[Reading level: C1 – Advanced]
Growing durian on heavily acidic soil in Tam Nong District, 39-year-old Nguyễn Thanh Tâm was often called a “crazy engineer,” yet he achieved success.
In 2009, Tam graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering specializing in aquatic animal diseases. After three years as a teaching assistant at Can Tho University, he shifted to business, initially investing in ornamental fish and fish hatcheries before working for aquaculture companies.
In early 2018, a close friend introduced Tam to the durian capital of Cai Lay in Tien Giang Province. Seeing how many farmers had prospered with durian farming, Tam decided to “start a venture” with this fruit on his family’s 1.2-hectare plot of acidic, infertile land.
“At the time, people ridiculed me for wanting to grow durian on a ‘dead field’ where even papayas wouldn’t bear fruit. They called me a crazy engineer,” Tam recounted.
Before mass planting, Tam took soil samples to Can Tho University for analysis. The results showed heavy acidity (pH below 4), high compaction, and nutrient deficiency. However, the soil’s high silicon content, an element found in clay, was promising—it could contribute to the durian pulp’s golden, creamy texture.
Applying his knowledge and experience, Tam was determined to transform the “dead field.” He began by using phosphate fertilizer, the phosphate rock which reacts with acidic soil and releases nutrients gradually, to neutralize the acidity.
“Powdered phosphate dissolves easily and washes away, which makes it costly, while phosphate rock is a better option as it’s absorbed slowly,” Tam explained. He noted that acidic soil causes roots to “curl” and become incapable of absorbing nutrients, while phosphate helps protect and stabilize the roots.
To enrich the soil, Tam used organic fertilizers to improve its texture, while promoting beneficial microorganisms, and developing soil aggregates (small soil particles or granules that have the ability to retain water and maintain soil structure). Over 3.5 years, the 1.2-hectare farm consumed 70 tons of homemade organic compost.
Tam Nong’s windy conditions posed challenges, as trees were prone to toppling. Tam avoided growth stimulants, allowing trees to grow naturally with the principle of keeping them “short, strong, and healthy.” The trees were “trained” to withstand wind without being tied or braced, increasing their resilience.
According to Tam, “Plants can’t speak, but they show signs. Excess nitrogen causes sap leakage; phosphorus deficiency turns leaves yellow. If overloaded with fruit, the growth of individual fruits slows down. Durian is difficult to grow—you have to understand its nature. It’s also a ‘luxury crop’ that needs constant feeding. Neglect leads to diseases, which are costlier to treat.”
After 3.5 years, each durian tree cost an average of 12 million VND to cultivate, amounting to 2 billion VND for the 1.2 hectares—higher than other areas due to soil rehabilitation expenses. However, after just four harvests, Tam recouped his investment, earning profits of 500 million to 1.5 billion VND annually, depending on market prices.
“Tam Nong’s acidic soil can grow durian, and the silicon content makes the pulp even tastier,” Tam said. He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and perseverance rather than abandoning crops due to fluctuating prices.
Not keeping his knowledge to himself, after successfully experimenting, Tam shared his insights with members of the Tram Chim Durian Club. He frequently emphasized the importance of understanding soil characteristics and the “feeding habits” of plants, cautioning against the overuse of chemical fertilizers, which are both ineffective and reduce the lifespan of trees. Currently, the club has more than 30 members, and Tâm has been trusted to serve as the deputy leader.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tau, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Office of Tam Nong District, stated that through the durian club, Tam has shared a wealth of knowledge about durian cultivation with the local residents.
By successfully experimenting with and implementing the model of growing durian on acidic soil, Tam has paved a new path for households with limited farmland. Currently, the district has over 100 hectares of durian cultivation. However, local authorities only encourage farmers to plant durian within triple-crop embankment areas, avoiding expansion into flood-prone zones.
