Effective model of bringing crops to the rice fields

After harvesting the winter-spring rice crop, instead of plowing the land to continue sowing the new rice crop, many farmers in Thanh Phu commune (My Xuyen district) chose to develop a production model of bringing color to the rice fields. According to Mr. Huynh Ut, Rach Sen hamlet, Thanh Phu commune, planting rice after Tet is very risky because of the possibility of saltwater intrusion, leading to a lack of irrigation water. Therefore, he chose to grow 5 hectares of watermelon because the watermelon is easy to care for, has a short harvest time and especially does not need too much fresh water for irrigation. Thanks to experience and careful care, Mr. Ut's watermelon field has grown very well. Mr. Ut said: "Currently, traders buy at a price of 6,000 VND/kg for grade 1 watermelon. After harvesting more than 25 tons of watermelon, I sold it for more than 90 million VND, earning a profit of more than 60 million VND after just over 2 months."

Farmers in Thanh Phu commune, My Xuyen district ( Soc Trang ) are excited when watermelons have a good harvest and good prices thanks to the production model of bringing crops to the fields. Photo: HOANG LAN

Sharing the same opinion with Mr. Huynh Ut, Mr. To Thanh Thuong, Rach Sen hamlet, said that growing rice in the dry season is a concern due to the existing saline intrusion; at the same time, functional sectors and local authorities have advised and encouraged farmers not to grow the third rice crop but to choose to grow suitable crops. Therefore, in recent years, every year Mr. To Thanh Thuong has chosen to grow watermelon. "Watermelon grown in the dry season will be sweeter and if well cared for, the yield will be quite high. With 4 hectares of watermelon, after 2 months of care, my family harvested more than 20 tons, the profit is higher than the initial estimate and much higher than growing rice", Mr. To Thanh Thuong happily said.

According to Mr. Truong Van Tung - Chairman of Thanh Phu Commune People's Committee, every year in the dry season, the amount of fresh water in irrigation canals decreases significantly, even being inundated with saltwater, not meeting the demand for rice production, so the locality encourages farmers to switch to short-term crops. Currently, the whole commune has 110 hectares of vegetable crops, the main crop of which is watermelon. Compared to previous years, this year watermelon has a good price, so people have an additional source of income from growing vegetables after the winter-spring rice crop. To have enough water for irrigation of vegetable crops, Thanh Phu commune has recently focused on dredging irrigation canals in the commune so that people can rest assured and not worry about the lack of fresh water for production.

Leaders of Thanh Quoi district and commune visited the okra growing model in Ngon hamlet, Thanh Quoi commune, My Xuyen district (Soc Trang). Photo: HOANG LAN

Many farmers in Thanh Quoi commune (My Xuyen district) choose to develop a model of bringing color to the fields after the winter-spring rice crop. According to Mr. Thach Thuong, Ngon hamlet, Thanh Quoi commune, this year he chose to grow okra although the profit is not as high as growing watermelon, but the investment cost is low, the care is light and the harvest lasts for 3 months. Mr. Thuong said that he currently harvests more than ten kilograms of okra every day with a selling price of 8,000 VND/kg, thanks to which his family also has some income before entering the new rice crop.

“Implementing the conversion of crop and livestock structures to suit the dry season, this year farmers in Thanh Quoi commune focus on growing short-term crops such as watermelon, okra, squash, pumpkin, etc. Compared to previous years, the prices of watermelon, vegetables, tubers and fruits this year are stable, so farmers have more profits,” informed Mr. Lam Hal - Chairman of Thanh Quoi Commune People's Committee.

According to the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of My Xuyen district, the model of bringing crops to the rice fields has been implemented by the locality for many years. Every year, to ensure water sources for irrigation of farmers' crops, the locality dredges irrigation canals to store fresh water so that people can feel secure in production. Up to now, the entire My Xuyen district has brought crops to the rice fields with an area of ​​about 150 hectares, mainly growing watermelon, cucumber, squash, pumpkin, okra, etc. Growing crops has helped many farmers have a stable source of income in the dry season, while helping the locality effectively implement the conversion of crop and livestock structures to suit and adapt to climate change, especially drought and saltwater intrusion in the dry season.

HOANG LAN

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/nong-nghiep/202504/hieu-qua-mo-hinh-dua-cay-mau-xuong-chan-ruong-c80469b/