Mica Star Apple Takes Root in My Tinh An Soil

(DTO) In recent years, along with the restructuring of crop patterns, many farmers in My Tinh An Commune (Đồng Tháp Province) have boldly introduced the Mica star apple variety into cultivation.

In practice, this variety has proven to be well adapted to local soil conditions and to deliver fairly strong economic returns, opening up a new direction for orchard owners.

Beyond shifting away from less efficient crops, farmers in Mỹ Tịnh An have gradually changed their production mindset toward greater flexibility, diversifying crops on the same area of land. Experiences from pioneering households show that Mica star apple has not only “taken root” in this area but has also helped farmers stabilize income and reduce dependence on market price fluctuations.

MICA STAR APPLE YIELDS “SWEET FRUIT”

The family of Mr. Nguyen Phuong Vu (My Tho Hamlet, My Tinh An Commune) was among the first to introduce the Mica star apple variety to the locality.

Previously, Mr. Vu’s entire 0.3-hectare (3 cong) garden was dedicated to dragon fruit. However, for several consecutive years, dragon fruit prices plunged deeply with unstable demand, causing financial difficulties for his family. "I realized that sticking to a single crop with unstable prices was too risky, so I had to find a new direction," Mr. Vu shared.

He actively researched new crop varieties through newspapers, radio, and digital platforms, eventually discovering the Mica star apple—originally from the former Ben Tre Province—through an acquaintance's recommendation.

Through research, Mr. Vu learned that Mica star apple has many advantages over traditional varieties: large fruit size, an attractive glossy purple color when ripe, firm flesh with a mild sweetness, and notably, almost no latex when ripe—making it possible to eat the peel. After tasting the fruit himself, he was fully convinced of its quality. 

In 2022, Mr. Vu decided to convert all 3 cong of his garden to Mica star apple cultivation.  

By mastering growth characteristics and applying proper farming techniques, the orchard developed well and began bearing fruit after about two years.

In the first harvest season, as efforts focused on nurturing the trees, output was modest—around one ton of fruit—sold at an average price of VND 60,000 per kilogram. Even so, this was a positive signal compared to many other crops.

Currently, the family’s more-than-three-year-old orchard is entering its second harvest season, with prices rising to around VND 70,000 per kilogram, bringing great encouragement to the grower.

According to Mr. Vu, the cost of caring for Mica star apple trees is relatively low. With 3 cong of land, annual care expenses amount to about VND 10 million. 

Once trees reach maturity at five years or older, each tree can yield 200–300 fruits, each weighing 300–500 grams, ensuring stable economic returns.

In addition to productivity, Mr. Vu pays close attention to product quality. He noted that to ensure healthy growth and high-quality fruit, growers should maintain a spacing of 6–8 meters per tree and prioritize the use of organic fertilizers to enhance fruit quality and ensure food safety.

Regular pruning to improve ventilation and light exposure helps reduce pests and diseases, while also giving the fruit a brighter, more attractive color.

One important point Mr. Vu emphasized is that Mica star apple is prone to fruit cracking during the late growth stage near harvest.
Therefore, growers must closely control irrigation and water levels in orchard canals. 

Bagging fruit with specialized fabric bags also helps improve development, preserve characteristic color, and limit pest damage.
From flowering to harvest takes about five months, with the harvest season lasting four to five months. 

In addition to selling to traders through traditional channels, Mr. Vũ’s family actively promotes and sells products via social media platforms.

DIVERSIFYING CROPS TO REDUCE MARKET DEPENDENCE

Beyond crop conversion, many farmers in My Tinh An Commune have proactively diversified production to adapt to volatile agricultural markets.

Mr. Tran Thanh Son (Song Thanh Hamlet) is a typical example of this approach. 

On 1.5-hectare (15 Cong) of orchard land, he does not focus on a single crop. According to him, to ensure income and reduce risks, crop arrangement must be well balanced.

He has retained 5 cong of long-established dragon fruit to maintain stable income, while allocating the remaining area to five cong of Malayan coconut and 5 cong of Mica star apple.

To date, both the coconut and star apple orchards have been over three years old and producing for more than a year. 

By diversifying crops on the same land area, Mr. Son can flexibly rotate income sources and reduce reliance on the price of any single agricultural product.

Notably, this year marks the second harvest season for his Mica star apple orchard, with stable prices that are trending upward compared to the 2024–2025 crop year, promising solid economic returns.

“In a market full of fluctuations, crop diversification not only helps stabilize income but also allows farmers to accumulate experience and gradually move toward more sustainable production,” Mr. Son shared.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Hong Diem, Chairwoman of the Farmers’ Association of My Tinh An Commune, the commune currently has about two hectares planted with Mica star apple, with cultivation periods ranging from three to four years.

Practical results show that this variety has many advantages in quality and yield, with relatively stable prices; the trees grow vigorously and adapt well to local soil conditions.

In the coming time, the Farmers’ Association plans to encourage farmers to cultivate Mica star apple in an organic-oriented manner, while facilitating the formation of cooperative groups and linkages to share experience, attract traders, and expand market access. 

This is seen as an appropriate direction to enhance agricultural value and promote sustainable orchard-based economic development in the locality.

By HUU THONG
Translated by X.QUANG