The team specializes in going for crop treatment

In 2019, the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) built and developed the "Hospital for Fruit Trees" application to support gardeners in the Mekong Delta, Southeast, and Central Highlands regions. In the same year, the headquarters of the Hospital for Fruit Trees were also inaugurated and put into operation in Tien Giang province.

Every year, the Hospital for Fruit Trees organizes many activities of mobile fruit tree disease diagnosis to advise and guide gardeners on how to prevent pests, diseases, etc. and provide them with treatment regimens for infected crops. In 2022 alone, with 14 mobile medical examinations and treatment points organized, "crop doctors" have provided hundreds of free "prescriptions" to over 600 gardeners in Mekong Delta provinces.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Deputy Director of SOFRI, shared that "Since the establishment of the Hospital for Fruit Trees in 2019, every year thousands of people come to the branches to be consulted directly. In the future, the Hospital for Fruit Trees system will open more branches in the Southeast, Central Highlands, and Northern regions to better approach farmers."

Mr. To Van Dung, a farmer growing nearly 5 hectares of pineapples in Tan Lap 2 commune, Tan Phuoc district, Tien Giang province, has just brought a softly rotten fruit sample to the Hospital for Fruit Tree for advice from doctors. Through diagnosis, it was concluded that the pineapple fruit had rotten skin due to bacterial and fungal infections. The Hospital for Fruit Trees recommended that farming solutions include cleaning the fields and liming in association with destroying diseased fruits. Besides, for the solution of handling pesticides, fertilizers, and nutrients, it was recommended to use Aluming 800WG at a dose of 2 g/liter, sprayed twice, 5-7 days apart. Currently, the gardener is actively coordinating with doctors here to visit the fields regularly and monitor the progress of restoring the pineapple garden.

As for Mr. Tran Van Dung in Hamlet 2, Phu Nhuan Commune, Ben Tre city, Ben Tre province, he has also just received support from doctors at the Hospital for Fruit Tree in treating over 0.3 hectares of Ruby guava with severe symptoms of rotten, dry buds, and black-spotted fruits. Through diagnosis, the doctor concluded that the buds were stung by insects of the stink bug family, and then bacteria attacked, causing dryness and blackness. Regarding farming solutions, gardeners were recommended to cut off severely damaged branches and fruits, destroy them, and limit nitrogen fertilization. Regarding pesticide solutions, it was recommended to use Isacop 65.2 WG at a dose of 2 g/liter of water, Bach Ho at a dose of 1 g/liter of water, and Silimax at 2 ml/liter of water, sprayed again after 5 days.

In order to help people easily meet "crop doctors", on July 6, 2023, the Hospital for Fruit Trees was moved to the front of SOFRI’s consulting, introduction, and supply center booth. With this favorable location, farmers can exchange directly with doctors as well as receive correct disease detection and prescriptions to prevent diseases quickly, thereby bringing high productivity.

In addition to direct consultation and medical examination activities, the Hospital for Fruit Trees system has established a multi-channel farmer support platform. With the "Hospital for Fruit Trees" application on both iOS and Android operating systems, farmers will be supported in answering questions about harmful pests and diseases, warned of new pests and diseases, and provided with information about hospitals in the system and many other utilities. In addition, the hospital also receives and provides online consultations via phone or the website www.benhviencayanqua.vn.

The Hospital for Fruit Trees was built and developed by SOFRI in collaboration with Loc Troi Group. The team of "crop doctors" has advised and prescribed many useful "prescriptions" and helped farmers reap successful harvests and access more in-depth knowledge of pests and diseases that damage crops. Thereby, farmers have the right understanding, use the right medicine, and treat the right disease for crops.

In 2023, the mobile fruit tree disease diagnosis activity of the Hospital for Fruit Trees is organized sequentially in the Mekong Delta, Southeast, and Central Highlands provinces according to the following schedule: Dong Thap (July 18), An Giang (July 19), Hau Giang (August 8), Soc Trang (August 10), and Can Tho (August 8 and August 23), Dong Nai (November 14), Lam Dong (November 14), Binh Thuan (November 15), Binh Phuoc (November 16), and Dak Lak (November 22).