“Queen of nuts” delivers a bumper harvest in Lam Dong

Thriving in Harsh Conditions

In late April 2026, prolonged dry conditions have affected coffee-growing areas in western Lam Dong, leaving many crops wilted due to water shortages. In contrast, macadamia orchards remain lush and productive, demonstrating remarkable resilience.

One example is the farm of Huynh Ngoc Dung in Truong Xuan Commune. Amid 4 hectares of coffee trees showing signs of drought stress, his 1,000 macadamia trees stand tall and green. As the harvest season begins, Dung faces neither the usual pressure of peak farming nor concerns about market demand.

Dung was among the first farmers in the commune to plant macadamia after attending training sessions organized by the Farmers’ Association.

“After attending workshops, I became fascinated with this crop. I wanted to understand why macadamia is called the ‘queen of nuts,’” he said.

Planted in late 2019, his orchard is now entering its second harvest. “Last year’s initial harvest brought nearly VND50 million. This year, revenue could triple. Fresh nuts are selling at around VND35,000 per kilogram—higher than expected. The nuts are rich, buttery, and highly nutritious,” Dung added.

He noted that macadamia is relatively easy to cultivate. When intercropped with coffee, it shares irrigation and fertilization systems. However, optimal growth requires a cool climate between 10°C and 30°C, particularly during flowering and fruit-setting stages.

Local Farmers’ Association leaders confirmed that macadamia is increasingly favored as a long-term economic crop. Compared to pepper or coffee, it requires less input in fertilizers and pesticides, while showing strong drought tolerance. Truong Xuan currently has about 20 hectares under macadamia cultivation, with plans for expansion.

A Stable Source of Income

Moving along Provincial Road 686 to the border commune of Quang Truc—one of the earliest macadamia-growing areas in western Lam Dong—many ethnic minority households are celebrating both high yields and favorable prices.

Thi No, an M’nong ethnic farmer in Bu P’rang 1 Hamlet, began planting macadamia in 2012 with support from border guards and local authorities. Her intercropped orchard now covers nearly 4 hectares.

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“Macadamia is much easier to grow than coffee. Every year, my family earns hundreds of millions of dong. We now have savings and can support our children’s education,” she said.

Thi No in Bu P’rang 1 Hamlet

Across the region, macadamia cultivation is helping transform rural livelihoods by improving housing conditions and raising incomes among ethnic minority communities.

A Multi-Value Crop

In Bu Gia Hamlet, village head Dieu S’Rao earns about VND200 million annually from his 2-hectare macadamia farm. His success has encouraged over 100 M’nong households to switch from aging coffee and cashew plantations to macadamia, forming a concentrated cultivation area of around 150 hectares.

According to Dang Van Cuong, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Quang Truc Commune, macadamia has been cultivated locally for about 15 years. Initially introduced as a pilot crop, it has since expanded to more than 1,350 hectares, making Quang Truc one of the largest macadamia-growing areas in the region.

Several cooperatives and private enterprises have partnered with hundreds of households to develop value chains. Macadamia products here have been certified under OCOP and VietGAP standards, as well as recognized as outstanding rural industrial products.

Le Quang Dan, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that beyond economic benefits, macadamia contributes to increasing forest coverage, protecting soil resources, and mitigating climate change impacts.

Strong Growth Potential

Lam Dong’s western region aims to expand macadamia cultivation to 10,000 hectares by 2030. Currently, the area has reached about 6,000 hectares, leaving significant room for growth.

Authorities are focusing on zoning suitable cultivation areas, improving seed quality management, and strengthening market linkages. Efforts are also underway to promote the newly certified collective trademark “Lam Dong Macadamia,” issued by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam.

With estimated yields of up to 3 tons per hectare and market prices ranging from VND90–100 million per ton of raw nuts, macadamia is widely seen as a viable pathway toward sustainable prosperity.

The “queen of nuts” is no longer just a promising crop—it is fast becoming a cornerstone of rural economic transformation in Lam Dong.