"Upgrading" cantaloupe

Growing melons in greenhouses combined with drip irrigation technology is considered a breakthrough direction for the functional sector and farmers in the province. This is expected to be a production model that brings high economic efficiency to farmers.

The project "Building a model, transferring technology for producing melons in greenhouses and processing and diversifying products from melons at the Hau Giang High-Tech Agricultural Zone" initially brought positive signals to agriculture.

Applying high technology in agriculture

Currently, the demand for clean products is increasingly focused on by consumers, so the construction of safe agricultural production models and the application of high technology in production are also receiving attention from farmers. Accordingly, in March 2022, the Management Board of Hau Giang High-Tech Agricultural Zone (Board) implemented the project "Building a model, transferring technology for producing melons in greenhouses and processing and diversifying products from melons at Hau Giang High-Tech Agricultural Zone" with a trial production scale of 1,500m2 including 500m2 at the Board and 1,000m2 at Ngoc Thanh Melon Cooperative. The project initially brought positive results and contributed to changing the thinking, habits and farming practices of farmers from traditional agricultural production to clean agricultural production associated with market demand.

Mr. Tran Ky Nguyen, Project Manager, shared: Growing melons in a greenhouse combined with drip irrigation technology helps save irrigation water, requires less labor, and can be grown year-round without fear of rain or adverse weather factors. In particular, the greenhouse helps shield against rain, limits insect intrusion, the drip irrigation system not only provides water economically for plants but also, along with watering and fertilizing technology through drip pipes, provides an even and accurate amount of fertilizer for plants.

According to many studies, drip irrigation technology combined with fertilizers in cultivation helps increase productivity by 10-40%, reduce care costs, increase income by 20-50%, especially saving irrigation water compared to traditional methods by 20-40%. In the process of cultivating melons, growers rarely use or replace chemical pesticides with biological pesticides and meet VietGAP standards, so the product ensures quality and safety, protecting the health of both growers and consumers.

During the trial production period, the project initially achieved the set goal of increasing commercial productivity by 10% (about 0.2 tons/1,000m2), melon products achieving VietGAP certification, average Brix level reaching 13% or more, melons growing evenly, about 80% of fruits having an average weight of 1.5kg; selling price ranges from 45,000-50,000 VND/kg. Currently, the project is transferring production technology to Ngoc Thanh melon cooperative, in Phuoc Thanh hamlet, Dong Thanh commune, Chau Thanh district.

Many new directions

In addition to applying high technology to production, creating new directions and diversifying processing products from melons is what engineers at the Hau Giang High-Tech Agricultural Zone are exploring and researching. Not only stopping at providing fresh melons, the project has developed many more products processed from melons such as melon wine and dried melons.

Mr. Tran Ky Nguyen, Project Manager, said: “Mellow melon is a fruit with a fragrant, crunchy, sweet taste. If we only stop at enjoying the fresh fruit, we will not fully exploit the potential of the melon. Therefore, we have received and completed the process of processing dried melon. At this time, we have found the appropriate drying temperature and drying time for melon after harvest. In addition, we also received and completed the process of processing melon wine by finding the right yeast for wine fermentation, the appropriate incubation temperature and the appropriate amount of added sugar.”

Evaluating the superior characteristics of the new products, Mr. Nguyen Viet Trieu, Deputy Director of the Management Board of Hau Giang High-Tech Agricultural Zone, said: The dried melon product retains a moderate sweetness, while still retaining its unique color and flavor. As for the melon wine product, there is currently no similar product on the market, so if the test is successful, it will open up a new and promising direction. Through the implementation of the project, the Management Board has plans to further research the production process of soluble melon powder, extract pure melon flavor from fresh melon and make melon candy.

The development of a high-tech greenhouse melon growing model has opened up a new direction in agricultural production, contributing to the diversification of local agricultural products. This is considered a sustainable development direction to improve productivity and product quality, while helping farmers to be proactive in production, overcome seasonality, reduce dependence on weather and climate, meet market demand and increase added value for agricultural products.

Y.LINH

Source: https://www.baohaugiang.com.vn/nong-nghiep-nong-thon/nang-tam-dua-luoi-134968.html