Since 2020, SUCCEEDS has been consistently training farmers in GGAP and climate-smart agriculture practices. Building on this experience, the project launched an improved hands-on training series for citrus growers in the Mekong Delta in early April, with sessions already underway in Tay Ninh and Vinh Long Provinces. The programme covers five practical modules delivered on-farm by SUCCEEDS staff.
The training is open to both existing TFR contract farmers and new growers joining the programme. Sessions take place in the field, working through the steps farmers actually face when establishing and managing a seedless lime orchard. The five modules cover lot establishment, planting and young tree management; crop nutrition and fertilisation; water and irrigation management; pest and disease management; and harvest and post-harvest handling.
The first module walked farmers through the full process of setting up a new orchard — site selection, soil improvement, planting techniques, irrigation setup, and early-stage tree management. Following modules will take farmers through nutrition and fertilisation, water management, pest and disease control, and harvest practices, building a complete picture of orchard management from the ground up.
The reaction from farmers was very positive. Duong Van Huong, who has been growing seedless lime on a 2-hectare farm in Tay Ninh for over 6 years, reflected on what the training added: “I am truly excited about this training session; it helps our fellow farmers better understand how to grow and care for crops, as well as how to apply fertilizer. I find that the techniques shared can improve the traditional methods we have been using all along, especially regarding soil improvement when preparing new plots, as well as the correct planting techniques. We have also discussed with each other how to dig holes, mix fertilizer, and how to set up stakes so that the trees grow straight.”
Further modules in the series are planned in the coming months.