Tan My grows cucumbers through a collaborative approach.

In the early days of the planting season, the fields in Tan My commune are bustling with activity from early morning. Rows of lush green cucumbers stretch out, their vines neatly clinging to the trellises, young fruits peeking out from under the leaves, signaling a season full of expectations. Few would have imagined that just a few years ago, on these very same fields, people mainly grew rice, corn, and small-scale vegetables with uncertain markets and unstable incomes. The change began when the locality implemented a cucumber cultivation model based on a linkage between farmers and cooperatives.

From fragmented farmland to commodity production

Arriving in Ban Giao village in the middle of the harvest season, one can easily see villagers busily harvesting melons. Baskets of green melons are quickly gathered and transported to the purchasing point of the Huong Dao Vegetable and Fruit Cooperative. The days of "bumper harvest, low prices" or the worry of being forced to accept low prices are gradually gone, and people can confidently focus on caring for their crops to increase productivity.

The family of Mr. Quan Van Duan, from Ban Giao village, one of the households participating in the model from the beginning, is busy harvesting the second crop of cucumbers this season. While sorting the fruit, Mr. Duan excitedly said: “Before, my family mainly grew rice and soybeans, and the income each year was meager and heavily dependent on the weather. Since participating in the cucumber farming model in collaboration with the Huong Dao Vegetable and Fruit Cooperative, my family has received technical guidance, support with seeds and fertilizers, and guaranteed product purchase, so we can produce with peace of mind.”

The cucumber garden of Mr. Quan Van Duan's family in Ban Giao village is thriving.

According to Mr. Duan's calculations, growing cucumbers yields an income of over 13 million VND per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), with a profit of 8 million VND per sao after deducting expenses (equivalent to over 219 million VND per hectare). Hybrid rice cultivation, on the other hand, yields an income of 2.7 million VND per sao, with a profit of 480,000 VND per sao after deducting expenses (equivalent to over 13 million VND per hectare). Growing cucumbers is significantly more profitable than growing rice.

It's not just Mr. Duẩn's family; many households in other villages like Thôm Bưa and Ón Cáy in Tân Mỹ commune are also benefiting from this model. It's easy to see that after each harvest, the number of households registering to participate is increasing. Currently, the entire commune has 152 households in 12 villages participating in melon cultivation in partnership with the Hướng Đạo Vegetable and Fruit Cooperative and the Thành Đạt Cooperative.

During a working session with the Standing Committee of the Tan My Commune Party Committee in March 2026, Comrade Hau Minh Loi, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, emphasized: Tan My Commune needs to take advantage of its existing strengths to develop commercial agriculture , continue to promote, encourage, and invite companies and cooperatives to cooperate with people in growing cucumbers and other vegetables not only in the main season but also to research off-season cultivation, creating high income value for people per unit of cultivated area.

Farmers are confident in expanding their cultivated area.

The key to the model's success lies in the close collaboration between farmers and the cooperative. Previously, farmers handled everything from seeds to sales themselves, but now all stages are systematically organized. At the processing and packaging area of ​​the Huong Dao Vegetable and Fruit Cooperative, the atmosphere is just as bustling as in the fields. Cucumbers, after being harvested, are sorted by size and carefully packaged for distribution to buyers both locally and internationally. Thanks to the cooperative's role in connecting farmers to the market, their products not only enjoy more stable sales but also gradually build a reputation for quality.

The villagers of Ón Cáy sort cucumbers after harvesting.

Mr. Nguyen Van Lac, Director of Huong Dao Vegetable and Fruit Cooperative, said: "We coordinate technical guidance, supply quality seeds, support input materials, and assign staff to monitor the growth process of the plants so that farmers can take care of them according to the correct procedures. Production linkages are only sustainable when both sides share responsibility. Farmers must comply with technical procedures and ensure product quality; while the cooperative must keep its commitment to purchasing, supporting consumption, and not leave people 'alone' in the market."

According to Mr. Ma Doan Duc, Vice Chairman of the Tan My Commune People's Committee, cucumbers are easy to grow and have a short growing season of about 35-40 days. In the Spring 2026 crop, the average yield reached about 60.7 tons/ha, with the total production of the commune estimated at over 1,258 tons. With a purchase price of about 6,000 VND/kg, the revenue reached about 7.6 billion VND, equivalent to 366 million VND/ha; the profit was about 16 times higher than growing rice.

The model not only brings clear economic benefits but also contributes to changing production mindsets, from small-scale to integrated, forming stable commodity production areas. In the future, the locality will continue to encourage the expansion of cultivated areas, provide technical support, and build production groups linked to safety standards to enhance the value of agricultural products.

The success of cucumber cultivation is opening up new avenues for agriculture in Tan My. More importantly, the cooperative model not only helps increase income but also creates a foundation for sustainable agriculture in their homeland.

Text and photos: Hoang Ngoc

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/kinh-te/202604/tan-my-trong-dua-chuot-theo-huong-lien-ket-8b007d6/