Vietnam: Ha Giang juiced up on oranges

The increasing popularity of the delicious cam sanh (King Orange) has helped farmers of the poor mountainous northern Ha Giang Province profit from growing the fruit, making it a speciality of the region.

The fruit, which fetches a high price in the market and is grown mainly in Ha Giang town and Vi Xuyen, Bac Giang, Quang Binh districts, has helped residents of the province, including ethnic people, reduce poverty and eradicate hunger.

Ha Giang oranges are popular in Ha Noi markets and a favourite seasonal fruit in the capital.

Following the success, the province has increased land under cam sanh cultivation from 4,200ha, which produced 13,200 tonnes of orange, in 2001 to the current 4,709ha, producing 24,000 tonnes annually. This year, an additional 300ha is expected to come under orange cultivation.

Agricultural assistance

Meanwhile, to help farmers, the Ha Giang’s Horticulture Association is providing advanced technology in planting and managing the orchards, increasing yields and helping the province set up a distinctive Ha Giang King Orange brand for exports.

Among farmers who have profited from growing the orange is Vu Ngoc Lam of Thach Son hamlet in Bac Quang town. Lam, who has an orchard of 2,000 trees, harvests 80 tonnes of orange every year, earning VND 250 million (US$15,000) in the process.

Lam’s success has been replicated by other enterprising farmers of the province like Nguyen Thi Phuong of Vinh Hao Commune and Nguyen Van Xuong from Vi Thuong Commune. Most of them earn around VND100 to 200 million per year.

The province is now taking steps to attract more farmers to grow the orange variety and increase yields. Says Hoang Quyen, deputy chairman of the Horticulture Association, "Next year, we will increase the area under cam sanh cultivation. Besides, we will start training courses for farmers and help them travel to China to learn more about growing the orange, especially in rocky areas."

Having succeeded in the domestic market, the province is also hoping to export the fruit to international markets soon.

Source