People in Hoa Loc commune are harvesting their winter crops.
Proactively overcome difficulties.
Entering the winter crop season in late September and early October 2025, farmers in the province faced complex weather patterns. Prolonged heavy rains, accompanied by storm remnants, caused flooding and damage to many newly planted crops. Many households had to replant, incurring additional costs for seeds, fertilizers, and labor. In specialized vegetable-growing areas in the plains and coastal communes, many vegetable, chili, and tomato fields suffered heavy losses. In response, the agricultural sector and communes/wards promptly directed drainage efforts, cleared irrigation canals, and guided farmers in caring for and restoring affected areas. Areas with severe damage were advised to switch to short-term crops suitable for the planting season. Thanks to proactive technical measures and years of production experience, farmers gradually restored production, ensuring the planting schedule was met.
Early-season difficulties inadvertently created a supply shortage in the market, contributing to a surge in agricultural product prices at the beginning of the harvest season. Mr. Nguyen Quang Thuyet from Thanh Vinh village, Xuan Lap commune, shared: “This season, my family planted 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of tomatoes. At the beginning of the season, traders bought them directly from the fields at around 45,000 VND/kg, dozens of times higher than last winter when the price of tomatoes dropped to only 3,000 VND/kg and nobody wanted to buy them. Besides that, the price of ripe chili peppers reached 105,000 - 110,000 VND/kg, five times higher than the same period last year. Notably, not only ripe chili peppers but also green chili peppers were bought at high prices, from 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg; traders were willing to come directly to the fields to buy without being too strict about appearance or size.”
Not only tomatoes and peppers, but many other green vegetables also maintain stable, high prices during peak season. Kohlrabi is sold by farmers for 10,000 VND/kg, green cabbage for 10,000 VND/bundle, regular cabbage for 10,000 VND/kg, peak-season tomatoes for around 20,000 VND/kg, cauliflower for 15,000 VND/head... Compared to previous years, this year's price level is considered more favorable for farmers, limiting the recurring problem of "bumper harvest, falling prices."
According to the agricultural sector's summary, as of February 22, 2026, the total area of winter crops harvested in the province was 40,965.9 hectares out of 43,816.5 hectares, reaching 93% of the planted area. This includes 10,129 hectares of corn; 1,042.9 hectares of peanuts; 1,045 hectares of sweet potatoes; 22,500 hectares of various vegetables and legumes; and 6,249 hectares of other crops. Looking at the crop structure, it can be seen that vegetables still account for a large proportion of winter crop production, playing a key role in increasing value per unit area. Many specialized farming areas have boldly applied new varieties, safe production processes, water-saving irrigation, and plastic mulching, helping plants grow well under unfavorable weather conditions. The average yield of many crops has increased compared to the previous year, especially biomass corn, chili peppers, potatoes, and leafy vegetables.
It is noteworthy that after a challenging initial phase of the season, the farmers' determination to stay on their land was evident. Many households flexibly adjusted their crop structure, increasing the area of short-term vegetables to offset costs. The end-of-season results showed that many households achieved revenues of hundreds of millions of dong per hectare, significantly higher than in previous years.
Expanding linkages and enhancing the value of agricultural products.
Besides favorable weather and market conditions, one of the highlights of the 2025-2026 winter crop season is the active participation of businesses and cooperatives in production linkages and product distribution. Winter crop production continues to receive investment from organizations and individuals, especially agricultural service businesses and cooperatives, through signing linkage contracts and directly leasing or borrowing land for seasonal production.
People in Hoang Chau commune are harvesting winter squash.
The entire province has attracted 30 businesses from within and outside the province to participate in production linkages and product procurement for winter crops, covering a total area of approximately 7,000 hectares. Many businesses have built sustainable and long-term linkages with localities, forming stable raw material areas. Notable examples include PepsiCo Vietnam, Orion Vina Company, Vietpo Joint Stock Company, and Viettrans Logistics Joint Stock Company, which have linked production and procurement of fresh and processed potatoes on an area of over 900 hectares. For vegetables, Dong Giao Export Food Joint Stock Company, Thanh An Ninh Binh Company Limited, Toan Nang Thai Binh Product Consumption Cooperative, Nga Son Agricultural Products Consumption Cooperative, and An Viet Production and Trading Joint Stock Company (Hanoi)... have linked production and procurement of various crops such as chili peppers, sweet corn, vegetable soybeans, spinach, onions, garlic, pumpkins, cucumbers, and other vegetables.
According to Hoang Van Toan, Director of Phu Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative in Hoa Loc commune: “For many years, the cooperative has maintained a production and consumption linkage with Dong Giao Export Food Joint Stock Company ( Ninh Binh province) on 180 hectares of various crops. The output of vegetables and fruits has remained stable, averaging over 1,000 tons per year, with contract sales reaching 8 to 10 billion VND per year. This linkage model has contributed to changing the production mindset of the people, from small-scale, spontaneous production to contract-based production, adhering to technical procedures and ensuring consistent quality. The company proactively supplies high-quality seeds and fertilizers, transfers cultivation techniques, and monitors the production process; farmers can invest with peace of mind because they have a stable market outlet, limiting the risk of price manipulation during peak harvest seasons.”
Furthermore, communes and wards in the province have effectively integrated programs and policies supporting production development, providing seeds, input materials, land preparation services, irrigation, etc., creating favorable conditions for farmers to expand their cultivated area and promote the application of advanced techniques. As a result, the winter crop production movement has been vibrant, aligning with the restructuring of the agricultural sector towards increasing added value and sustainable development.
Text and photos: Le Hoi
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/vu-dong-2025-2026-thang-loi-kep-279426.htm
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