In recent years, strawberries have gradually become a crop that brings high economic value in Dao San border commune, Lai Chau province. From initial experimental models, many households have boldly converted crops, gradually increasing income and changing traditional agricultural production thinking, according to VNA.
Dao San has a cool climate all year round, low temperatures, and soil suitable for temperate plants. From 2021, some households began to introduce strawberries for trial planting and quickly achieved positive results. Strawberries have a rich sweet taste, characteristic aroma, few pests and diseases, stable yield and high commercial value.
In Leng Chu village, the corn and cassava fields of the past are gradually being replaced by lush green mulberry beds. The mulberry crop starts in November every year, after about 2 months of care, it will be harvested and last until the end of April of the following year.
Mr. Giang A Chu - one of the first people to grow strawberries in Leng Chu village - currently owns about 5,000m2 with more than 10,000 strawberry trees. According to Mr. Chu, instead of importing seedlings from other places, he grows the tree himself from seeds taken from quality strawberries so that the tree can adapt well to the local climate.
After 4 years of stable maintenance, each mulberry garden crop of his family harvests about 4 tons of fruit. After deducting seed, fertilizer and labor costs, the family earns a profit of nearly 400 million VND.
Also converting crops, Mr. Cu A Lu also converted 2,000m2 of rice land to grow strawberries. Although initially facing difficulties due to lack of technique, after a process of learning, his strawberry garden is currently developing stably. This year, he planted about 2,000 trees, expected to harvest more than 1 ton of fruit. With a selling price of 120,000 - 150,000 VND/kg, his family estimates a profit of about 90 million VND.
To improve product quality, people invest in automatic spray irrigation systems, regularly prune old leaves, weed and care according to appropriate procedures. Thanks to this, Dao San strawberries are increasingly favored by the market, and traders come to the garden to buy them.
Not only selling fresh fruits, many households also combine developing experiential tourism. Strawberry gardens in Leng Chu village have become attractive destinations for tourists visiting Dao San market fair.
Mr. Trieu Van Minh, a tourist from Lao Cai, shared: "The strawberries here are very fragrant, sweet, refreshing and very fragrant. I picked them myself and bought some as gifts.
According to Village Head Leng Chu Cu A Mang, strawberries are becoming a crop that brings high economic efficiency, contributing to crop restructuring and improving people's lives. The locality is encouraging the expansion of the model, aiming to build a specialized strawberry growing area associated with the development of ecotourism.
