Members of Kien Cuong Cooperative, Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district, harvest Tai Nung pears.

Phiêng Khoài commune has the advantage of a cool climate and fertile land, suitable for pear tree cultivation. From 1,000 Tai Nung pear trees successfully planted experimentally in Cồn Huốt 1 village, the people in the commune have now expanded and developed the cultivation to over 70 hectares.

As the first household in Phiêng Khoài commune to plant pear trees, Ms. Đinh Thị Mây from Cồn Huốt 1 village shared: "In 2014, after visiting a pear cultivation model in Lào Cai, I decided to plant 1,000 Tai Nung pear trees. By mid-2018, the first harvest came, with every tree heavily laden with large, round, juicy pears, yielding over 700 kg. Selling at 40,000 VND/kg, I earned nearly 30 million VND. To date, my family has expanded to 6 hectares, harvesting over 30 tons of fruit annually. Selling at 40,000-60,000 VND/kg depending on the variety, we earn approximately 600 million VND."

Recognizing the high economic efficiency and good market demand, since 2021, Ms. Dinh Thi May has collaborated with households in the area to expand pear cultivation and establish the Kien Cuong Cooperative. Currently, the cooperative has 8 members, jointly cultivating nearly 70 hectares of pears according to VietGAP standards. This year, the expected yield is over 100 tons of fruit, generating a total income of nearly 4 billion VND.

Members of Kien Cuong Cooperative, Phieng Khoai commune, harvest Tai Nung pears.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, a member of Kien Cuong Cooperative, shared: "By joining the cooperative, my family has been guided in installing a water-saving irrigation system, using organic fertilizers and biological products, and in caring for and bagging the fruit. Thanks to this, our pears have a beautiful appearance, a rich, sweet taste, and a crisp texture; traders come directly to the orchard to buy them as soon as they are harvested. With 2 hectares of pear trees, my family expects to harvest about 17 tons of fruit this year."

In Yen Son commune, some households previously planted pear trees, but because they let the trees grow naturally, although they bore a lot of fruit, the pears were small and sold for only 7,000-10,000 VND/kg. When pear trees were widely planted, the commune promoted and encouraged farmers to apply proper care and fruit bagging techniques. Now, the pears are larger, more attractive, and sell for a higher price.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thai's family in Kim Son 1 village, Yen Son commune, has 0.5 hectares of pear trees currently being harvested. Mr. Thai shared: "Since 2018, my family has been grafting and applying pruning techniques to promote healthy tree growth. Thanks to good technical measures and pest control, especially fruit bagging, the pears are no longer affected by skin blemishes or insect damage, resulting in a yield of 6 tons. Since the beginning of the season, many traders have come directly to the orchard to buy pears at 25,000-40,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, this year's pear harvest brought in nearly 100 million VND."

Although pear trees were introduced to the mountainous and border communes of Yen Chau district not long ago, and the cultivated area is still relatively small, in recent years, pear trees have gradually asserted their position and opened up new economic development opportunities for farmers. Currently, the entire district has more than 130 hectares of pear trees, of which nearly 100 hectares are in production, with an average yield of 10 tons of fruit per hectare, providing stable income for many families. Thanks to their guaranteed quality, Yen Chau pears are easily sold and are favored by consumers inside and outside the province.

Le Yen Chau has an attractive appearance because the fruit is wrapped in protective coverings.

Mr. Le Huy Phong, Vice Chairman of the Yen Chau District People's Committee, said: Recognizing pear as a potential crop, the district is focusing on developing specialized production areas, concentrating on applying high technology, supporting seed production, and seeking markets for consumption. The district directs specialized agencies and encourages farmers to expand pear cultivation in suitable areas; applying safe production methods, pruning, fruit bagging, and using sturdy trellises to support branches helps the trees grow healthily, making care and harvesting easier...

With initial economic benefits, Tai Nung pears in Yen Chau district are being considered for OCOP certification by the district authorities, contributing to poverty reduction and improving people's lives.

Text and photos: Thanh Huyen