Making a fortune from high-tech agriculture.

Many years ago, Mr. Cuong's family, like other households in Ea Rieng, mainly grew coffee, pepper, and other short-term crops. However, increasingly extreme weather conditions caused continuous difficulties in production. Not wanting to remain dependent on the "luck" of the weather, he began to look for a new direction.

Mr. Le Tat Cuong's joy at a bountiful harvest.

In 2022, Mr. Cuong boldly invested nearly 1 billion VND to build a closed greenhouse system covering an area of approximately 3,600 m² to grow cantaloupe. Inside the greenhouse, an automatic drip irrigation system operates regularly, providing water and nutrients directly to each plant. The melons are grown on a coconut fiber substrate, which helps limit disease and create a clean environment for plant growth. Insect-proof netting and a closed production process significantly reduce pests and diseases, minimizing the use of pesticides.

During cultivation, Mr. Cuong regularly prunes the tips of the vines, trims branches, and selects flowers for pollination to ensure uniform fruit development. When the fruits grow large, each melon is hung in a mesh bag to prevent the strings from breaking and to maintain their attractive appearance. Notably, the application of biological advancements using the growth regulator Cytokinin during pollination and development results in melons with a sweeter, crispier, and more fragrant flavor.

Mr. Cuong shared: "Growing cantaloupe requires strict care techniques and relatively high investment costs, but in return, it offers stable economic returns and is less dependent on weather conditions. We prioritize the use of biological products to create clean and safe products for consumers."

Thanks to good control of temperature, humidity, and light in the greenhouse, the melon plants grow uniformly and are less affected by extreme weather. Each year, his family produces three crops, averaging about 15 tons of fruit per crop, with selling prices ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, the profit reaches 100-150 million VND per crop.

Not only does this model provide a stable income for the family, but it also creates regular jobs for 3-4 local workers with an income of 15-16 million VND per person per season. Mr. Cuong's model is also contributing to changing the production mindset of many farmers in Ea Rieng. Previously, people mainly cultivated based on experience and were heavily dependent on the weather, but now they are gradually adopting modern production methods that save water, reduce labor, minimize the use of pesticides, and improve the quality of agricultural products.

Le Thanh

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202606/lam-giau-tu-nong-nghiep-cong-nghe-cao-80d260b/