Ham Ninh watermelon

QTO - These days, in the watermelon fields of Ham Hoa village, people are busy harvesting watermelons. According to many locals, this year's watermelon crop is very favorable. Not only is the harvest abundant, but the price is also higher than in previous years.

Clean organic farming

The sandy soil of Ham Hoa village, Quang Ninh commune, has long been known as one of the famous watermelon-growing regions, renowned for its Ham Ninh watermelon brand. Thanks to the unique soil conditions and the long-standing farming experience of the local people, the watermelons ripen to a vibrant red color and have a sweeter, more refreshing taste compared to those from other places.

To improve economic efficiency and meet consumer demand for clean agricultural products, in recent years, people in Ham Ninh village have been adhering to organic watermelon farming practices.

Ham Ninh watermelons are organically grown and are popular in the market - Photo: DN

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung from Ham Hoa village said: "In recent years, following the guidance of the cooperative and local authorities, we have been cultivating watermelons organically, prioritizing the use of organic microbial fertilizers and minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers to ensure quality. In addition, we have also adopted the technique of covering the rows with plastic sheeting to retain moisture and reduce weeds and pests. As a result, the watermelon plants grow better and are significantly less susceptible to pests and diseases."

Not far from Mr. Hung's watermelon field is the 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of watermelon fields belonging to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoan's family, which are currently being harvested.

Sharing her experience on the effectiveness of organic watermelon farming, Ms. Hoan said: “When growing watermelons organically, my family prioritizes the use of organic microbial fertilizers. The use of inorganic fertilizers must strictly adhere to the growth process to avoid affecting the quality of the fruit after harvest. Organically grown watermelons not only benefit the soil but also result in healthier plants. The harvested watermelons are also tastier.”

Although Ham Ninh watermelons are expensive, customers still prefer to choose them - Photo: DN

You may also like

Bringing social security to the digital environment.QTO - From being unfamiliar with using smartphones, the people of Tan My commune have now proactively received subsidies through bank accounts, integrated information on VNeID, and used electronic health records, demonstrating digital transformation in the field of social security. This result has been achieved thanks to the synchronized efforts of the local government, community digital technology groups, and youth union members in the area.

This morning, the 13th National Congress of the Youth Union held its solemn session.The new Central Executive Committee of the Youth Union will be introduced at the solemn session. Notably, according to the program, General Secretary and President To Lam will deliver an important keynote speech at the solemn session.

Towards a digital management modelQTO - After administrative reorganization, Nam Dong Ha ward has a natural area of ​​over 35.04 km2 and a population of over 61,204 people. With 86 subordinate Party organizations and more than 4,580 Party members, it is one of the largest grassroots Party committees in the province. The large area and high number of Party members place increasingly high demands on leadership. In this context, the ward's Party committee has identified digital transformation as a key task to enhance leadership capacity, innovate management methods, and improve the quality of Party branch activities. With the spirit of "leading the way," the ward's Party committee is gradually building a model of "digital Party organization" and "digital administration" at the grassroots level.

According to Nguyen Hai Bang, Director of Ham Hoa Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative, in order to develop Ham Ninh watermelons to meet OCOP standards, in 2022, the cooperative and local authorities encouraged farmers to prioritize organic watermelon cultivation.

To date, after nearly 5 years of application, this farming method has not only brought high economic efficiency but also gradually changed melon production practices towards sustainability. Farmers have followed the guidelines, used organic fertilizers, applied environmentally friendly pest and disease control measures, and adhered to the quarantine period for permitted agricultural inputs.

A good harvest, good prices.

Compared to previous years, Ham Ninh watermelons are planted later this year. According to local experience, watermelons are usually planted starting in the second lunar month. This is the ideal time to take advantage of favorable weather conditions to help the watermelons grow well. However, in recent years, due to unpredictable weather patterns, people have decided to plant later.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Bang, Director of Ham Hoa Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, said: "This year's melon crop benefited from favorable weather conditions. From planting to flowering and fruiting, there were no extreme storms, resulting in good growth and consistent fruit production. In particular, thanks to the application of clean organic farming methods, the melons were less susceptible to pests and diseases, requiring less care from farmers compared to previous years. The average yield reached 20 tons per hectare. Not only was it a bumper crop, but Ham Ninh melons also fetched higher prices this year compared to previous years."

Local authorities are finalizing the dossier for the re-evaluation and re-certification of Ham Ninh watermelon as an OCOP product - Photo: D.N.

Currently, Ham Ninh watermelons have established a strong brand reputation among many customers in the province. Even though Ham Ninh watermelons are twice as expensive as other watermelons on the market, many people are still willing to go directly to the farms to buy them.

Busy harvesting melons to sell to traders, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan happily shared: "This year's melons are uniform in size, large, firm, and have a sweet, refreshing taste. The selling price at the farm is 13-15 thousand dong/kg, depending on the variety. Compared to last year, this price is double. Despite the high price, traders and customers still come to buy them directly from the farm. There are still not enough melons to harvest and sell."

You may also like

Opportunities for cooperatives to break through.Quang Tri province boasts diverse agricultural resources with key OCOP (One Commune One Product) product groups such as organic rice, pepper, honey, coffee, clean mushrooms, turmeric starch, and processed agricultural products. This is a significant advantage that helps cooperatives access the Halal market for their products. With proper investment, Halal will be an opportunity for Quang Tri cooperatives to break through and develop.

Examples of innovative farmersQTO - Nearly 40 years of reform, many farmers have contributed to changing the face of their homeland with new thinking and a spirit of daring to think and act. From many rural areas of Quang Tri, exemplary farmers are showing the image of farmers in the reform era: dynamic, creative, and bold in seeking new directions in agricultural production.

Confirming the quality of Gio My rice.QTO - Gio My delicious rice is an organic rice brand of Gio Linh Organic Agricultural Cooperative. With a safe farming process and rice growing well on the unique soil of Central Vietnam, Gio My delicious rice produces soft, chewy, and naturally fragrant grains, and is gradually establishing its quality in the market.

Buying watermelons directly from the farmers' fields, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuong, a customer, shared: "Ham Ninh watermelons are more expensive than other types on the market, but I still choose them because of their delicious quality, natural sweetness, and especially because I feel reassured about their safety for health. Every year I come to buy them directly from the fields for my family to enjoy."

Mr. Ha Xuan Hung, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Quang Ninh commune, said: Ham Ninh watermelons have long established a brand reputation for being delicious and clean among consumers. Therefore, the locality has chosen this product to develop for OCOP certification. In 2023, Ham Ninh watermelons were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. However, after 36 months of recognition, the certification period has expired. Currently, the locality is completing the procedures to re-evaluate and re-certify Ham Ninh watermelons for OCOP certification.

D. Nguyet

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202606/dua-hau-ham-ninh-fe14a2f/