Cassava growers in Ky Anh district expand acreage, expecting continued good harvest

In the 2023 production season, cassava in the upper Ky Anh district ( Ha Tinh ) had a good harvest and good prices. This is the second year that cassava growers have made a good profit since the cassava mosaic disease outbreak in 2021.

With 3 sao of raw cassava, using KM 94 variety, in the last production season of 2023, Ms. Nguyen Thi Khuan's family in Ky Son commune harvested 3.3 tons of tubers. With the purchase price of the enterprise reaching 2,720 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, Ms. Khuan's family earned nearly 8 million VND. This is the second year that Ms. Khuan has made a good profit, since the outbreak of cassava mosaic disease.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Khuan's family harvests cassava.

Ms. Khuan said: "In the 2023 crop, from planting to harvest, cassava plants were not affected by mosaic disease and frost; meanwhile, the weather was quite good, there was little rain so there was no need to harvest early like every year. Therefore, the yield as well as the starch content of cassava were high, and businesses purchased at higher prices. However, the production area was small so the income was not much. In this year's crop, the family plans to take advantage of idle land or land for growing low-efficiency crops to expand the area. When the area is large enough, we will focus on intensive farming to increase productivity and output."

As one of the key communes developing cassava, in 2023, Ky Son will have over 270 hectares, with a yield of 20 tons/ha, and a total output of nearly 5,500 tons. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam Hong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ky Son commune said: "Although the cassava development process still has many ups and downs, however, with suitable climate and soil conditions and stable prices, cassava is still a crop that brings good income to people. Therefore, in addition to planning suitable land areas, the locality is promoting and mobilizing people to continue to take advantage of land to expand the area. The locality will closely coordinate with businesses to ensure a stable output market for products".

As the commune with the largest cassava area in the upper Ky Anh region with 285 hectares, before entering the new production season, Ky Thuong commune always focuses on propagating to people to focus on intensive cultivation and increase productivity. In 2023, cassava in Ky Thuong also grows well and is disease-free, so the yield reaches over 20 tons/ha, the output reaches nearly 6,000 tons.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chau (right) is excited that the 2023 cassava crop will be a good harvest and have good prices.

Cassava yield is high, selling price is also higher than last year, so many households regret planting with small area. Ms. Nguyen Thi Chau in Tien Thuong village, Ky Thuong commune shared: "Last year, my family only planted 2 sao of raw cassava, so I feel a bit regretful. In the next production season, my family plans to expand the area to 5 sao and continue to increase gradually. Hopefully, the weather will be favorable and the disease will not cause harm, especially the output will be maintained."

Ms. Chau also hopes that functional sectors and localities need to regularly pay attention to accompanying and helping people in the production process, especially monitoring and supporting the supply of high-quality and disease-free seeds so that people can feel secure in production.

Cassava grows well, the weather is favorable and the harvest is slow, so the yield and starch content are high.

From more than 2,000 hectares, after many years of gradual reduction in area, up to now, Ky Anh district has nearly 1,300 hectares of cassava land, concentrated in the communes: Ky Son, Ky Thuong, Lam Hop, Ky Tay, Ky Tan, Ky Trung... The main reasons for the reduction in cassava land area are due to the lack of close linkage between production and enterprises, unstable prices, and widespread mosaic disease...

Cassava is purchased right at the household garden.

A good cassava crop with good prices like in 2023 is the basis for Ky Anh district to propagate and mobilize people to continue to develop cassava in depth, increase productivity, quality, and increase income value per unit area; ensure the maintenance and development of sustainable raw material areas for Ky Son Cassava Starch Processing Factory.

Workers at Ky Son Cassava Starch Processing Factory operate the cassava processing line.

In the long term, in addition to re-planning the production area, the district will study and issue specific policies and programs on seed sources, fertilizers, plant protection, especially measures to prevent and control diseases for cassava. In addition, it will organize the signing of contracts to link raw material production between organizations and individuals growing cassava with cassava starch processing factories to gradually stabilize the disease-free, high-quality raw material area.

Mr. Phan Cong Toan

Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ky Anh district

Vu Huyen

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nong-nghiep/nguoi-trong-san-huyen-ky-anh-mo-rong-dien-tich-ky-vong-tiep-tuc-duoc-mua/260096.htm