Sandy coastal areas in Quang Tri province as well as in many other coastal provinces of the North and South Central Coast of Vietnam are poor in natural resources, mainly rocky, sandy, dehydrated and strongly affected by the hot weather. Therefore, agricultural production there faced various difficulties. In addition, due to increasing impacts of recent environmental incidents, fishermen have been encountering toughness in fishery production and need to find new livelihoods. 

With the financial support of the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province, Vietnam National University of Agriculture in collaboration with Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dong Giao Food Export Joint Stock Company – DOVECO carried out a pilot pineapple production model by applying new technology in sandy coastal lands in Quang Tri province on an area of 12 hectares in 3 communes including Trung Giang commune, Gio Linh district (4 ha), Vinh Tu commune (5 ha) ) and Vinh Thai (3 ha) in Vinh Linh district. 

Under technical guidance provided by VNUA scientists through on-job trainings, pineapple roots were socked deep into PVNUA moisturizer liquid, a product of VNUA, before planting. The soil was then covered by black plastic sheets to keep moisture and limit weeds. A sprinkler irrigation system was utilized. Finally, the pineapple productivity reached 45 tons/ha generating an income of about VND 90 million per hectare for local farmers. 

The model was evaluated successful. This was the first time VNUA scientists succeeded in planting pineapples in sandy coastal lands. Local farmers, who mainly rely on fish catching, from now on can have a new option of generating income by exploiting sandy poor lands for pineapple cultivation using VNUA techniques. It helps improving their household incomes and ensuring their livings. 

 

VNUA scientists provided on-job training to local farmers  

Sprinkler irrigation system

  

Pineapple harvesting