Keo Mango Takes Root in the Borderland

When visiting the border region of Vinh Xuong commune, Tan Chau town, An Giang, it is easy to see that the fertile land here, enriched by the silt from the Mekong River, is well-suited for agriculture. However, achieving high economic returns from farming has been a challenge for the local residents. In recent years, though, the lives of many households in Vinh Xuong commune have been revitalized by the Keo mango variety.

The 1.5-hectare mango orchard belonging to Mr. Nguyen Van Ut has been granted a planting area code for export purposes. The nearly four-year-old orchard consists of trees that are only 3-4 meters tall, with narrow canopies but abundant fruit. According to Mr. Ut, this mango variety is grown from seeds and begins bearing fruit after about 16-18 months. During the rainy season, it requires only minimal fertilizer, and in the dry season, it needs to be watered every two days, yielding two harvests per year. From his 1.5 hectares, Mr. Ut’s family harvests between 80-90 tons of fruit annually, with selling prices ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 VND per kilogram. If the mangoes are packaged for fresh export to companies, the price increases, with grade 1 mangoes (weighing 300 grams each) selling for 18,000 to 20,000 VND per kilogram. The quality of the mangoes is quite good, especially due to their high sugar content, making them popular. “Locals here call Keo mango the ‘poverty reduction tree’ because it is very easy to grow and care for, requires little investment, and yet yields consistently. Although the income is not as high as with some other fruit trees, given the local soil and climate conditions, Keo mango is a suitable crop.”

The image of Keo mango

Currently, the cooperative led by Mr. Nguyen Van Ut has expanded to about 25 hectares and has been granted a planting area code by the Plant Protection Department for export purposes. The Keo mangoes from Vinh Xuong commune are now being exported to markets such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia….