Busy tending to crops in preparation for Tet (Lunar New Year).

As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, the atmosphere in the communes is becoming more urgent and bustling. In the fields, farmers are busy tending to their crops, closely monitoring weather conditions, pests, and market trends, proactively cultivating to ensure a sufficient supply of vegetables to meet the increased consumer demand during Tet, hoping for a bountiful harvest, increased income, and stable livelihoods.

As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, the atmosphere in the communes is becoming more urgent and bustling. In the fields, farmers are busy tending to their crops, closely monitoring weather conditions, pests, and market trends, proactively cultivating to ensure a sufficient supply of vegetables to meet the increased consumer demand during Tet, hoping for a bountiful harvest, increased income, and stable livelihoods.

Ms. To Thi Nhung built a trellis for bitter melon to reduce investment costs.

Anticipating market demand during the Lunar New Year, many farmers proactively choose short-term, easy-to-grow, and easy-to-sell vegetables such as bitter melon, scallions, chili peppers, lettuce, and various types of cabbage... which are suitable for local farming conditions and can be harvested at the peak shopping season at the end of the year. Farmers focus on arranging planting schedules and rotating crops across multiple rows to avoid simultaneous harvesting that could lead to market gluts and price drops.

Ms. To Thi Nhung, from Hoa Lac A hamlet, Song Loc commune, cultivates nearly 2 acres of bitter melon for sale during Tet (Lunar New Year). According to Ms. Nhung, bitter melon is a popular vegetable among consumers during the first days of the new year because of its symbolic meaning: the wish for the hardships and difficulties of the old year to pass, welcoming a peaceful, smooth, and prosperous new year. The high demand for bitter melon during Tet, coupled with more stable prices compared to other times of the year, is why she prioritizes growing it every year.

Ms. Nhung grows bitter melon using traditional methods, employing bamboo trellises to reduce investment costs. While this method requires a lot of labor, it saves on production costs and suits her family's circumstances. To ensure a consistent harvest, Ms. Nhung arranges the planting in rotation across multiple rows, timing the fruiting to coincide with Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). With the high selling price during the days leading up to Tet, each hectare of bitter melon yields a profit of approximately 10 million VND.

Along with bitter melon, many other vegetables are being chosen by farmers to produce for the Tet market. In Ngai Hiep hamlet, Hung My commune, Ms. Tran Thi Lo chose green onions as her main crop for this year's Tet season. According to Ms. Lo, green onions are easy to grow, have a short growing season, and are low-risk. They allow her to proactively secure seeds for the next season and provide a good income. Especially during Tet, the price of green onions is usually high due to increased demand. With one hectare of green onions intercropped with various types of cabbage, Ms. Lo's family earns about 8-10 million VND.

The atmosphere in Ngai Hiep hamlet is even more vibrant these days as many households focus on tending their chili pepper crops to supply the Tet market. Farmer Nguyen Phuoc An is currently cultivating 1 hectare of chili peppers, which are in the harvesting season, yielding approximately 20-30 kg per day.

Currently, chili prices are fluctuating around 35,000 VND/kg, double the price compared to the same period last year. With an investment of approximately 10 million VND per hectare, the average yield reaches about 1 ton per hectare, providing Mr. An's family with a stable income. To further increase his income, he also rented an additional 3 hectares of land to grow chili peppers and other vegetables such as cabbage and lettuce, to meet the increased consumer demand during Tet (Lunar New Year).

Farmers in Ngai Hiep hamlet, Hung My commune, are actively tending to their crops in preparation for Tet (Lunar New Year).

In the same locality, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Lien said: Due to land conditions, her family's chili crop is currently in the early stages of harvesting (old chili variety 1), with a selling price of 35,000 VND/kg. Previously, the price of chili reached as high as 150,000 VND/kg. Although the current price is lower than the peak, it is still higher than the same period last year. Ms. Lien hopes that as Tet approaches, the price of chili will continue to rise, providing her family with additional income and a more prosperous Tet celebration.

According to Mr. Tran Van Hieu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung My commune, the local economy is mainly based on agricultural production, with rice and other crops being the main sectors. For this year's Tet crop season, farmers in the commune are focusing on developing vegetables in key areas such as Kenh Xang, Ngai Hiep, and Da Hoa Bac… with a total area of ​​over 80 hectares, including nearly 18 hectares planted with yellow bell peppers and chili peppers.

Developing the Tet holiday crop not only meets market demand but also contributes to increasing farmers' income. Local authorities regularly monitor production, provide timely support, and advise farmers on proper crop care techniques and proactive pest and disease control to ensure a successful Tet holiday crop.

Text and photos: MY NHAN

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/202602/tat-bat-cham-care-hoa-mau-phuc-vu-tet-e14365c/