Local economy

Persian Limes: International Fruit with a Local Taste

Thanks to its fragrant, spicy aroma and tart flavour, the Citrus latifolia or Persian lime (Chanh Tuy Quy in Vietnamese) is being cultivated widely in Khoai Chau district in the northern province of Hung Yen, helping to build the local economy.
With an initial investment of 15 million dong (660 US dollars) in 2012 to import Persian lime seeds from Australia and the US, Nguyen Huu Ha from Khoai Chau district earned 30 million dong (1,220 US dollars) after one year.

Unlike local limes which take 15 months for a harvest of 10-20kg per tree in July and August only, Persian limes take only 3-5 months for a harvest (from February to June) and each Persian lime tree can generate 100kg of lime per year.

 

Farmers use ground soya bean powder as fertiliser to provide nutrition for the plants and help avoid some diseases.


Put ground up soya bean powder around the foot of the plants.


 Using an automatic watering system to care for bonsai lime trees.

 Besides the automatic watering system, farmers use the traditional watering method to care for bonsai Persian lime trees.


 Nguyen Huu Ha bends the tree to his desired position.

 A part of the Persian lime nursery owned by Nguyen Huu Ha in Tan Dan Commune, Khoai Chau, Hung Yen.


Part of the lemon farm owned by Nguyen Huu Ha in Hung Yen.



 The locals in Hung Yen develop their economy by cultivating bonsai Persian lime trees. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP

Farmers cover the trees with nets during summer.
Cultivating Persian lime trees provides jobs for old people.

In addition, the medium-sized, nearly thorn free tree in the Rutaceae (citrus family) that produces the most commonly sold limes, is of a hybrid origin, most likely from a cross between key limes and either lemons or citron.

However, it has various advantages over the key lime for the purposes of commercial agriculture.  The absence of seeds, hardiness, the absence of thorns on the bushes, and a longer fruit shelf life have combined to make it more widely cultivated.

According to Nguyen Huu Ha, Persian limes from Hung Yen province are now being sold at some large supermarkets in Hanoi at retail prices ranging from 50,000 – 60,000 dong per kilogramme.
 


 Persian limes are ready for harvest.
Each lime of the Australian variety is two times larger than the local fruit. The fruit can be processed into wine and juice. 


 Cultivating Persian lime trees provides jobs for old people who earn about 130,000 VND/day. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP
 Persian limes are sold for 50,000-60,000VND.

Nguyen Huu Ha now teaches Persian lime cultivation to farmers in some other districts in Hung Yen province and in other provinces such as Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Thai Binh and Quang Ninh. Farmers in Hung Yen are preparing to establish a co-operative in a bid to build and develop the trademark for Persian limes cultivated in the region.

Talking about support from local authorities for the establishment of the co-operative, deputy head of Khoai Chau’s agriculture department Nguyen Thanh Quyet said district authorities are actively helping the farmer to finalise the application process. In addition, they will organise co-operative management training courses for farmers.

Story: Ngan Ha - Photos: Cong Dat

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