According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak To district (Kon Tum), the whole district has more than 1,200 hectares of macadamia, of which more than half of the area is intercropped with coffee.
While coffee is a familiar crop, sticking with people for a long time, macadamia has only been cultivated since 2014. However, after only a few years, this combination has proven its efficiency and sustainability.
In Tan Canh commune, where coffee is the main crop, the initial macadamia is only intercropped to block the wind. But thanks to the increasing economic value, and the district has been supported by the district since 2022, many households have boldly expanded the macadamia planting area. Up to now, the whole commune has more than 121 hectares of macadamia, with about 60% of coffee intercropping area.
One of the typical examples of good economic is Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cuong's family (54 years old, village 5, Tan Canh commune). Not only growing macadamia, he also invested machinery including peeling machines and mini drying furnaces for complete product processing, improving the value after harvest.
Macadamia after preliminary processing is sold from 180,000 to 200,000 VND/kg, much higher than selling fresh fruits. As a result, each year he earned more than 100 million VND from 3 hectares of macadamia intercropping, after deducting all expenses.
According to Mr. Mai Huy Hung - Chairman of People's Committee of Tan Canh Commune, Dak To District, macadamia trees are very suitable for soil and local climate, and few pests. Thanks to technical training, people take good care of the people, the yield of trees reaches 15–25 kg of fresh fruit per year.
The macadamia coffee model not only reduces the cost of care but also increases income for people from 30–40 million dong per hectare per year.
The special thing that makes macadamia is popular is the "easily" of this tree. Macadamia almost no need to take care of too much, without pests and diseases. People can take care of parallel when making coffee gardens.
Not only easy to grow, macadamia is also easy to sell. Many households said that, after harvesting and packaging, the product almost did not need to find output, customers actively came to order.
With these positive signals, macadamia is opening a new direction for Dak To farmers on the journey to develop agriculture sustainably, effectively and improve economic life.
