The Factors Affecting Orchard Fruit Farming in Hau Giang Province, Vietnam

Background: Currently, the production and consumption of fruit products in Hau Giang Province face numerous challenges. These include low-lying soil and the use of disease-infected cultivars. Moreover, farmers in the region rarely utilize organic fertilizers or implement soil improvement techniques, resulting in a gradual decline in soil fertility. Additionally, orchard fruit farmers’ investment and care practices are primarily based on traditional methods and customs rather than following recommended technical processes. As a result, this study aims to examine the factors that can impact the farming activities of orchard fruits in Hau Giang Province, Vietnam. Methods: Using stratification and random sampling, the study was conducted in four districts and one city in Hau Giang from January 2020 to March 2022. The survey included 150 orchards, with five different fruit varieties represented in the four districts and the city. Each area had a sub-sample of 30 orchards, including Sanh orange, Xoan orange, sugar mandarin, green peel pomelo and Cat Hoa Loc mango. Data was collected through direct interviews with farmers using prepared questionnaires. The data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. Result: The management labor, farming experience, fruit yield and product selling price can predict statistically significant income. In the farmer’s opinion, product consumption was an important issue that farmers considered. With the desire to find a stable market for orchard fruit products, farmers want to change their trees. One crucial issue that requires attention is the structuring of orchard fruit production with connections between farmers and enterprises to stabilize the income in fruit farming.