In recent years, farmers in the northern province of Bac Can have paid much attention to developing fruit orchards, with priority given to growing oranges and mandarins, contributing to local poverty reduction, reported The Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Orchards of oranges and mandarins cover an area of 1,500 hectares in the three districts of Bach Thong, Cho Don, and Ba Be. As harvest time begins during the last months of the year, the roads leading to Bach Thong district, about 10 km from Bac Can town, are always crowded with traders coming to buy oranges and mandarins.

Ma Van Cuong, who lives in Na Thoi hamlet, Quang Thuan commune, Bach Thong district, told VOV that "We are very excited as the harvest time begins. My family and other households in Na Thoi can earn up to 1,000 USD a year by growing oranges and mandarins in addition to farming. Local living conditions have improved remarkably."

Mandarins grown on Quang Thuan commune’s 400 ha account for 40 percent of the province’s total mandarin orchards.

Cao Xuan Lang, Chairman of the Quang Thuan Communal Farmers’ Association, said his commune has harvested approximately 3,000 tonnes of mandarins worth of 1.6 million USD.

Local farmers are more interested in expanding their orange and mandarin orchards to reduce poverty, Lang said, adding that on average, 95 percent of the households in Quang Thuan own 2ha of mandarins. Some households earn as much as 30,000 USD from their orchards every year.

Besides, they paid much attention to improving the productivity of their orange and mandarin orchards.

Bac Can authorities also encouraged and supported local farmers in applying advanced technology to raise their orchards’ productivity.

Dang Van Son, Deputy Director of the Bac Can provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the province has taken proper steps to protect the trademark and boost productivity.-VNA