Water spinach is in season.

For about two weeks now, water spinach in the vegetable-growing areas of Vinh Thanh commune, Ca Mau province, has been purchased by traders at prices ranging from 16,000 to 18,000 VND per kilogram. At this price, farmers are very pleased because production yields a relatively high profit.

• The joyful season of harvesting watermelons for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).
• Farmers have had a bountiful winter-spring rice harvest.

Mr. Tran Van Dung, from Vinh Thanh commune , said that his family has nearly 2 acres of land planted with water spinach and is currently in the harvesting stage. For many days now, the price of water spinach has increased, making his family very happy because they will earn a considerable profit. "Especially at this time, the yield is over 1 ton per acre, with a price of about 16-17 thousand dong/kg, my family will earn a profit of over 17 million dong," Mr. Dung said excitedly.

Farmers in Vinh Thanh commune harvest water spinach. Photo: M. Dat.

Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) can be harvested almost year-round, with the next crop yielding about a month after each harvest. Growing Centella asiatica doesn't require a high investment; you only need to plant the seedlings once, then fertilize, weed, and water twice daily to ensure the plants have enough moisture to grow. When the plants are about 10-12 cm tall, they can be harvested. However, according to Mr. Dũng, growing Centella asiatica also requires careful care and the application of good farming techniques to achieve a good yield and profit. Because the plant's roots aren't dense, if the harvest is low, even with high prices, there won't be much profit.

Along with rice cultivation, vegetable farming is one of the strengths of Vinh Thanh commune. With nearly 100 hectares of land dedicated to vegetable cultivation, mainly water spinach and celery, farmers here supply an average of 30 tons of vegetables daily to wholesale markets inside and outside the province, providing a year-round income. For each hectare of land planted with water spinach, farmers can earn approximately 100 million VND per year.

Mr. Huynh Trung Thu, from Vinh Thanh commune, shared: “Not only do farmers producing vegetables profit, but agricultural services in the commune are also developing quite strongly. Especially the jobs of harvesting, sorting, and processing water spinach and other leafy greens, which provide many households with stable incomes of 200-300 thousand VND per session.”

Women in Vinh Thanh commune sort water spinach before delivering it to traders. Photo: M. Dat.

The conversion of unproductive gardens to cultivate economically valuable vegetables is a sound policy, suitable to the actual conditions of Vinh Thanh commune. This approach has brought considerable economic benefits to farmers. Currently, the commune is expanding vegetable production areas, especially for water spinach, following safe practices to ensure consumer health. Farmers in the commune have also received training from the agricultural sector on safe vegetable production processes.

With an increasing area of ​​water spinach being produced using safe methods such as organic fertilizers, biological products, and limiting chemicals, Vinh Thanh commune is aiming to maintain and develop a large consumer market, moving towards sustainable production.

Chuc Chi

Source: https://baocamau.vn/rau-ma-duoc-mua-a120766.html