For many years, alum salt-contaminated fields in Quang Van commune (Ba Don city, Quang Binh) still struggled to convert crops, but failed. Ever since the Siamese coconut palm was trial planted on this land, the initial results have raised new expectations for the crop, which can adapt and help improve people’s income.
Ms. Tran Thi Thuong’s family in La Ha Nam Village, Quang Van Township has land that is mainly used to grow short-term crops such as potatoes and vegetables, but the effect is not great. Many transition periods, but since the soil is acidic and salty, it is difficult for all crops to be effective.
The coconut tree stands firmly on the saline soil in Quang Van Township. Picture: T Phung.
In 2020, with the advice and support of Quang Binh Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center, Thuong’s family planted 200 Siamese dwarf coconut trees in an area of 0.5 hectares.
This is the first household to experiment with Siamese coconut trees on saline soil in Quang Van Township. In introducing this new model of cultivation, the family was assisted by the Provincial Center for Agriculture and Fisheries Extension with 50% seed and fertilizer and assigned staff to guide coconut cultivation and care techniques.
Even though it’s only the third year, the coconut tree has delivered telling results. It is expected to be harvested in the 4th year. On average, each tree is expected to bear 100-150 fruits with good care.
Ms. Tran Thi Thuong said, “Though it is only the third year, coconuts produce many fruits.” The family has harvested and given most of it to relatives to taste. Everyone praised the sweet and cool coconut water. Surely the family will have a significant coconut harvest next year.”
Like Thuong’s family, Pham Hong Thanh’s family invested in planting 400 Siamese dwarf coconut trees interspersed with shrimp and crab farms on 1.7 hectares of fallow land.
Siamese coconut tree for the first divination. Picture: T Phung.
Until now, his family’s coconut garden is 2 years old. The cultivation of Siamese coconuts around the extensive shrimp and crab ponds uses the water source for irrigation and does not affect the productivity and quality of aquatic products.
Thanh also hopes: “When the coconut garden is harvested, it will bring a considerable income to the family.” Coconut palms have a long harvest, low investment costs and therefore high efficiency.
In the past three years alone, with the support of Quang Binh Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center, seven households in Quang Van township have converted saline and acidic soil to grow dwarf Siamese coconuts. Covering an area of almost five hectares.
According to Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, director of Quang Binh Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center, the production process shows that coconut cultivation does not require much maintenance, especially on saline soil, Siamese coconut trees show a very adaptable advantage. Good.
“From planting to the 4th year, the coconuts start harvesting, with an average price of about 20,000 VND/fruit, each coconut tree can bring an income of 500,000 to several million VND/year,” Mr. Hai admits.
Siamese coconut trees promise good yields for the saline soil in Quang Binh. Picture: T Phung.
By 2023, Quang Van Municipality intends to plant three more hectares of Siamese coconuts, both to change the cultivation pattern and to solve the problem of saline and inefficient soils on site.
According to Mr. Tran Thanh Nam, vice chairman of the Quang Van Commune People’s Committee, the local government not only hopes to solve the problem of the abandoned land, but also aims to build a local eco-tourism area with coconut cultivation models.
“The first signals in the implementation of the model of growing Siamese coconuts on saline soils have raised expectations of bringing sustainable income to farmers,” said Mr. Nam.