Planting the “progress king” tree, farmers are tired of picking leaves to count money during Tet
Although the betel tree is harvested all year round, in the last days of the year consumption has increased
At this time, lemon leaves are purchased from the garden for 50,000 VND/kg, not only creating jobs but also contributing to improving people’s lives at the foot of Thien Nhan mountain.($1=24,000 VND)
Early in the morning, people at the foot of Thien Nhan mountain, Nam Kim commune (Nam Dan district, Nghe An) bring baskets, scissors, sacks to the garden to pick lemon leaves to sell.
Mr. Dang Quoc Viet (62 years old, living in hamlet 4, Nam Kim commune) shared that people in Nam Kim commune knew how to grow lemons since the 1970s. At first, they planted little and interspersed with other fruit trees.
Gradually, realizing that the lemon tree has a higher yield and economic value than other trees, people focus on investing in this tree. Every house grows hundreds of roots less, earning a higher income than growing rice.
“In the past, few people bought lemon leaves, but in the past two years, traders have come to the garden to buy fresh lemon leaves for 35,000-50,000 VND/kg. From the day we sold lemon leaves, our people were very excited because there were lemon leaves. more income, more stable life.
On average, 3 people in my family pick 5-7 kg of lemon leaves every day. Currently, lemon leaves are purchased for 50,000 VND/kg. Calculating, every day my family also earns 250,000-350,000 VND”, Mr. Viet said.
Every morning, 4 members of Mr. Dang Van Hoa’s family (37 years old, living in hamlet 4, Nam Kim commune) go to the garden to pick lemon leaves to import for traders. At this time, the lemon has already produced fruit, but the leaf harvest is still taking place normally.
Hoa’s family has been engaged in lemon farming for 35 years. 4 sao of soil at the foot of Thien Nhan mountain is used by Mr. Hoa to plant 200 lemon trees.
“Lemon cultivation is mainly to harvest fruit. However, for the past 2 years, lemon leaves have been consumed a lot, so people growing lemons have a decent income. Off-season lemons are difficult to fertilize, have a lot of work, and have low yields, so People also pay less attention to investment than the crop. Thanks to the regular income of lemon leaves, my family also earns a few hundred thousand every day”, Mr. Hoa shared.
According to Mr. Hoa, the time to pick lemon leaves in the morning is the most appropriate, not to do much damage to the tree and to keep the aromatic and fleshy flavor of the lemon leaves. If picked in the afternoon will dry out the water, the lemon tree is vulnerable and difficult to recover. Lemon leaves, if picked in the afternoon, will not be as fragrant and fleshy as in the morning.
Harvesting lemon leaves is usually by hand picking or using scissors. In the process of harvesting leaves, people cut off lemon branches that are too old, no longer able to grow, creating conditions for new branches to develop.
On average, each lemon tree produces 3-4 kg of leaves. Harvested lemon leaves should not be too young nor too old or yellow. Lemon leaves must be at a dark green color, smooth, so that they can keep the characteristic aromatic, fleshy, and spicy flavor.
Lemon leaves after picking are washed, removed unsatisfactory leaves such as too young or yellow, drained, dried in water, waiting for traders to come and buy.
According to local people, lemon leaves are purchased by traders to make spices in food companies and restaurants. Lemon leaves are also used for steaming to relieve colds, cooking essential oils for the pharmaceutical industry…
“Every morning, my family picks 5-6 kg of lemongrass leaves to sell. It only takes a few hours in the morning to make money. The work is light, simple and doesn’t take much time.
Lemon leaves are picked continuously for 6-8 months. Particularly in the hot summer months, the water is dry, the leaves are curled, so people pick less. Although growing lemons for fruit is the main thing, picking leaves to sell has helped our people have a steady income. Especially on Tet holiday, the price of lemon leaves is up to 70,000 VND/kg,” shared Nguyen Thi Tam (60 years old, living in hamlet 4, Nam Kim commune).
Nam Kim commune is located at the foot of Thien Nhan mountain, the gravel soil is very suitable for the growth and development of lemon trees. This is also an easy-going plant, it only needs to be cared for 3 times a year, in the dry season, it is watered regularly to keep water for the tree.
“In the past, buying fertilizer for plants also costs a lot of money. Gradually, our people have learned to soak compost by making use of the corpses of lemon essential oil, burying them in the ground, and then turning them into a pot. back to fertilize the plants,” said Mr. Hoa.
According to Mr. Hoa, on average, each lemon tree has a lifespan of 20-35 years depending on care and weather. The tree is usually 1.5-2m tall. Trees with a lifespan of 30 years or more, lemon leaves are not green but often turn yellow, but the crop still produces stable fruit.
Mr. Pham Xuan Hung, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Nam Kim Commune (Nam Dan District, Nghe An), said that in the commune, there are 206 hectares of land for growing lemons. Their main income depends on this tree.
“Lemons grown in Nam Kim commune, at the foot of Thien Nhan mountain, have their own characteristics, different from other regions such as thin peel and fragrant aroma. In the past 2 years, lemon leaves have been sold on the market, so people’s lives have increased. flourishes.
Currently, the locality and people in the area are learning experiences and techniques to have a direction to adjust the lemon tree to grow and develop better, suitable for the climate as well as to find output for fruit and leaves to increase productivity. Pham Xuan Hung shared.
Photo: Internet (Vinlove.net)
