Spring cucumbers fetch good prices.

This spring, localities in the province planted 386 hectares of cucumbers, reaching 104.6% of the plan. Spring cucumbers are currently fetching good prices, increasing by more than 5-10% compared to the same period last spring, helping to increase the value and income per cultivated area.

This spring, cucumber cultivation has diversified significantly, ranging from baby cucumbers for export and medium-sized cucumbers to commercial cucumbers sold in markets. It has been found that the main cucumber production area in Chan Ly commune (Ly Nhan district) – primarily for export – covers over 70 hectares. The produce includes small baby cucumbers (4-6 cm) and medium-sized cucumbers (6-9 cm). Currently, the local cucumber crop for export is in its peak harvesting season, yielding 30-50 kg per sao (approximately 1000 square meters) daily. Most of the produce is sold by farmers through agents and directly to processing and export businesses in the area (including Huynh Tuan Private Enterprise and Quang Long Co., Ltd., Ha Nam ).

This spring, Ms. Vu Thi Tuyet's family in Hamlet 3 planted 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of medium-sized cucumbers for export. After more than 15 days of harvesting, she sold over 2 tons of produce. The average selling price since the beginning of the season has reached 8,500 VND/kg, about 5% higher than similar cucumbers in the previous spring season. According to Ms. Tuyet, the yield of spring cucumbers is quite stable at this time due to favorable weather. The product is supplied to a processing company in the commune, so the selling price remains high.

Area for cucumber production for export in Chan Ly commune (Ly Nhan district).

Similar to cucumber exports, the production of commercially grown cucumbers for markets in the spring season also yielded good results, with a significant increase in cultivated area, accounting for 40-50% of the total cucumber area for the entire season. Nhan Nghia commune (Ly Nhan district) had over 25 hectares of spring cucumbers, mainly commercial cucumbers, achieving an average yield of 2 tons per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), with a stable selling price of over 8,000 VND/kg (for the entire season). The commercial cucumber growing area in Le Ho ward (Kim Bang town) this spring, with 21 hectares, was largely harvested due to early planting. The average yield in Le Ho this season reached 1.5 tons per sao, similar to the previous spring season. The selling price was high, averaging 12,000 VND/kg for the entire season. Mr. Ta Quoc Toan, Director of Le Ho Agricultural Service Cooperative, said: This spring, due to early planting, the local cucumber crop received high prices while other localities had not yet harvested their cucumbers, with prices increasing by about 10% compared to previous seasons.

Practical experience shows that the selling price of cucumbers in this year's spring crop has brought significant income to growers. On average, one sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of cucumbers yields a value of 8-10 million VND, and after deducting costs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and trellis depreciation), the profit is 5-7 million VND. Areas that planted early and had high yields earned profits of 7-10 million VND per sao. Spring cucumbers are mainly grown on high-lying rice paddy land and converted rice seedling land, which is 3-4 times higher than rice cultivation on the same area. Households growing cucumbers on 8 sao to over 1 hectare this spring have earned 40-50 million VND or more. Regarding the assessment of this year's spring cucumber production, Mr. Nguyen Hai Nam, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Forestry Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment), said: The spring cucumber crop is maintaining a stable production area, forming concentrated areas in various localities. Farmers in the province all have experience and techniques in caring for and responding to weather conditions, so the cucumber plants are growing and developing well. Therefore, the yield and quality of the product are ensured to serve both export processing and the domestic market.

Spring cucumber cultivation typically accounts for over 50% of the rice paddy land converted to commercial crop cultivation. Currently, people in many localities are choosing cucumber cultivation as a primary direction for economic development. This year's spring cucumber crop fetched good prices, significantly contributing to localities maintaining and expanding production in subsequent seasons.

Manh Hung

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/dua-chuot-vu-xuan-duoc-gia-158240.html