“Tam has pioneered durian farming in the district, mastering techniques and utilizing organic fertilizers instead of chemical ones. His model has proven effective in terms of both yield and fruit quality,” Tau said.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/kiem-tien-ty-voi-mo-hinh-trong-sau-rieng-tren-dat-phen-4813515.html
WORD BANK:
durian /ˈdʊr.i.ən/ (n): sầu riêng
acidic soil /əˈsɪd.ɪk sɔɪl/ (n): đất phèn
specialize in sth /ˈspeʃ.ə.laɪz/ [B2] (v): chuyên về cái gì
aquatic /əˈkwɑː.t̬ɪk/ (adj): dưới nước, thuộc về thủy sản
shift to sth /ʃɪft/ [C1] (v): chuyển hướng sang việc gì
ornamental fish /ˌɔːr.nəˈmen.t̬əl fɪʃ/ (n): cá kiểng
fish hatchery / fɪʃ ˈhætʃ.ɚ.i/ (n): cá giống
aquaculture /ˈæk.wə.kʌl.tʃɚ/ (n): nuôi trồng thủy sản
prosper /ˈprɑː.spɚ/ (v): giàu lên
start a venture /ˈven.tʃɚ/ (v): khởi nghiệp
infertile /ɪnˈfɝː.t̬əl/ (adj): bạc màu
ridicule sb /ˈrɪd.ə.kjuːl/ (v): chế giễu ai đó
bear fruit (v): ra quả
recount /rɪˈkaʊnt/ (v): kể lại
compaction /kəmˈpæk.ʃən/ (n): độ nén
nutrient deficiency /ˈnuː.tri.ənt dɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/ (n): nghèo dinh dưỡng
element /ˈel.ə.mənt/ [B2] (n): thành phần
durian pulp’s /pʌlp/ (n): cơm sầu riêng
determined /dɪˈtɝː.mɪnd/ [B2] (adj): quyết tâm
phosphate fertilizer /ˈfɑːs.feɪt ˈfɝː.t̬əl.aɪ.zɚ/ (n): phân lân
neutralize /ˈnuː.trə.laɪz/ (v): làm trung hòa
dissolve /dɪˈzɑːlv/ [C2] (v): tan
wash away (v): rửa trôi
curl /kɝːl/ (v): xoăn lại, làm xoăn lại
texture /ˈteks.tʃɚ/ (n): kết cấu (đất)
soil aggregate /sɔɪl ˈæɡ.rə.ɡət/ (n): keo đất
granule /ˈɡræn.juːl/ (n): hạt nhỏ
organic compost /ɔːrˈɡæn.ɪk ˈkɑːm.poʊst/ (n): phân hữu
pose challenge to sb/sth /poʊz ˈtʃæl.ɪndʒ/ (v): đặt ra thách thức cho ai/cái gì
prone to sth /proʊn/ [C2] (adj): dễ bị làm sao
topple /ˈtɑː.pəl/ (n): ngã, đổ
stimulant /ˈstɪm.jə.lənt/ (n): chất kích thích
principle /ˈprɪn.sə.pəl/ [C1] (n): nguyên tắc
withstand sth /wɪðˈstænd/ [C2] (v): chống trọi cái gì
brace /breɪs/ (v): chằng chống
resilience /rɪˈzɪl.jəns/ [C2] (n): sức chống chịu
excess /ˈek.ses/ [C1] (adj): dư, thừa
sap /sæp/ (n): mủ, nhựa cây
leakage /ˈliː.kɪdʒ/ (n): rò rỉ
rehabilitation /ˌri·həˌbɪl·əˈteɪ·ʃən/ (n): cải tạo
recoup /rɪˈkuːp/ (v): lấy lại
perseverance /ˌpɝː.səˈvɪr.əns/ [C2] (n): sự kiên trì
abandon sth /əˈbæn.dən/ [B2] (v): bỏ cái gì
experiment /ɪkˈsper.ə.mənt/ (n, v): thử nghiệm
insights /ˈɪn.saɪts/ [C1] (n): kiến thức
caution against sth /ˈkɑː.ʃən/ (v): cảnh giác trước việc gì, không làm gì
lifespan /ˈlaɪf.spæn/ [C2] (n): tuổi thọ
deputy /ˈdep.jə.t̬i/ [C1] (n): phó
a wealth of sth (quant): nhiều cái gì
pave a new path for sth (v): mở ra hướng đi mới cho cái gì
triple-crop embankment area (n): vùng đê bao ba vụ
flood-prone (adj): có nguy cơ bị ngập lụt
pioneer /ˌpaɪəˈnɪr/ [C2] (v): đi đầu, tiên phong
master sth /ˈmæs.tɚ/ (v): thành thạo cái gì
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