Abstract
The present study examined the growth performance of a new cash crop in Central Vietnam to improve livelihoods. As a new cash crop, Vanilla planifolia was first Cultivated in Thua Thien Hue province in 2006 with the participation of Hong Ha farmers. In the study, farm trials were conducted in four villages belonging to the commune with about 59 host trees planted in 2007 and 164 host trees up to 2013. Between 2007 and 2013, vanilla was found to be a suitable cash crop, allowing farmers to use their land effectively, to diversify their gardens, and to develop a new source of income. Vanilla plants grew quickly on appropriate host trees in humus soil with compost fertilization and sufficient shading. Vine length and the number of leaves increased to an average of 4.71 m and about 75 leaves, respectively. Vanilla plantsbore flowers every year, as farmers took careof them well, in addition to controlling the shading level and managing the garden canopy in the beginning of January. The farmers’ pollination skill should be improved to increase the probability of fruiting. The fruiting rate was 33.1%, the longest fruit was 16.4 cm, and the widest showed a diameter of 1.3 cm. Mature fruits were picked and processed, and were classified using a private standard for Thua Thien Hue province devised by researchers. This activity allowed farmers to create new cultivation techniques for their gardens and increase their confidence in developing vanilla products.
