"Sunbathing" in the sedge barn

SGGPO 06/02/2023 16:43

The hotter the weather, the more we have to go to the fields, that is the job of growing sedge. Under the heat of 38-41 degrees Celsius, sedge farmers in Quang Phuc commune (Quang Xuong district, Thanh Hoa province) "brave the sun" to harvest.

Sedge field in Quang Phuc commune, Quang Xuong district, Thanh Hoa province

Sedge is planted in the second and third lunar months, and each batch of sedge can last up to 5 years. Each year, the peak harvest of sedge takes place from April to May to September to October. After being cut, the sedge is gathered into bundles, then shaken, and weeds, trash, and damaged fibers are picked out. Then it is split into small fibers, dried, and then shaken again. Drying is the most important step, because if it rains or there is a lack of sunlight, the sedge fibers will not reach maturity and their value will decrease. Therefore, the sunnier the weather, the more farmers have to go to the fields. Every day, 4 people work hard to harvest 1 sao of sedge.

Sedge is divided into 3 types, the type over 1.65m is used to weave type 1 mats or for export, the medium type 1.5m to 1.6m long is used to weave personal mats, the rest will be used to make handicraft products such as hats, baskets, handbags, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ninh (Ngoc Nhi village, Quang Phuc commune) shared that the sedge profession is as hard as the salt profession, the more sunny it is, the more you have to work in the fields. Because it is so hard, young people are not willing to do it anymore, only middle-aged and old people are trying to follow the profession. This year, the sedge output is not high and the price is low. If in previous years, the price of sedge was 1.4-1.5 million VND/quintal, this year it is only 1-1.2 million VND/quintal. The sedge export market, mainly to Russia and China, is facing difficulties.