In the two modern greenhouses, totaling 1,500 square meters, belonging to Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dien in My An 2 hamlet, the Kim Long cantaloupes are ripening, sporting a golden rind, signaling the arrival of the "golden season." Mr. Dien is one of the pioneering farmers who invested in high-tech cantaloupe farming models and has achieved great success. As he guided us through his melon garden, a radiant smile always graced his face.
Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dien tends to his cantaloupe garden. Photo: Phuong Lan
While quickly checking the ripeness of the melons, Mr. Dien confided: “This year I planted about 3,500 melon plants. This job is as hard as ‘taking care of a newborn baby,’ because you have to monitor the weather, pests and diseases, and ensure the plants bear fruit on time. From sowing the seeds and germinating them to harvesting, it takes exactly 90 days. This year's Tet season has been marked by erratic rain and sunshine, so the plants are susceptible to sap disease and wilting. However, thanks to the experience I've accumulated since 2018, I've closely monitored each stage of the plants' development, and everything is still under control.”
According to Mr. Dien, growing cantaloupe requires a significant initial investment. The two greenhouses alone cost approximately 200 million VND for the frame and drip irrigation system. However, the return is well worth it. While traditional vegetables mainly rely on labor for profit, cantaloupe provides a more substantial and stable income. Mr. Dien's family plans to harvest their cantaloupe crop between the 20th and 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, ensuring a sufficient supply for the Tet (Lunar New Year) market. With an estimated yield of 5 tons, he says the market demand for this type of melon is quite stable. Even before the melons are ripe, many traders have already proactively scheduled purchases.
Mr. Dien calculated: “The current price of seeds is about 3,000 VND/seed, and the cost of fertilizer, electricity, and water for each crop is around 35-40 million VND. Currently, traders buy in bulk at the farm for between 35,000 and 40,000 VND/kg. Besides selling to traders, I also reserve about 20% of the yield for retail sale at the market, where the price can reach 55,000-70,000 VND/kg, depending on the type. Overall, the price of melons is quite stable.”
Sharing more about his production experience, Mr. Dien said that he cultivates four melon crops per year. After each harvest, he only rests for about 10 days to clean the greenhouse and prepare the growing medium before starting a new crop. The diligence and hard work of this farmer in his 30s have brought him an enviable income. During the Tet (Lunar New Year) season alone, after deducting expenses, his family can earn a profit of 70-80 million VND.
Mr. Dang Van Phuoc, head of the My An 2 hamlet Farmers' Association, said that the hamlet has over 100 hectares of fruit trees, including cantaloupe, guava, apple, durian, and ornamental flowers for Tet (Lunar New Year). “Dien's model of growing Kim Long cantaloupe in greenhouses is a prime example of his keenness in adopting new techniques. The Farmers' Association always encourages farmers to switch crops and apply technology to increase the value of their produce on the same cultivated area,” Mr. Phuoc shared.
Besides his melon garden, Mr. Dien also took the opportunity to plant about 250 rows of chrysanthemums to supply the Tet market. The yellow of the flowers and the glossy color of the melons added to the beauty of the new rural landscape of the island commune. "I just hope that from now until Tet, the weather will be favorable so that everyone can have a prosperous New Year," Mr. Dien said with a gentle smile.
Leaving My Hoa Hung as the afternoon sun faded, I still vividly remember the rich yellow of the melon garden. That color is not only the beauty of the produce, but also the embodiment of the hope and faith of the hardworking farmers, beautifying the increasingly prosperous appearance of our homeland.
| Mr. Dien also noted that, to grow high-yield and high-quality cantaloupe, the seed source must be of guaranteed quality; the soil must be clean, loose, and evenly mixed with organic microbial fertilizer. A drip irrigation system needs to be routed to each plant's roots. When the plants flower, along with removing leaves and pinching off shoots, growers must manually pollinate; each plant should only be left with one fruit to concentrate nutrients on nourishing that fruit. |
PHUONG LAN
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/dua-vang-tren-dat-cu-lao-a476522.html
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