Improving quality of green-skin grapefruits

Khanh Hoa Province Science and Technology Council has just accepted the project "The process of planting green-skin grapefruits according to VietGAP standard in Khanh Hoa Province". The results of the project show that grapefruit gardens which are applied the production process according to VietGAP standard, have grown and developed; the fruits are less infected with pests and diseases, without residues of plant protection drugs, 15-17% higher in yield…

 

High productivity, high profit

 

Nguyen Van Nhan - member of Khanh Dong Fruit Cooperative in Khanh Vinh District, participating in growing green grapefruit according to VietGAP standard, has nearly 2ha of green-skin grapefruit trees which are 5-6 years old. Nearly 3 years ago, his family was supported to build a model for green-skin grapefruits according to VietGAP standard.

 

Since then, along with the technicians of the research team, his family's grapefruit garden has been carefully cared for from fertilizing, tillage to pruning ... Thanks to strict process, his family's grapefruit garden has developed well with less disease and higher yield. Currently, his 2ha grapefruit garden can be harvested, with price of about VND30,000 - 40,000/kg, yield of more than 10 tons/ha/year. After deducting expenses, he earns about VND200 million/ha.

According to Nguyen Van Ngoc - Chairman of Khanh Dong Fruit Cooperative, the cooperative has 4 models in Suoi Thom hamlet chosen to implement intensive farming of green-skin grapefruits according to VietGAP standard with an area of 3ha. During the implementation process, the growers always follow the instructions of the project technicians. After harvesting, yield of the models are 15-17% higher than ordinary grapefruit orchards, the average yield was more than 10 tons/ha, most of the fruits weight from 1.5 to 1.7kg, having beautiful color. The average selling price in the garden in 2019 was about VND25,000/kg, the profit is about VND170 million/ha. With the increasing demands of the market, the fact that Khanh Vinh fruits in general and green-skin grapefruits in particular going towards safe and sustainable production is a right step. It not only helps supplying the market with delicious, clean and high-quality products, but also helps growers change their production mindsets. After the project ended, the cooperative determined that it was necessary to continue propagating and mobilizing members to produce in accordance with the guided VietGAP process, ensuring the quality of green-skin grapefruits when being put on the market.

 

 

 

Keeping replication
 
At the same time, the research team has also built 5 new models of planting and intensifying green-skin grapefruits in the basic construction phase towards VietGAP on an area of 2.5 ha in districts of Khanh Vinh, Dien Khanh and Khanh Son. In these models, green-skin grapefruit variety of the Southeast Fruit Research Center has been grown. The trees in the models are growing well. After about 26 months, the tree flowered; after 34 months, the trees began to produce the first fortune; while the ordinary trees take about 34 months to start flowering.

In addition to the successful construction of models, the project has trained and transferred techniques according to VietGAP standard to 20 officers and growers of green-skin grapefruits in the area, organized 4 seminars "Green-skin grapefruit planting and intensive farming towards VietGAP" for 520 gardeners in the province. In the province now, there are a number of households that grow green-skin grapefruits in VietGAP. According to the gardeners, the application of the planting and care process according to VietGAP standard helps to reduce costs, labor and makes grapefruit products safer, not only ensuring the health for consumers but also for grapefruit growers.

The members of the provincial Science and Technology Council  assessed that the project had scientific and practical significance. Therefore, after the project ends, Khanh Dong Fruit Cooperative should continue to maintain and expand the number of growers that produce green-skin grapefruits according to VietGAP standard, and maintain and actively use the website that has been built to contribute to the promotion and business development of local green-skin grapefruits.

Khanh Ha

Translated by T.T