With 1 hectare of American pineapple land, farmers in Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province can earn 100 million VND/crop. This profit is 2-3 times higher than sugarcane cultivation.
Dubbed as the sugarcane capital of the West, but under the pressure of “price storm” and disease, the price of sugarcane continuously plummeted, growers worked all year round but their income is not enough to pay for fertilizer and medicine for plants.
In recent years, people in Phung Hiep district have had a transformation, they gradually broke the monoculture of sugarcane and switched to cultivating some other agricultural products such as bananas, Thai jackfruit, pineapple.
Typically, the model of growing MD2 pineapples (also known as American pineapples) consumed by the Company has helped people get excited because of their profits and stable product output.
The MD2 clump, also known as the American pineapple, is being transformed by farmers in Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang (Photo: Bao Ky).
Farmers who abandoned sugarcane to grow American pineapples earned a profit of hundreds of millions of dong per hectare (Clip: Bao Ky)
The MD2 is a strong, drought tolerant pineapple. Due to its thin skin, lots of juice, crispy flesh, bright yellow color, little fiber and less burning of the tongue, delicious taste, this fruit is very suitable for both fresh eating and processing. In particular, the MD2 fruit is very large, its average weight is from 1.5 kg to more than 2 kg.
The MD2 fruit is very large, its average weight is from 1.5 kg to more than 2 kg. When ripe, this type of pineapple has a thin skin, lots of juice, crispy flesh, bright yellow color, little fiber and less burning of the tongue (Photo: Bao Ky.)
Mr. Lam Van Lam (living in Phuong Thanh hamlet, Phuong Binh commune, Phung Hiep district) said that he has been with sugarcane for more than 20 years, the number of wins is small, but the capital is even and the losses are not counted. When he saw that some households in the locality abandoned sugarcane to grow pineapple, bringing economic benefits, Mr. Lam also boldly planted 2 hectares of MD2.
“This is an alum soil, but this variety grows very well. The first crop takes about 18 months to harvest, but the next crop only takes about 12 months. On average, I can grow 60,000 pineapple trees per hectare of land, if the weight is from 2 kg/fruit, the yield will be from 120 tons,” Mr. Lam Lam said.
Mr. Lam Van Lam (living in Phuong Binh commune, Phung Hiep district) converted 2.5 hectares of land for growing sugarcane and bananas to pineapples, with very positive results (Photo: Bao Ky).
According to Mr. Lam, from seedlings to farming techniques, fertilizers follow the process set by the Company. Initially, the Company will give seedlings and materials to farmers, and then deduct them when harvested. In the first crop, farmers can make little profit or break even, but the next crop is sure to have better profits.
“Currently, the Company accepts pineapple consumption for farmers at the rate of 5,500 VND/kg of fruit and 2,000 VND/seedling. Fertilizers and plant protection drugs only cost about 15-20 million VND per crop. On average, 1 hectare of pineapples, I can earn about 100 million VND, 2 or 3 times higher than sugarcane,” said Mr. Lam excitedly.
Farmers harvest MD2 pineapples (Photo: Bao Ky).
About 100 meters from Mr. Lam’s pineapple field, the old farmer Vo Van Vu’s pineapple field is bustling with harvesting and transportation. It is known that this is the first harvest since Mr. Vu completely abandoned 1.5 hectares of sugarcane to switch to pineapple production. After a long time of struggling with sugarcane, now the farmer U60 has a bright smile thanks to the “fruits” from pineapples.
“Seeing that people in the hamlet are effective in growing pineapple, I also invest in it. The first time was very hard, I had to fertilize, water, clear the grass regularly, but when the tree grew, it was much stronger. When the fruits are harvested by growers, the Company consumes all, so they can feel secure. It is estimated that in this season, I can earn more than 100 million dong,” said Mr. Vu
Mr. Vo Van Vu is excited because he earns hundreds of millions of dong per hectare, twice as high as the previous sugarcane (Photo: Bao Ky)
Currently, pineapple growers in Phung Hiep district are very secure because the output of the product has been consumed by the Company (Photo: Bao Ky)
With initial effectiveness, at present, Phung Hiep district continues to expand the area of MD2 pineapples in inefficient sugarcane production areas.
Mr. Tran Van Tuan – Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Phung Hiep district said that the district currently has 120 hectares of land for growing MD2 pineapples.
“At the beginning of the season, the Company will hold a meeting with the people and inform the farmers about the price, this price does not change in the whole season. In the next crop, the Company will change other prices in line with market fluctuations. With the current package of consumption, pineapple growers can earn 2-3 times more profit than sugarcane farming,” said Mr. Tuan.
Farmers transporting pineapples ashore to wait for the Company’s boats to collect (Photo: Bao Ky).
