Renovation of local agriculture
Mr. Le Vinh Tho (Trung Thanh commune, Vung Liem) said that he graduated and worked in the electricity industry for more than 13 years, but in 2018, during a business trip to the North, he was conquered by Tam Hong grapefruit.
With the desire to renew the local agricultural sector, Mr. Tho boldly spent more than 100 million VND to buy 100 seedlings from Hanoi, even though he has no experience in agriculture.
After nearly 3 years of perseverance, he has succeeded with the right quality Tam Hong grapefruits: big, light yellow shell, crispy shrimp, sweet taste.
Mr. Tho added that in 2022, his brand "Tam Hong Grapefruit in the West" was recognized by the Department of Intellectual Property, quickly building trust in the market.
Not stopping at grapefruit, in 2021, Mr. Tho continued to boldly experiment: intercropping orange with lemon over 3,000 trees. After nearly 2 years, some trees have produced completely new fruits: orange shapes, golden shells like American lemons, crispy and berry shrimp like grapefruits and especially the shells are eaten.
"With those characteristics, I named it Cam Nhu Y 3 in 1. This orange variety is easy to grow, can withstand alum and salinity, and is very suitable for the Mekong Delta," Mr. Tho added.
Ms. Mai Lan, a fruit trader in Duc Hoa, Long An, said that in 2019, she was introduced to a strange and delicious grapefruit variety in Vinh Long by a friend.
"Since then, every Tet holiday, I import tons of Tam Hong grapefruit to sell, most of which are to steep and then use because the grapefruit shell is golden and smooth. In addition, Nhu Y oranges are sold for 150,000 VND/kg and can be eaten with the skin, so they are very popular, Ms. Lan added.
Towards OCOP, bringing fruits to the West
Mr. Tho said that he is not only stopping at production and business but is gradually realizing his larger dream, bringing Tam Hong grapefruit and Nhu Y oranges to meet OCOP product standards. "This will be a springboard to help enhance brand value, expand the market and create favorable conditions for the development of professional and sustainable seedlings," Mr. Tho added.
Talking with Lao Dong, Mr. Bui Tan Dam - Chairman of Vung Liem District People's Committee - highly appreciated Mr. Tho's efforts in bringing Tam Hong grapefruit variety from the North to Vinh Long and successfully breeding the Nhu Y orange variety.
According to Mr. Dam, in recent times, the district has proactively supported trade promotion through fairs, connecting supply and demand for Tam Hong grapefruit and Nhu Y oranges.
Mr. Dam said that the District People's Committee has directed functional agencies to speed up the process of recognizing OCOP for Tam Hong and Nhu Y oranges. These are 2 types of crops with high economic potential, in line with the local agricultural development orientation.
"Mr. Le Vinh Tho's story is not only a journey of daring, perseverance and creativity but also a strong source of inspiration for those who cherish the dream of "going back to their hometown to farm" in a methodical, professional and sustainable way," Mr. Dam added.
