Harvesting mangosteen in Binh Duong province (Photo: VNA) Binh Duong (VNS/VNA) - Mangosteen farmers in the southeastern provinceof Binh Duong have had a bumper crop of mangosteen this season because of longperiods of hot weather, low rainfall, and support from local authorities.
The province, one of the country’s largest mangosteen producers, has more than1,000ha of mangosteen.
In Thuan An township, the province’s largest mangosteen area, crops in An Thanh,Hung Dinh and Binh Nham wards and An Son commune have increased by 15 – 20 percentagainst last year, according to orchard owners.
The harvest season for the fruit normally begins in lunar May and lasts forabout three months.
In Thuan An township, mangosteen has been cultivated since the 19th century andis famous for its delicious taste.
Le Thi Kim Huong, who has a nearly 100-year old mangosteen orchard in Binh Nhamward, said the yield is expected to increase by 20 percent against last year.
Local authorities upgraded the irrigation system, which also helped producehigher yields, she said, adding that farmers had received funds from the localauthorities to buy fertiliser.
The An Son Commune Agricultural Service Cooperative has 11 members growingmangosteen. Seven of the members grow mangosteen on a total area of 14ha undergood agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards.
The cooperative has harvested more than 50 tonnes of mangosteen, up nearly 20tonnes against last year. The co-operative’s mangosteen orchard earned a profitof about 200 million VND (8,590 USD) each.
Traders are buying mangosteen for 50,000 – 80,000 VND (2.2 – 3.4 USD) akilogramme.
Tran Van Vien, owner of the An Son Agricultural Service Cooperative, said theprovince had promoted exports of mangosteen from An Son commune to China underofficial channels next month, but there are no mangosteens left forexport.
Nguyen Thi Bich Dao, a fruit shop owner in Thuan An township’s An Thanh ward,said the price of mangosteen is normally high and stable compared to otherfruits. Market demand is high.
In Dau Tieng district, farmers received a collective brand name for thedistrict’s mangosteens last month.
The district’s Thanh Tuyen commune has about 220 households growing mangosteen.Of the households, nine are growing 6.6ha of mangosteen to VietGAP standards.
Planted in the commune 10 years ago, mangosteen has helped improve the lives ofmany local farmers.
Nguyen Thi Hung, deputy head of the province’s Plant Cultivation and ProtectionSub-department, said that special policies had helped specialty fruit orchards.
In Thuan An, local agricultural officials have organised courses to providefruit farming techniques for farmers, she said.-VNS/VNA
VNA
