The King of Tropical Fruits: A Thorny Exterior Hides a Fragrant Interior, Reaping $400,000 Annually for This Savvy Farmer.

Pineapple, a tropical fruit with a unique sweet and sour taste, is widely cultivated in various provinces for its high yield potential.

Beyond its popularity in daily meals, pineapple is also a favorite choice for refreshing beverages. Pineapple juice aids digestion, while its core possesses cooling and detoxifying properties, and its roots act as a diuretic.

Pineapple, dubbed the “king” of tropical fruits, thrives in Vietnam with numerous varieties, primarily cultivated for its delicious fruit and export purposes. As pineapple has a relatively weak root system, the soil must be well-drained, rich in humus, and packed with essential nutrients.

This fruit offers abundant yields and enjoys a stable market. Fresh pineapple is currently purchased by enterprises and cooperatives at an average price ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 VND per kg. In the pineapple fields, farmers sell their produce directly to the market at prices ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 VND per kg, or even higher. Recognizing its high economic value, many farmers have resolutely invested in expanding their pineapple cultivation areas to achieve financial success.

Bui Hoang Truong from Thanh Hoa province made the switch to pineapple farming several years ago. He boldly invested in this crop, recognizing its high yield potential, ease of consumption, and low capital requirements.

Truong successfully transitioned to pineapple cultivation

Truong’s first attempt at growing pineapples was a success, yielding profits of hundreds of millions of dong. Encouraged by this victory, he continued to invest in expanding his family’s pineapple cultivation area. Currently, his family cultivates pineapples on a 2-hectare plot, yielding over 50 tons of fruit annually.

According to Truong, the price of pineapple has reached as high as 14,000 VND per kg. At present, the fruit fetches prices ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 VND per kg, depending on the variety. As soon as the pineapples are harvested, traders are ready to buy them. With a pineapple price of 8,000 VND per kg, Truong earns more than 400 million VND per crop. After deducting production costs and labor expenses, his family profits by nearly 300 million VND per crop.

In Kien Giang province, Nguyen Van Minh owns one of the largest pineapple-growing cooperatives. He has successfully built wealth in his hometown, currently cultivating pineapples on a massive 67-hectare area, yielding approximately 1.4 million fruits annually.

Minh harvesting pineapples in his garden

Minh embarked on his pineapple farming journey in 2015 when the local authorities promoted the conversion of unproductive garden land, acidic soil, and ineffective rice and acacia plantations to pineapple cultivation. However, it was only from 2021 onwards that the output of pineapples stabilized, and their prices soared, resulting in consistent profits.

According to Minh, pineapple prices have remained high since 2022. The best quality pineapples (weighing 1 kg or more) are priced between 11,000 and 13,000 VND per fruit, while the recent harvest sold for 12,000 VND per fruit. The second-best quality pineapples (weighing less than 1 kg) are priced between 8,000 and 11,000 VND each.

On average, each hectare yields between 19,000 and 20,000 fruits, resulting in a profit of 120 to 140 million VND per hectare, or approximately 9 billion VND per year. For Minh, this profit is four times higher than what he earned from rice farming, validating the county’s wise decision to encourage the transition from rice to pineapple cultivation.

Meanwhile, Y Lap Eban from Dak Lak province has been growing pineapples for several years, but it was only recently that he achieved substantial income after embracing this crop.

Pineapple farming provides Y Lap’s family with a stable income

Previously, Y Lap’s family grew pineapples naturally, with the main harvest season falling between April and June every year. However, as their harvest overlapped with that of other local farmers, they often struggled to sell their produce, resulting in fruit spoilage, low prices, and exploitation by traders. There were even instances when no buyers were available.

For the past three years, the family has been applying techniques to induce fruiting during the off-season. For the area yielding the first crop, they induce uniform flowering, while for the second-year pineapples, they select healthy plants to manipulate for off-season fruiting, resulting in larger and more attractive fruits that command higher prices.

Currently, Y Lap’s family cultivates pineapples on a 2-hectare area, with traders purchasing directly from their home at prices ranging from 3,500 to 20,000 VND per fruit. After deducting expenses, their annual income is approximately 150 million VND per hectare.

Beyond generating wealth for his family, Y Lap’s pineapple fields provide employment opportunities for local residents. Workers engaged in pineapple harvesting earn 200,000 to 250,000 VND per day, while those carrying the fruit are paid even higher wages, depending on the location of the harvest area. Many farmers have also come to learn from Y Lap’s experience, aiming to improve their economic situation.