(HBO) – Red-flesh dragon fruit farming has become increasingly popular in Lac Thuy district over the last 10 years. The district now has nearly 56 hectares under the tree, mostly in Ba Hang Doi township and Phu Thanh commune. Productivity is estimated at 18 – 20 tonnes per hectare on average and output reaches 810 – 900 tonnes per year.
A farmer works on his red-flesh dragon fruit farm in Ba Hang Doi township, Lac Thuy.
Red-flesh dragon fruit produced by Thanh Hoa agricultural and service cooperative has been recognised as a three-star "One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) product of the province. It is among the six OCOP products of Lac Thuy made available on e-commerce platforms in an effort to gain broader market access for the district’s farm produce. The district is also planning to expand intensive-farming areas of the fruit.
Ba Hang Doi township alone is home to 26 hectares of red-flesh dragon fruit cultivated by 40 households on T-shaped frames, the latest farming technique, which have not only helped improve productivity but also cut labour costs and generate 4 – 5 crops per year.
However, the farming of the fruit in the district has yet to achieve sustainability as most of the farming areas are on a small scale and the district has not developed a large-scale production zone for the sector. Additionally, seedling quality still varies and application of advanced technology and disease control remain limited.
Head of the district’s division of agriculture and rural development Ngo Dinh Tam said Lac Thuy is seeking a certification for the trademark "Lac Thuy Dragon Fruit” which is expected to finalise this year. It has been raising growers’ awareness of Production Unit Code and Packing House Code, accelerating the granting of the codes, and strengthening the management of the granted codes, he said, adding that these factors are crucial for local dragon fruit to enter foreign markets.
In the long term, the district needs to set sight on dried and juice products from the fruit in order to raise its values, he noted./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a groundbreaking ceremony for an electronic printed circuit board (PCB) factory at Da River Left Bank Industrial Park in Hoa Binh province on April 13. The electronic PCB factory is invested by Japan's Meiko Group at a total cost of 200 million USD.
In the first quarter of 2024, the credit institutions in the province have actively deployed the legal documents of the State and the State Bank relating to currency, credit and interest rates. At the same time, they have promoted the capital mobilization, focusing on the solutions to expand the credit investment along with strengthening the credit quality management, lending to priority programs to promptly meet the capital needs for export - business and consumer demand during Tet in 2024.
Outside the key economic region of Hoa Binh, yet Lac Son district has utilised its potential and strengths regarding labour, land, and transportation connectivity to attract investment to the locality, contributing to promoting socio-economic development.
In a move to expedite the execution and disbursement of the 2024 capital plan for ODA projects, aiming for a disbursement rate of over 90% of the allocated funding, the Hoa Binh People's Committee issued Document No. 483/UBND-KTN on April 3, 2024, regarding such efforts.
Nguyen Van Thap from Kim Duc hamlet, Vinh Tien commune, Kim Boi district, has built the brand of Hoa Qua Son for local fruits. His efforts have brought about income for his family and generated job opportunities for locals, helping hundreds of households escape from poverty.
The Hoa Binh administration was entrusted by the Prime Minister with a budget of 3.43 trillion VND (142.91 million USD) for investment in 2024. The provincial People's Council approved nearly 3.76 trillion VND, which has been meticulously allocated to projects, achieving 100% of the assigned capital plan.
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