A macadamia grower in the Central Highlands(Photo: VNA) Dak Lak (VNA) – The Central Highlandsprovinces of Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum have stoppedexpanding the area grown with macadamia trees, said the Tay NguyenAgro-Forestry Science Technology Institute.
Meanwhile, local farm households and businesses areadvised to focus on the cultivation of planted trees.
Macadamia trees have recently been grown in theCentral Highlands on a pilot project and given yields after 5-7 years. Experts say further studies on land, climate, seedlings andcultivation techniques should be carried out before the tree is put intolarge-scale cultivation in the region.
Dak Lak province, which boasts the third largestmacadamia area after Lam Dong and Dak Nong, has stopped the cultivation of newmacadamia trees until 2020, with orientations to 2030.
Director of the Dak Lak Department of Planning andInvestment Dinh Xuan Ha said local farmers should grow macadamia trees alongwith industrial and perennial fruit trees such as coffee, avocado and durian tomaintain their income and avoid risks.
Macadamia trees made first appearance in Vietnam in the 1990s,but farmers in the Central Highlands only started cultivating them in 2000.
The region is currently home to more than 2,266ha ofmacadamia trees, or 64.01 percent of the country’s total crop area, mainly inLam Dong (44.04 percent) and Dak Nong (35.3 percent). The region produces 246tonnes of nuts per year, accounting for 91.45 percent of the country’s output.
Experts say since it is a relatively new species, furtherstudies should be conducted to ensure its efficiency and reduce risks forgrowers. - VNA
