Million-dollar models in the heart of urbanization.

Not only is Ly Van Lam ward (formerly Ca Mau City) a rapidly urbanizing suburban area, but it also stands out for its effective agricultural production models. Among them, off-season watermelon cultivation is opening up a new direction, helping farmers increase their income, adapt flexibly to the market, and transform barren land into profitable land.

• Attach QR codes to Ly Van Lam's watermelons.
• Farmers in Ngoc Hien district have a successful watermelon harvest for Tet (Lunar New Year).
• The joyful season of harvesting watermelons for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).

In Chanh Hamlet, the area with the most households growing off-season melons in the ward, Mr. Lam Van Dam is one of the pioneers. Having been involved in this model for over 10 years, Mr. Dam utilizes 5,000 m² of land to cultivate 4,000 F1 2014 melon vines. Off-season melons are usually planted in April-June or August-September (lunar calendar), coinciding with the rainy season, so fewer people grow them, resulting in scarce production and consequently, a selling price 1.5-2 times higher than during the main season.

“As long as you take good care of the melons and they look good, traders will come directly to the field to buy them. Growing melons out of season yields many times more profit than growing rice,” Mr. Dam shared. Last season, the yield reached 3-3.5 tons per 1,000 m². With a selling price of 6,000 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, he earned nearly 100 million VND in profit, a significant amount from this short-term crop.

Mr. Lam Van Dam, from Chanh Hamlet, Ly Van Lam Ward, inspects the melons during the off-season planting.

Following the same path, Mr. Lam Hoang Vu, also from Chanh Hamlet, is harvesting his off-season melon crop. He said that growing off-season crops is more difficult due to unpredictable weather, but if the techniques are well prepared, the economic efficiency is very high.

“We have to raise the planting beds high and cover them with tarpaulin to retain moisture and limit weed growth; choose short-day varieties and prioritize biological fertilizers to ensure food safety,” Mr. Vu said. Thanks to the suitable soil, Ly Van Lam watermelons have red flesh, thin skin, a sweet taste, and are less susceptible to pests and diseases, making them very popular in the market. With 5,000 m² of cultivation, he expects to earn a profit of about 100 million VND this season.

Mr. Lam Van Dam, from Chanh Hamlet, Ly Van Lam Ward, weighs off-season watermelons at his home after harvesting.

Currently, the entire ward has about 30 households growing off-season melons, concentrated in Chanh, Thanh Dien, and Bau Son hamlets, with a total area of ​​over 5 hectares. This model is supported by the Ward People's Committee and the Farmers' Association in terms of both capital and technology, creating conditions for people to confidently expand production.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of the ward, affirmed: "The off-season melon cultivation model clearly demonstrates the daring and innovative spirit of farmer Ly Van Lam. It not only increases income and effectively utilizes land but also represents a suitable direction in crop diversification, contributing to sustainable agricultural development amidst urbanization."

Bich Le

Source: https://baocamau.vn/mo-hinh-tien-trieu-giua-long-do-thi-hoa-a120796.html