Bustling winter crop in Muong Lo fields

As the second largest rice field in the Northwest region, Muong Lo is not only famous for its white rice and clear water, but is also affirming its outstanding economic potential through the effective exploitation of the winter crop, bringing a stable and sustainable source of income to thousands of farming households.

Immediately after completing the harvest of the summer-autumn rice crop in early September, farmers in the vast Muong Lo fields did not take time to rest but quickly began preparing for the winter crop - the third crop of the year. In Cau Thia, Trung Tam and Nghia Lo wards, people urgently cleared stubble, improved the soil and planted short-term crops with high economic value, such as: waxy corn, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes and many kinds of vegetables... creating a bustling and urgent working atmosphere throughout the fields.

In mid-November, across the Muong Lo fields, the lush green of the vegetable fields in full growth stretches endlessly, dotted with the red of ripe tomatoes, the yellow of squash and pumpkin flowers. All blend together to create a vibrant agricultural picture, clearly demonstrating the urgent and efficient work pace of the people here.

Muong Lo fields are covered with fresh green of winter vegetables.

For many years now, Ms. Hoang Thi Vien, Ta Tiu residential group, Trung Tam ward, has been growing vegetables on her 2-crop rice field to increase her income.

Ms. Vien said: "With over 3,000 square meters ^of double-crop rice fields, this winter crop I converted half of the area to grow tomatoes, the rest to grow vegetables, beans, and peas. The weather is favorable so nearly half of this area has been harvested. This crop's income is 3-4 times higher than growing rice."

Tomato is a crop chosen by many farmers to plant.

To ensure progress, area and productivity, the People's Committees of Cau Thia, Trung Tam and Nghia Lo wards have directed agricultural officers to go directly to the grassroots level, mobilizing farmers to plant high-value vegetables, arrange them in many batches, and plant them in different seasons to improve economic efficiency.

At the same time, the wards proactively coordinate to organize training, transfer techniques, and advise households to strictly follow the safe vegetable production process, especially for short-term vegetables, leafy vegetables, and spices, and forecast weather and pests to guide people to promptly use preventive measures.

Thanks to that, up to now, farmers in Muong Lo field area have planted over 1,130 hectares of winter crops, achieving the plan assigned by the province.

The highlight that makes the difference and effectiveness of the winter crop in Muong Lo in recent years is the strong shift to producing grain crops according to value chains and offtake contracts.

Growing trees for seeds is an effective direction, bringing high value to farmers in Muong Lo region.

Instead of growing vegetables in the traditional way to sell at unstable prices, many farming households have signed direct production contracts with large domestic seed companies.

In Cau Thia ward, more than 15 hectares of rice fields have been converted to growing cucumbers, pumpkins, bitter melons, and winter melons for seeds instead of commercial crops as before.

Mr. Luong Van Suong in Ban Tat residential group, Cau Thia ward has 3 years of experience growing pumpkin for seeds under a joint model with Tan Loc Phat Seed Company Limited.

Mr. Suong said: “My family has 700 ^square meters of land to grow pumpkins for seeds. Seed production requires meticulousness, strict adherence to procedures, especially pollination techniques to achieve a high purity rate, seed separation and drying times... However, all are guided and assisted by the company's technical team, and a production contract is signed before each crop. On average, each crop, excluding seed and fertilizer costs, the family earns 20 million VND. There are two crops a year. The first crop is harvested before Tet, the second crop is planted after Tet, and harvested before the summer crop production.”

According to Mr. Hoang Van Hoa - Deputy Head of the Economic, Infrastructure and Urban Department of Cau Thia Ward, the models of growing trees for seeds by the people have been and are proving effective. Enterprises commit to purchasing all products from the beginning at a fixed price, many times higher than the price of common agricultural products. This eliminates the worry of "good harvest, low price".

In addition, farmers are supported with the provision of quality parent seeds, fertilizers and agricultural materials in the form of “pre-supply, post-harvest cost deduction”, and are transferred strict technical processes from pollination to harvesting. Thanks to that, productivity and product quality are improved, ensuring that seed standards are met.

The seed growing model brings high economic value, 1 kg of seeds costs from 700,000 to 900,000 VND/kg, the value reaches from 300,000 to 400,000,000 VND/ha. This is an opportunity to help Muong Lo people have a high income, even becoming the second main source of income in the year.

By selecting high-value crops, farmers in Muong Lo are confidently taking control of production, making the winter crop a major crop of the year. This is the direction that helps Muong Lo not only maintain its position as the "second largest rice granary in the Northwest region" but also become a model of sustainable agricultural development, making an important contribution to poverty reduction and new rural construction.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhon-nhip-vu-dong-tren-canh-dong-muong-lo-post886846.html