These days, in Sau Dinh field in hamlet 3, Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc), farmers are concentrating on harvesting melons. This year, the weather is favorable, the melons are in season, the fruits are big, even and beautiful. Mr. Nguyen Ba Lam in hamlet 3, Nghi Thach commune said: “My family grows 2 sao of melons. On average, each sao brings in an income of 15-17 million VND. Growing melons has a short growing time, requires little care, has a high selling price and especially, because few places can grow them, they are very easy to consume.”
According to Mr. Hoang Duc Thang - Chairman of Nghi Thach Commune Farmers' Association, in the past, melons were grown a lot in hamlets 8 and 3, with an area of up to 3-5 hectares. However, in recent years, people in hamlet 8 have stopped growing melons because they have to work for companies. Currently, only people in hamlet 3 continue to grow melons with an area of over 1 hectare.
“The commune has planned to grow melons in this area: honeydew melons, watermelons and muskmelons. This sandy soil is very suitable for muskmelon, muskmelon is a local variety, self-cultivated, muskmelon is planted from February, and harvested in early April. This year, the harvest time coincides with the peak of the hot season, so the price is very good, traders come to the fields to buy,” said Mr. Thang.
Currently, the price of melons in the field is from 18,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, people sell at the market for 27,000 - 30,000 VND/kg, each melon weighs about 1.5 - 2 kg, sold for 40,000 - 50,000 VND, higher than previous years. On average, each sao of melon brings in an income of 18 - 20 million VND, after deducting expenses, the net profit is 10 million VND, 7 - 8 times higher than growing rice.
At this time, people in Dien Bien block, Nghi Huong ward (Cua Lo town) are also urgently harvesting melons to sell to traders and tourists . This year, melons have a good harvest and good prices, so people are very excited.
“Last year, melons only cost 10,000-12,000 VND/kg, but this year, due to the hot weather, the price of melons has increased sharply, up to 15,000-20,000 VND/kg. Every day, I buy about 100 kg of melons from the locals, both for wholesalers in Vinh and to sell at traditional markets,” said Nguyen Thi Tinh, a trader.
Hot weather, high demand, meanwhile, the area for growing melons is not much and only Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc) and Nghi Huong ward (Cua Lo town) can grow this fruit, so supply cannot meet demand. This year's melon crop, when the melons just started to turn yellow, many traders ordered to buy "the whole field" at high prices.
“There are many people calling to buy melons but they are all sold out. With the hot weather like this, melons are very popular with tourists. Refreshment stalls are constantly ordering, but in just a few more days, the entire melon field will be out of harvest season,” said Ms. Dao Thi Hoa, a melon grower in Nghi Huong ward.
In addition, the coastal road running through Nghi Huong ward has been completed and put into operation, helping people to sell melons right in the field at high prices. After picking them in the field, selling them right at this roadside spot to passersby is also very profitable.
Although it is a typical summer fruit, the harvest time is very short (only about 7-10 days) and depends entirely on the weather. When the melon is ready to be harvested, if it rains, it will have to be thrown away due to cracking and rotting.
Therefore, despite the high price, high economic efficiency, and easy consumption, it is still difficult to expand the melon growing area.
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