 kilogramme a fruit from traditional farmingmethods.
Farmers in the commune are harvesting pineapplesfor the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival, which falls on January 25.
Pineapple is one of fruits which are in highdemand for the festival as it is used on most family altars.
Nguyen Quoc Linh, chairman of the Binh AnFarmers Association, said the cultivation of VietGAP pineapples producedgood-looking pineapples with even quality.
It has also offered higher profits, andprotected the environment and health of farmers, he said.
The commune plans to expand Tac Cau pineapplearea under VietGAP standards to improve income for farmers and createsustainable production.
Tac Cau pineapple are eaten fresh and used tomake other products like pineapple cakes, dried pineapples, juice and jams. Theprovince’s processed pineapples are sold domestically and exported./.
Ho Van Dao, who has grown the fruit under theVietGAP standards for one year, said he had harvested 6,000 pineapples perhectare per year compared to 4,500 pineapples per hectare a year in theprevious years.
VietGAP pineapples are bought at a higher pricebecause they look better, he said.
They sell for 7,000 -12,000 VND (0.3-0.52 USD) afruit, which is 1,000-2,000 VND higher than pineapples planted undertraditional farming methods.
Farmers growing pineapples under the VietGAPstandards earn a profit of nearly 50 million VND (2,160 USD) per hectare ayear.
Organic fertiliser, which improves soilfertility, helps to reduce labour costs spent for tending the fruit.
Tac Cau pineapples have been planted in theMekong Delta province for more than 70 years, mostly in Chau Thanh and Go Quaodistricts.
Tac Cau pineapples are planted in fields orintercropped in coconut and areca orchards. The pineapple is resistant todisease and is well known for its deliciousness and sweetness compared to otherpineapple varieties.
Chau Thanh district has about 1,700ha of Tac Caupineapple with a yield of 10-12 tonnes a year, including 1,260ha in Binh Ancommune.
Binh An has chosen the pineapple as a keyagricultural produce since its soil is affected by alum and saltwaterintrusion, which is suitable for growing pineapple.
In Binh An, 49 households have been grantedVietGAP certificates to grow Tac Cau pineapples on a total area of 70ha.
The commune’s authorities provided farmers withtechniques to cultivate fruit under VietGAP standards as well as 200kilogrammes of organic fertiliser per hectare a year.
Luc Duc Long, an official in the Binh AnEngineering Economy Division, said the households previously had problemsgrowing the fruit but then agreed to implement the standards if they receivedtraining.
The cultivation of VietGAP pineapples hasenhanced farmer awareness about VietGAP standards and improved the quality ofpineapples, he said.
Under VietGAP standards, farmers have to strictlyfollow the processes of choosing seedlings, tending and harvesting under thestandards.
The output of pineapples under VietGAP standardsis 15-25 percent higher than pineapples planted under traditional farmingmethods.
The weight of VietGAP pineapples is 1.6 -1.7kilogramme a fruit compared to 1.2 kilogramme a fruit from traditional farmingmethods.
Farmers in the commune are harvesting pineapplesfor the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival, which falls on January 25.
Pineapple is one of fruits which are in highdemand for the festival as it is used on most family altars.
Nguyen Quoc Linh, chairman of the Binh AnFarmers Association, said the cultivation of VietGAP pineapples producedgood-looking pineapples with even quality.
It has also offered higher profits, andprotected the environment and health of farmers, he said.
The commune plans to expand Tac Cau pineapplearea under VietGAP standards to improve income for farmers and createsustainable production.
Tac Cau pineapple are eaten fresh and used tomake other products like pineapple cakes, dried pineapples, juice and jams. Theprovince’s processed pineapples are sold domestically and exported./.
VNA
