The Golden Harvest: Unveiling the Secret to Tripling Fruit Productivity

Unlocking Lâm Đồng Province’s Agricultural Potential

According to data from the Department of Industry and Trade of Lâm Đồng Province, in the first month of 2025 alone, the province earned nearly $40 million from exporting key local agricultural products.

Coffee led the way with a turnover of $23.9 million (5,300 tons), followed by vegetables and fruits at $6.39 million (2,187 tons), cut flowers at $5.56 million, raw silk at $2.88 million, and tea at $0.99 million.

Lâm Đồng Province currently exports goods to 56 countries and territories. The main export markets are Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, China, and Singapore, as well as some European countries.

Transitioning to a Sustainable and Efficient Farming Model

Tomatoes are considered one of the province’s most promising crops, offering high economic value. Lâm Đồng is currently the largest tomato-producing region in the country. However, traditional outdoor tomato farming has led to unstable yields and quality, especially during the rainy season.

Instead of continuing with traditional methods, many localities in Lâm Đồng have embraced a new model: growing tomatoes on substrates in greenhouses. This approach is highly effective in overcoming previous limitations.

This method utilizes substrates such as coconut coir, sawdust, perlite, and vermiculite instead of soil, coupled with a drip irrigation system and automatic fertilizer application. As a result, essential factors like nutrition, moisture, and pH can be precisely controlled.

According to experts, growing tomatoes on substrates reduces direct contact with the soil, preventing soil-borne diseases like wilt and reducing the need for pesticides. This method also conserves 30–50% more water and fertilizer compared to traditional farming. Yields can reach 100–130 tons per hectare, twice or thrice the traditional method, with consistent fruit quality that easily meets VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards.

Notably, substrate farming enables year-round production, unaffected by weather conditions, especially during the rainy season, ensuring stable incomes for farmers.

Despite not being grown in the ground, tomatoes cultivated on substrates remain highly profitable, yielding “golden returns” throughout the year. Many households in Lâm Đồng who have adopted this model have reported profits of 400–700 million VND per hectare per year.

Beyond economic benefits, this model also contributes to enhancing technical expertise, attracting young laborers to rural areas due to its high-tech requirements and standardized crop care procedures. Furthermore, it fosters cooperation between cooperatives, processing enterprises, and consumer markets, guaranteeing stable outlets for farmers.

Several cooperatives in Lâm Đồng have successfully exported tomatoes to demanding markets like Japan, South Korea, and the European Union by meeting stringent quality standards.

With its initial successes and evident effectiveness, the tomato-growing model is becoming a shining example in Lâm Đồng’s agricultural transformation journey—from traditional farming to high-tech production linked to global commerce.