Melon prices are good, Nghe An farmers are excited to harvest

Currently, farmers in Thuong Tan Loc commune (Nam Dan) are harvesting melons. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Growing 1 sao of melons, now entering the first harvest, Ms. Nguyen Thi Chanh in Hop Tan hamlet, Thuong Tan Loc commune (Nam Dan) is very excited when the melons are big, beautiful in appearance and are purchased by traders right in the field at a fairly high price.

Ms. Chanh said: “At the beginning of the season, the severe drought lasted for a long time, so the melon yield decreased, only 70% compared to the previous year. In return, the melons are large, have beautiful colors, and are sweet, so traders buy them at high prices. Accordingly, the price of grade 1 melons is 14,000-15,000 VND/kg; grade 2 is 8,000-10,000 VND/kg.”

According to Ms. Chanh's rough calculation, the investment cost for 1 sao of melon is only about 500,000 VND. After 2 months of care, the harvest will be made. On average, each sao of melon will yield about 800 kg - 1 ton of melon, bringing in an income of about 8-9 million VND. Compared to other crops, growing melons is much more economically efficient.

Melon yield is not as good as previous years but the appearance is beautiful. Photo: TP

As one of the households growing the most melons in Thuong Tan Loc commune, Mr. Bui Van The in Dai Thang hamlet has 2.5 hectares of melons. At the beginning of the season, the melon plots are being harvested. Growing melons for many years, introducing new varieties and ensuring proper irrigation and care techniques have resulted in high yields. On average, each hectare yields about 20-22 tons, bringing in revenue of about 200 million VND/ha.

“The most important thing in caring for melons is regulating the irrigation water. The investment cost for melons is not high but the care is high. Planting on a large area, I invest in drip irrigation, covering with plastic to limit weeds; monitoring the weather every day to have measures to care for and prevent pests for the melons. Every day I have to stay in the fields to water, pin vines, pinch tops, pollinate, and care for the melons…”, Mr. The shared.

The melon growing area in Nghi Long commune (Nghi Loc) is also entering the harvest season. Photo: TP

Currently, the entire Thuong Tan Loc commune grows about 50 hectares of melons, along with watermelons, which are the main crops, bringing high income on alluvial land. Due to the economic efficiency that melons bring, many areas of corn, peanuts, and pumpkins are gradually converted to growing melons. In addition to the white melon variety, many households are now growing yellow melons and super sweet melons with high yield, aroma, and deliciousness, which are favored by the market.

“Mellow melon helps farmers increase production value, improve income, improve living standards and is of great significance in transforming crop and season structure. Therefore, we always care about and encourage people to expand production area associated with actively applying scientific and technical advances, accumulating experience in caring for melons. At the same time, we open training courses on melon growing techniques for people…”, said Mr. Nguyen Van Long, an agricultural official of Thuong Tan Loc commune.

Melon is a key crop in many localities. Photo: TP

As a locality with a long tradition of growing melons, in addition to introducing new varieties for experimental planting, investing in irrigation systems, producing greenhouses, etc., people are interested in the issue of organic melon production.

Accordingly, when the melons are in the fruiting stage, instead of spraying pesticides, people catch worms at night; use garlic and chili preparations to spray; during the growing process, inorganic fertilizers are limited, organic fertilizers are increased, and fish-based nitrogen fertilizers are added, etc., so the melons are sweet and healthy, and are favored by consumers. Therefore, the selling price is also higher than other places.

Currently, the price of melon ranges from 8,000-15,000 VND/kg (depending on the type). Photo: TP

Mr. Tran Dung, a melon buyer in Nghi Long commune, said: “At the beginning of the season, the price of melons in Nghi Long commune fluctuates from 20,000 to 22,000 VND/kg, higher than melons in other regions. Traders like us have to place orders before the melons are ripe, and we have to buy all the melons as soon as they are harvested. The area of ​​melons in Nghi Long commune is about 10 hectares, concentrated in Kim Nghia hamlet. Melons bring high income to the people here.”

Up to now, the total area of ​​melons in the province is estimated at 600 hectares, planted in many localities, mainly in Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Nghia Dan, Nam Dan, Tan Ky districts... Melons are usually planted by people from the beginning of January, and are harvested after 2.5 months.

Each hectare of melon yields an income of 180-200 million VND/crop, and is chosen by many localities in converting crop structure. Photo: TP

This is a low-investment plant, easy to grow, easy to care for, with few pests and diseases, high yield and outstanding economic efficiency. Therefore, melons are chosen by localities to replace ineffective crop areas or fields lacking water.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/dua-le-duoc-gia-nong-dan-nghe-an-phan-khoi-thu-hoach-post289363.html