Growing organic pomelos for export

Tran Van Ban, a farmer in Bau Sam quarter, Long Khanh ward, is a local pioneer in organic pomelo cultivation for export. He utilizes agricultural waste and byproducts to produce organic fertilizer for his crops.

Tran Van Ban, a farmer in Bau Sam quarter, Long Khanh ward, showcases his organic pomelo orchard, which supplies export markets. Photo: Binh Nguyen

For many years, the organic pomelos grown by Ban's family have been contracted by export companies serving demanding markets. As a result, the farm-gate prices of his pomelos have remained consistently high, generating substantial economic returns.

Self-composting for organic pomelo cultivation

According to Tran Van Ban, the area has black soil with layers of laterite underneath, making it less suitable for a wide range of crops than other regions. In 1999, he planted his first 30 pomelo trees on a trial basis. After finding that the soil was well-suited to pomelo cultivation, producing high yields and high-quality fruit, he expanded the growing area. Today, Ban's family cultivates nearly 2 hectares of pink-fleshed green-skinned pomelo trees. Most of the trees are mature, with some orchards more than 10 years old and others around 20 years old.

Ban recalled, “In the early years, I followed traditional methods and applied large amounts of chemical fertilizers. Although the trees were green and had large leaves, the fruit was of poor quality. Investment costs were high, but the results did not meet expectations. I then learned from other growers and adopted an organic farming model.”

Currently, the farm-gate price of export-standard organic pomelos sold by Tran Van Ban is VND 40,000 per kilogram. At this price, the orchard generates very high profits.

Ban explained, “After switching to organic cultivation and care, the soil has become increasingly loose and fertile. A major benefit is that I can mow the grass in the orchard while using fallen young pomelos that would otherwise be discarded, along with other agricultural byproducts, to make my own fertilizer at very low cost. Recently, there has been an abundant supply of durian husks in the area. I hired a dozen dump trucks to transport them from the export facilities to my orchard, sprayed them with microbial enzymes, and composted them for about three months until they decomposed into organic humus, which is highly beneficial for the trees.”

Ban added, “I chose organic fruit cultivation primarily to protect my family's health and my own. In addition, exporting pomelos requires compliance with strict safety standards. By growing organic pomelos, I consistently meet the stringent requirements of the most demanding markets.”

Growing pomelos for export markets

In his orchard, Ban intercrops rows of flowers. This approach attracts bees, ladybugs, praying mantises, and spiders that help eliminate pests such as mealybugs and red spider mites. Bees also improve pollination efficiency. These measures help minimize the use of plant protection products, ensuring environmental safety and protecting farmers’ health. Ban also repurposes plastic bottles to make fruit fly traps. Recycling plastic bottles into fruit fly traps instead of spraying toxic chemicals helps protect farmers' health and preserve the orchard’s ecosystem. It is also a highly effective solution for producing clean, high-quality pomelos for export markets.

According to Ban, demand for fruit exports, including pomelos, remains very high. Producing pomelos for export requires compliance with numerous standards, including a fruit weight of 1.6–1.8 kilograms; a round, uniform shape; a shiny, attractive peel with uniform coloration; and consistent internal quality based on clear criteria.

According to Ban, the care techniques needed to produce pomelos for export can be applied by any farmer. The greatest challenge is maintaining consistency and meticulous attention in every stage of care to achieve a high rate of fruit meeting export standards. He has also partnered with many orchard owners to transfer organic-oriented pomelo care techniques, helping increase local pomelo export output.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho