(VOVworld) – Chestnuts grown in Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province, have long been considered the best in Vietnam. But recently people in several northern provinces and Hanoi have a new appreciation for chestnuts grown by the Tay people in Quang Lac commune, Lang Son province. Nguyen Trung Hieu and his family are the first household in Lang Son to grow chestnut trees.

A woman collect chestnuts in Quang Lac, Lang Son province (photo: baolangson.vn)

It takes about 20 minutes to drive a motorbike from Lang Son city to Nguyen Trung Hieu’s chestnut grove. In the past 2 years, he has received orders for chestnuts from customers in Lang Son, Bac Giang, Ha Giang, Hai Phong, and Hanoi. Hieu said he collects and delivers chestnuts to customers every day. “Last year I sold more than 1 ton of chestnuts and I couldn’t fill all the orders. I collect chestnuts and sort them into small and big nuts. A kg of small nuts costs 3 USD and 4 USD for bigger nuts. I earn an average of 8,000 to 8,500 USD per year.”

In 2003 Lang Son province piloted a program to grow chestnut trees. Hieu’s family was growing rice and fruit trees such as persimmon, litchi, and plum, but the productivity was low. He decided to pilot growing 300 chestnut trees. The chestnut trees grew well and Hieu harvested chestnuts for the first time after two years. The nuts were as good and big as chestnuts grown in Cao Bang. Realizing that he could earn more from chestnuts, in 2006, Hieu replaced all the fruit trees in his 3ha orchard by chestnut trees.

“I grew a total of 1,800 chestnut trees. I learned planting techniques from books. Growing chestnut trees is not as difficult as growing litchi and persimmon trees. I fertilizer chestnut trees just once a year.”, Hieu said.

When his 1,500 chestnut trees were ready to harvest, Hieu and his wife had to quickly gather the chestnuts and bring them to local shops. “In the beginning, we had to roast the chestnuts and offered samples to customers at local food shops. Later, many of them called to order. Some people said my chestnuts are bigger, sweeter, and softer than chestnuts in Cao Bang. Maybe different weather and soil account for the quality. Now I can sell all the chestnuts I gathered.”

Hieu’s chestnut grove has generated jobs for several villagers. 61-year-old Hoang Thi Kiem and her husband in Quang Trung 2 hamlet have 2-ha of rice fields, which produced barely enough food for the couple. They have helped Hieu collect chestnuts for 2 years to earn extra money. Kiem wants her children to learn to grow chestnuts. “I told my children that they have land, and they should follow Hieu’s example and grow chestnut trees to earn better incomes. They have asked Hieu to graft chestnut trees for them.”

Hieu has provided work to 4 local families. He has recruited another 20 people to work at his 60-ha pine tree forest. The employees are paid by the day and are allowed to collect dry wood to take home.

Chu Duc Khoi, Chairman of the Quang Lac commune People’s Committee, said chestnut growing has generated good profits and the commune plans to develop a Quang Lac chestnuts trademark. Mr. Khoi said: “Growing chestnut trees suits Quang Lac’s natural conditions. People involved in this program must be hard-working and have capital. Quang Lac has a large forest, but to clear the site to grow chestnuts costs a lot. The local administration has talked to Hieu about training and advising the villagers. We also plan to work with the Department of Science and Technology to register a trademark for Quang Lac chestnuts.”

More than 45,000 people in Quang Lac have been dependent on growing rice and maize. They have tried several kinds of fruit trees, such as plum and persimmon, but productivity was low. Chestnut trees are expected to generate jobs and raise incomes for the local Tay people.