Starting a business with organic cantaloupe

QTO - Amidst the less productive rice fields in Dinh residential area, Bac Gianh ward, the cantaloupe farm of Mr. Vo Van Thanh (born in 1990) stands out with its modern greenhouse system and organic production process. These days, Mr. Thanh is busy tending to his crops, preparing for the new harvest with high expectations for yield and stable market demand.

Mr. Vo Van Thanh and his cantaloupe crop ready for harvest - Photo: NM

After graduating with a master's degree from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry and working for a period at the Agriculture Department of Phong Dien District, Hue City, in 2016, Mr. Thanh decided to leave his job as a civil servant to start his own business. To prepare for this new journey, he went to Da Lat to learn and directly participate in a complete cantaloupe farming season.

Drawing on his academic and professional experience, he joined a company specializing in growing cantaloupe. In 2018, he and his wife decided to return to their hometown to start their first farm in Ba Don ward. In 2019, they invested in a new farm in Dinh residential area, Bac Gianh ward, covering a total area of ​​2,500 square meters.

To achieve their current success, the couple invested over 5 billion VND in converting rice paddies to melon cultivation and building a modern greenhouse system. He also experimented with various melon varieties from Taiwan and South Korea before finally deciding on the D325 variety from Japan. According to Mr. Thanh, this is a high-quality variety with a crisp texture and a subtly sweet taste, well-suited to the local soil and climate conditions.

After four years of diligent production, the couple's cantaloupe gradually gained the trust of consumers. Their greatest joy came when their Thanh Duc cantaloupe product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product in 2023. This motivates Mr. Thanh to continue pursuing organic production, improving product quality, and building a sustainable brand.

To date, the product is continuing to refine its process to be recognized as a 3-star OCOP product at the provincial level. Currently, Thanh Duc cantaloupe is available in the Co.opmart supermarket system after passing rigorous quality control procedures.

Farming in an area frequently affected by natural disasters, Mr. Thanh's farm was not immune to severe impacts. In particular, during the 2025 rainy season, the entire greenhouse system was damaged, forcing him to invest nearly 450 million VND to rebuild and repair it in order to restore production.

Despite the difficulties, he never thought about giving up. Mr. Thanh shared: “I am truly passionate about growing cantaloupe. To ‘make ends meet,’ and maximize the use of the greenhouse space, I grow cucumbers, vegetables, and some short-term crops to generate additional income and maintain production while waiting for the cantaloupe to harvest,” Mr. Thanh confided.

According to Mr. Thanh, if the weather is favorable, the cantaloupe crop yields three harvests per year. With an area of ​​2,500m², the yield per harvest reaches 6 tons. At the current price of 37,000-40,000 VND/kg, the revenue per harvest is over 230 million VND, and the total annual revenue is over 700 million VND.

After deducting expenses, the profit margin is approximately 50%. Although not ideal compared to the total investment, his model has created stable jobs for 6 local workers.

Besides the main product, cantaloupe, intercropped plants such as cucumbers also contribute to the income, helping the farm maintain stable operations. "I've been working with Mr. Thanh since the beginning. The work here suits me and provides a stable income, allowing me to take care of my family," shared Mr. Nguyen Phuong Nam, from Me Hoi residential area, Bac Gianh ward.

Regarding the melon farming model of Mr. Vo Van Thanh, Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Planning Department of Bac Gianh Ward, Tran Trung Lam said: “This production model is suitable for the orientation of developing high-tech agriculture, clean agriculture associated with the transformation of the local crop structure. Over the past time, the ward has always paid attention to and supported the model, especially in adhering to production processes, ensuring product quality, aiming for OCOP 3-star provincial recognition in the near future. At the same time, the locality also encourages the replication of effective production models, contributing to increasing value per unit area and creating jobs for local laborers.”

These days, the cantaloupes are starting to ripen to a golden yellow. Mr. Thanh has sent samples to Co.opmart supermarket for quality testing, as usual. With a production process that strictly adheres to regulations, Mr. Thanh is confident about the quality of his product and is diligently tending to it, ensuring the harvest yields the best possible productivity and quality for the market.

In the midst of previously abandoned, unproductive rice paddies, the ripe golden cantaloupes of today are not only the result of systematic investment, but also the "sweet fruit" of the young master's graduate's daring spirit, innovative approach, and passion for clean agriculture. Vo Van Thanh's entrepreneurial journey is opening a new direction for high-tech agricultural production in Bac Giang, contributing to increased value per unit area and creating more jobs for the local people.

Ngoc Mai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202605/khoi-nghiep-with-organic-coconut-1b1117e/