Ms. Giang Thi Sao’s strawberry cultivation model in Na Hang Town, Na Hang District (Tuyen Quang) has been developed for 5 years. On the new day when the strawberry tree was planted in the Na Hang field, Ms. Sao was also worried because it was the first time this plant was brought back to be planted without knowing whether it was suitable for the climate and the soil was suitable.

To understand the technical process of growing strawberries, Ms. Sao researched techniques for growing and caring for strawberries online and in strawberry growing groups. She found that strawberries are also easy to grow and care for, but the profitability is many times greater than other crops. This is a plant that is not technically demanding, but requires hard work and diligence to succeed.

Ms. Sao said her strawberry cultivation model is evolving towards organic and eco-friendly farming. This means minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and especially not using pesticides to prevent pests and diseases. Therefore, the strawberry products in her family’s strawberry garden are often not as beautiful as the commonly grown strawberries, but are very popular with customers despite the higher price.

Currently, Ms. Sao’s strawberries are sold at an average of about VND 400,000/kg in Class 1 and strawberries at VND 200,000/kg in the market. Strawberries grow on an average of 4,000 m2 minus the costs, with each harvest she earns around 200 million dong. That’s quite a high income compared to farmers in the highlands, especially Mong women like you.

Following Ms. Sao’s strawberry cultivation model, many places in Tuyen Quang have also expanded into strawberry cultivation and are quite successful. For example, the model of strawberry cultivation in Khau Tinh township, Na Hang district; Ms. Phan Thi Huyen Trang’s strawberry cultivation model in Hoang Khai Township, Yen Son District; Model of Ms. Phan Thi Thanh in Thai Long Township, Tuyen Quang City…

Ms. Phan Thi Thanh from Thai Long Township (Tuyen Quang City) said that she just started planting strawberries in the field since November 2022. Since it is grown on farmland, the tillage stage is more difficult than in other terrains. Ms. Thanh said that for strawberries to have quality and fruit, the seed source must be of good origin and quality. So she had to ask an acquaintance to order 4,000 good seedlings of the Japanese variety Hana Strawberry in Moc Chau District, Son La Province for VND12,000/plant. This is a heat resistant strawberry that can be grown and produced in hot climates up to 40 degrees Celsius.

To ensure moisture for the plants and limit maintenance, Ms. Thanh invested in installing an automatic drip irrigation system, using a black plastic sheet to cover the roots to prevent weeds, avoid torrential rains and keep the soil moist. Depending on the weather, adjust the amount of water and the appropriate watering time. In the planting beds, Ms Thanh sticks bamboo poles about 1m long, bent into an arch and covered with plastic or netting to cover rain, sun and insects but not pesticides.

Currently, Ms. Thanh’s strawberry garden has started harvesting. During the busiest periods, she can pick and sell 10 kg of strawberries/day, the price ranges from 180,000 to 350,000 VND/kg. To date, Ms. Thanh has raised more than VND 50 million in fruit money. In addition, she also sells seedlings when customers have demand.

The organic strawberry cultivation model is being expanded and developed in many places in Tuyen Quang province. Although the cultivation techniques are more sophisticated than other crops, the strawberry is first shown as a new crop with high economic efficiency and stable income for Tuyen Quang farmers.

The standardization and standardization of organically grown strawberry products such as labels and traceability to improve the value and brand of the product is something many strawberry garden owners in Tuyen Quang are doing for the future.