Thuy Nguyen District has more than 300 hectares of land for Na cultivation, mainly in communities like Chinh My, Lien Khe, An Son, Ky Son and Lai Xuan. Lien Khe has the largest area with more than 100 ha.

Na bo has long been cultivated in Lien Khe township, which is well-known in the market for its delicious fruit quality and distinctive taste, and is popular with consumers.

In the past, people planted small and scattered crops, in order to achieve efficient and stable production, Lien Khe Agricultural Service Business Cooperative has linked with households to plan according to concentrated areas to produce na VietGAP standards.

In 2021, with Hai Phong City’s recognition as a 3-star OCOP product, Linde will have more development opportunities here.

Now, according to the standard, Lien Khe na products are traceable, geographically labeled and packed in eye-catching paper boxes, bringing many economic development opportunities for people.

Thanks to the growing na bo, many households in the community have escaped poverty and become wealthy.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Luat in Team 9, Lien Khe Municipality is happy: “My family has more than 1 ha of cultivation area with 350 roots. The average yield is 1 ton/ha, each tree earns 1.5-2 million VND/year, after deducting interest costs 350 million VND/ha.

Like Ms. Lut’s family, Mr. Nguyen Tien Tinh and Nguyen Sy Toan’s family won this year, earning hundreds of millions of dongs from the custard apple tree.

“This year my family has 300 rhododendrons, after deducting expenses, each tree earns about VND1.6 million/year on average. Before growing rice, I was later encouraged by local authorities and advisory staff to give technical guidance, so I boldly changed the cultivation structure. To tell the truth, growing custard apples like this is a hundred times bigger than growing rice,” said Mr Nguyen Tien Tinh.

Na bo has many outstanding advantages over other imported varieties of Na Dai and Na, because the tree is fast-growing, strong, bears many fruits, grows well, ripe custard apple has pink eyes, shiny elongation, white flesh and sharp sweet taste. and special aroma, so that na tree is becoming more and more popular.

In order to support farmers, Hai Phong Agricultural Extension Center has in the past improved the transfer of scientific and technical advances, the process of caring for custard apple trees in accordance with VietGAP standards, and ways to prevent pests and diseases to ensure quality fruit quality and safety.

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Chien, Head of Thuy Nguyen District Agricultural Extension Station, planting is not too difficult, one just needs to pay attention to a few techniques and the right timing is absolutely possible to plant successfully.

Na bo is suitable for planting in spring (around March), the weather conditions at that time are suitable for this plant. Before planting custard apple, it is necessary to clean the soil and dig a hole 1 month before. The size of the planting hole is about 50x50x50cm and the distance between the holes is 3m.

In order to treat all pathogens in the soil and provide nutrients to the soil, it is necessary to fertilize each hole with 10 kg of rot, 0.5 kg of phosphate and 1 kg of powdered lime.

The first time after planting, it is necessary to water regularly every 3 days, when the tree grows to 1m, reduce the amount of watering, but still need to maintain regular humidity for the tree.

Well by fewer pests than other varieties, however, people must take care to prevent aphids from attacking the fruit and leaves. If pathogens are detected, catch by hand or spray biological products should be carried out immediately.

“Since we realized that this is a large and concentrated area for cultivating cinnamon apples, we have proactively proposed to the Hai Phong Agricultural Extension Center every year to arrange funding for organizing training and technical guidance for farmers. In addition, we also send staff with expertise in fruit trees to provide Lien Khe Cooperative and its members with expertise, exchange regularly to learn from experiences and discuss how to overcome remaining problems in production,” Herr said Chien.

The model of converting the cultivation structure into the production of fruit trees, especially in Lien Khe Municipality and Thuy Nguyen District in general, including the pomegranate, has contributed to the improvement of value-added and commodity-oriented production, coupled with consumption links and product traceability.

Proceeding from the economic efficiency of the custard apple tree, the Lien Khe Municipality People’s Committee has actively implemented solutions for expansion and strives for the certification of the entire area according to VietGAP standards (about 100 ha).

In the coming period, this locality would also like to be further supported to research and perfect the production process to meet VietGAP and organic standards, build geographical indications and protect brands to bring Vietnamese products to the market and grow them sustainably develop

Mr. Nguyen Huy Truan, Director of Lien Khe Agricultural Service Business Cooperative, shared, “We are working with the people to take the tree from small fragmented production to concentrated production. In 2021 we participated in the 1 product per community program and were certified with 3 stars OCOP. At present, Lien Khe na bo has been sold to the whole domestic market such as Quang Ninh, Quang Binh, Hanoi…. “.