Expanding the Area of Gia Thanh Seedless Persimmon

In the period before the 1980s, the seedless persimmon variety was introduced by the residents of Gia Thanh commune, Phu Ninh district, and planted within the local area. With its superior quality, this persimmon has become a specialty and a unique product with advantages for the region. Phu Ninh district has focused on developing Gia Thanh seedless persimmon as an OCOP (One Commune, One Product) product, which has been recognized with a 4-star rating.

Comrade Han Xuan Dang, the Secretary of Gia Thanh Commune Party Committee, who was one of the pioneers in expanding the persimmon cultivation area, recalls: "In the early 2000s, after returning from military service, my garden was filled with low-value plants, while the region had a well-known but limited area of seedless persimmon. There was high demand, but not enough supply. Therefore, I decided to convert more than 3 hectares of my garden to persimmon cultivation. After 4-5 years, the first harvests provided significantly higher income compared to other crops. Many residents in the commune followed suit, converting their gardens and some of their land to persimmon cultivation, which provided high income. With a lifespan that can be harvested for hundreds of years, we now consider persimmon as a means of wealth today and a legacy for future generations."

Currently, the total area of Gia Thanh seedless persimmon in Phu Ninh district exceeds 238 hectares, with ongoing efforts to expand new cultivation areas. In the years 2022-2023 alone, over 65 hectares of new persimmon trees were planted. Besides Gia Thanh commune, other communes with large persimmon areas include Tri Quận, Bảo Thanh, Liên Hoa, and Phú Lộc. In recent years, the total production of Gia Thanh persimmons has averaged around 1,500 tons per year.

To develop persimmon cultivation, along with implementing the province’s agricultural support resolutions, programs, and policies, the Phu Ninh District Party Committee issued Resolution No. 13-NQ/HU on January 8, 2020, to support the cultivation of Gia Thanh specialty persimmons in the district from 2020 to 2025. Additionally, Resolution No. 95-NQ/HU was issued on December 30, 2021, for the development of the Gia Thanh specialty persimmon area in Phu Ninh district from 2022 to 2025.

From 2021 until now, the district has provided nearly 1 billion VND in support to localities for planting new Gia Thanh persimmon trees, while also investing in infrastructure such as canal systems and transportation roads to facilitate production, harvesting, and product consumption.

To make the process of developing OCOP products more efficient and move towards assigning planting area codes, Phu Ninh encourages persimmon-growing households to join cooperatives and cooperative groups. This collaboration allows for shared experience in care, preservation, and product distribution.

Han Cong Khanh, Director of Gia Thanh Agricultural Services Cooperative, stated: "Currently, Gia Thanh commune has about 150 hectares of persimmon with 160 members, of which over 70 hectares are already in harvest. This year, the persimmons are in a good season, with an estimated yield of around 9-10 tons per hectare. With a selling price of about 45,000-50,000 VND/kg, the average income will be around 400 million VND per hectare. Most persimmon gardens have already been pre-ordered by traders, so we are quite assured about the market."

To ensure high-quality standards for persimmon varieties, Phu Ninh has implemented the selection of superior persimmon trees to maintain and protect them as a long-term source for production. The district encourages households to continue converting less productive land to persimmon cultivation. The district’s specialized agencies guide residents in techniques for planting and caring for persimmon trees, ensuring healthy growth, improved productivity, quality, and appearance of the products.

Phan Cuong