Spread the crop for star apple export

Star apple is a crop that brings high and stable economic value to farmers in Ke Sach district, Soc Trang province. This place is also a key growing area, supplying many kinds of star apples for the export market such as Tu Quy purple star apple and pink avocado star apple... The total area of star apple cultivation in Ke Sach district reaches more than 2,200 hectares. The annual output is about 30,000 tons.

In 2013, the area of purple star apple in Ke Sach district was only about 80 hectares, mainly in Xuan Hoa commune, of which the area for stable fruit production was 15 hectares.

From scattered and spontaneous production until now, purple star apple gardeners have been organized to produce according to a chain of consumption links with 5 cooperatives as the core. Dairy farming cooperatives are all transferred science and technology such as pruning, packing, spreading crops, using organic fertilizers, and producing according to the standards and processes of the export market.

Up to now, 96 members of the cooperative produce according to VietGAP standards with an area of ​​103.5 hectares, granted 17 planting area codes with more than 114 hectares. The cooperatives that grow star apple have registered trademarks and electronic stamps for traceability.

According to the evaluation from the Sub-Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Soc Trang province, star apples are harvested from the end of November to the beginning of April next year. However, the natural seasonal harvest caused supply to exceed demand, and star apple prices dropped sharply. Meanwhile, the remaining months of supply shortage. In particular, from 2018 to 2022, the star apple supply output of cooperatives in the district only accounts for 5-8% of the demand, according to export contracts and high-quality domestic market segments.

Therefore, besides supporting cooperatives to expand the cultivation area of Tu Quy purple star apple (the star apple variety can bear fruit all year round), the Provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection also cooperates with some units related to research and instructs farmers on techniques to handle flowering and spreading crops for star apple to increase economic efficiency per unit area, significantly to increase output to serve export demand.

At Loc Mai Agricultural Cooperative, Trinh Phu Commune (Ke Sach District), the unit has been participating in the model of spreading crops on star apple trees with an area of ​​about 6 hectares.

Mr. Su Quoc Loc, director of the cooperative, shared that handling off-season flowering has brought positive effects when it does not increase costs while maintaining productivity compared to the favorable season (about 20 tons/ha). The selling price is about VND 9,000/kg higher.

Mr. Loc assessed that the application of off-season flowering treatments is mainly based on the growth and development characteristics of the star apple tree without chemical intervention. Hence, the star apple tree grows well, and the product creates a safe environment that fully meets the import market requirements.

Through experience, Mr. Loc said that planting the star apple tree does not require high technology. Gardeners need to pay attention to observe and learn.

Especially to be bold because, according to traditional farming practices, the star apple tree flowers are in the favorable season, around June and July yearly. Gardeners who want to handle the off-season flowering must boldly cut off the flowering branches to create new shoots and take good care of these buds to flower in September and October.

Thus, star apple will be harvested in May and June next year. In addition, for successful off-season flowering, the age of star apple trees must be 5 to 10 years after planting.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phuoc, Director of the Sub-Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Soc Trang province, said that the management unit and gardeners have agreed with enterprises that purchase star apples for export if they supply products. When the product is out of season or earlier than the season, the gardener will be increased by VND 10,000/kg. This is the motivation for the star apple growers of the province to apply and replicate the solution of spreading the crop, Building and promoting the chain of links and star apple consumption among growers, cooperatives, and businesses to become more sustainable and effective.

Every year, Soc Trang province exports 400-500 tons of star apples to the US market, the solution to spread the crop, if applied evenly for growers, with each specific period will help farmers have a stable output. and increase product value.