Persistently researching demanding grape varieties
Mr. Ho Xe's model grape garden in Phong Nien Thuong village, Tho Phong commune is entering the harvest season. Although the garden is only 1 year old, nearly 200 grape trees have already yielded lush fruit. The clusters of grapes are neat, making anyone who steps into the garden feel excited.
Currently doing business in the furniture industry, but Mr. Ho Xe has a special passion for high-tech agriculture. 3 years ago, he started researching and experimenting with raising moutan grapes right in his hometown. This is a fruit with high economic value, a mild sweet taste and a characteristic light aroma.
Seeing people growing moutan grapes, I was very fascinated. This type of plant, although difficult to grow, brings high income. I think in Vietnam, if people can grow it, I can also grow it," Mr. Xe shared.
The characteristic hot climate of the eastern region of Quang Ngai is a very big challenge for grape trees. In the early days, he experienced many failures when the trees grew but bore little fruit or did not bear fruit, sometimes the trees got sick and then died. Not discouraged, he saw it as a lesson to find ways to overcome difficulties.
He spends a lot of time learning from books and the internet and then researching on his own. To help grape trees grow best, he invests in building rain and frost-proof greenhouses, installing drainage systems for the garden, and improving the soil to ensure nutrients for the trees.
Up to now, Mr. Xe is one of the successful growers of this demanding grape variety in the eastern region of Quang Ngai province. He has mastered techniques in soil, water content, suitable fertilizers and managed the temperature during the care process from when the plant is still small to the flowering and fruiting stage.
According to Mr. Xe, the fruit-making and fruit pruning process is very difficult. After the trees bear fruit, he must prune them so that the grape bunches develop evenly, achieving good quality and beautiful appearance. He only keeps 5-7 bunches of each tree, healthy trees can keep 8-10 bunches to ensure the best fruit development.
Many people come to visit and learn from grape growing experience
Thanks to complying with the organic production process, right in the first fruiting season, his vineyard attracted a large number of tourists to visit and buy. Mr. Tran Dai Nghia, in Nghia Lo ward, shared: "In the Central region, it's so hot, but grape trees still grow well, bear many fruits and are very sweet. I think this is a good model that needs to be replicated.
Mr. Xe excitedly said that the grape output in the garden is currently not enough to meet customer demand, although the selling price on the market is currently around 300,000 VND/kg.
Realizing that this is an effective clean agricultural model, many people have come to him to learn from experience and seek cooperation opportunities. Mr. Vo Tien Hung, in Cam Thanh ward, said: "I see the economic development potential from Mr. Xe's pivot grape garden is quite large. Therefore, I want to learn grape growing techniques and exchange cooperation opportunities to develop agricultural tourism. In my opinion, this is a sustainable direction.
This initial success helps Mr. Ho Xe confidently develop the model of growing mound grapes. Currently, he is continuing to expand the area, raising the total number to nearly 200 mound grape trees on an area of about 1,000m2.
He especially focuses on applying biological farming techniques to create high-quality, safe grape bunches to serve tourists visiting and enjoying at the garden and supplying to the market.
