Cantaloupe grown in Na Boi

After graduating from Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry in 2022, young agricultural engineer Truong Thi Hoa decided to return to her hometown of Na Boi, Ma Lam town, Ham Thuan Bac district to start her own business growing cantaloupe in greenhouses.

Ms. Hoa shared that Na Boi has vast land, a reliable and high-quality irrigation water source; the weather throughout the year is sunny more than rainy, suitable for growing cantaloupe. In addition, the market for cantaloupe is favorable, ensuring profitability for growers; coupled with her technical knowledge and experience, she confidently chose greenhouse cantaloupe farming in her hometown to start her business. After more than a year of greenhouse cantaloupe production, harvesting four crops, the yield has been stable at 4-5 tons per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), resulting in a profit of about 20 million VND per sao after deducting expenses. With 4 sao of greenhouse cantaloupe, Ms. Hoa's family earns a total profit of 240 million VND over 3 crops per year.

The melon variety that Ms. Hoa planted is Taiwanese cantaloupe; the growing period is 75 days; on average, Ms. Hoa plants about 3,350 melon plants per 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters); the survival rate for harvest is about 99%. Each melon plant is grown in a separate growing medium. The growing medium is made of white sand mixed with rice husks. It is used only once, then replaced with new medium. The reason for using a growing medium instead of planting melons directly in the ground is to treat pathogens and impurities present in the soil; this facilitates the application of fertilization and intensive melon cultivation through a drip irrigation system - Ms. Hoa further shared.

The advantages of growing cantaloupe in greenhouses include minimizing insect and disease infestation, as well as overcoming unfavorable weather conditions. In addition, the drip irrigation system ensures a balanced water supply, promoting healthy plant growth; it also precisely delivers nutrients to each plant at its stage of development; and growers can easily monitor soil moisture and the growth and development of the cantaloupe plants daily.

Mr. Pham Van Nhon, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ma Lam town, said that recently, the Farmers' Association of the town, in coordination with Ms. Hoa, organized visits and study tours for its members to learn from successful experiences. Through these activities, they have promoted and encouraged members to expand and develop greenhouse-grown cantaloupe cultivation in the town. At the same time, the Association will coordinate with relevant agencies to organize technical training so that farmers can confidently apply the knowledge to practice.

Growing cantaloupe in greenhouses is one of the models for developing high-tech agriculture. Ms. Hoa's production of 4 acres of cantaloupe in greenhouses brings stable economic benefits; it not only provides a decent income for her family but also opens up a new direction in agricultural production in Ma Lam town, Ham Thuan Bac district.

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