The Farmer’s Miracle: Turning Barren Land into Golden Soil, Reaping $160,000 in Annual Profits.

Ngoc Hoi is a mountainous district located in the northern province of Kon Tum, Vietnam. Nestled at the Indochina Junction, Ngoc Hoi serves as a vital connector of the East-West Economic Corridor, linking Northeast Thailand, Cambodia, and the southern provinces of Laos with the Central Economic Region.

The district is characterized by its hilly and mountainous terrain, with a predominantly dry and stony landscape. The local population primarily engages in subsistence farming, cultivating protective forests, and industrial crops such as rubber and coffee, alongside developing livestock farming, including cattle, pigs, and goats. Consequently, the district’s per capita income remains relatively low compared to the national average. As of 2022, the estimated per capita income in Ngoc Hoi district was VND 47 million per person per year, significantly lower than the average income of Vietnamese citizens.

However, amidst these challenging conditions, there are inspiring stories of families rising above adversity and achieving financial success, such as that of farmer Tran Van Dai. For decades, Mr. Dai has been tirelessly transforming a barren and desolate 10-hectare hill area into a thriving and lush durian garden, turning what was once a wasteland into a proverbial “gold mine.”

Hailing from Ha Tinh province, Mr. Dai has led a nomadic life, but it was in the Central Highlands that he found his long-term home. In 1999, while working in Dak Lak province, he visited Ngoc Hoi district and recognized the untapped economic potential of the area. This realization prompted him to purchase and dedicate his efforts to transforming a 10-hectare plot of stony and arid land in Hoa Binh village, Dak Kan commune.

From 1999 to 2009, Mr. Dai spent a decade focusing his time and energy in Ngoc Hoi, investing in improving the desolate land by developing essential infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water systems.

Upon completing the infrastructure development, he embarked on cultivating 5 hectares of rubber trees, 5 hectares of coffee plants, and pepper vines. Once the garden started generating a stable income, in 2009, he decided to sell his house and assets in Dak Lak, relocating to Plei Kan town, where he purchased land and built a new home, committing to a long-term future in the area.

In an interview with the Kon Tum Electronic Newspaper, Mr. Dai shared that in 2013, he embarked on a journey to master the “secrets” of growing high-quality durian. Together with his son, he traveled to the “fruit capital” of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region, including provinces such as Ben Tre, An Giang, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long, to learn from local farmers about advanced techniques for cultivating and caring for durian trees, especially high-quality imported varieties from Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries. Additionally, he independently studied books, magazines, the internet, and social media to enhance his knowledge.

In 2013, he cleared an area of 1 hectare that was previously used for less productive coffee cultivation and planted 100 durian trees. In 2016, he harvested the first batch of durians, yielding over 1000 kg, which he sold for more than VND 30,000 per kg. With the declining prices of coffee and rubber at that time, he made the bold decision to convert the entire 10-hectare area into a durian garden, interspersing a few other fruit trees such as avocado and longan. He carefully selected superior durian varieties, including Ri6 (from the Mekong Delta region), Monthong and Dona (from Thailand), and Musang King (from Malaysia), to ensure the highest quality.

Durian trees thrive in tropical climates with high temperatures and humidity. To promote a healthy and disease-resistant garden, Mr. Dai adopted a sparse planting technique, with a density of 70-100 trees per hectare, allowing ample space for each tree to grow and facilitating easy maintenance.

In terms of fertilization, Mr. Dai utilizes a combination of green manure, compost, and bio-fertilizers, along with biological products to control pests and diseases. The durian trees start bearing fruit from the fourth year, and stable yields can be expected from the seventh year onwards.

Annually, Mr. Dai’s durian garden generates a revenue ranging from VND 1-3 billion. Notably, in 2023, he harvested 80 tons of durians, with an average selling price of VND 65,000 per kg, resulting in a total income of VND 6.8 billion. After deducting expenses and labor costs, he netted a profit of over VND 4 billion.

Mr. Tran Van Dai’s success has not only elevated his own family’s livelihood but also positively impacted the local community. His farm provides stable employment for 4-5 workers and offers seasonal work for an additional 15-20 people, with daily wages ranging from VND 250,000 to VND 400,000 per person.