The commune has 500 households growing coconut, with income 3-4 times higher than growing rice.

HA TINH Thuong Loc Commune (Can Loc, Ha Tinh ) has nearly 500 households growing coconut eggplant on an area of ​​25 hectares, with income 3-4 times higher than rice cultivation, averaging more than 200 million VND/hectare.

In 2012, coconut eggplant was planted on a pilot scale in Thuong Loc with a scale of 2 hectares, after only 3 months, the coconut eggplant was harvested. Through the pilot planting process, the eggplant plants bore fruit and had good quality, so in the following seasons, many people expanded the planting area, from which a specialized eggplant growing area was formed in Thuong Loc. At this time, eggplant is entering the harvest season, the selling price at the field is from 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, higher than previous years. As soon as the eggplant is harvested, traders buy it, so farmers are very excited.

Thanks to the eggplant tree, hundreds of households in Thuong Loc commune have had a good income. Photo: Anh Nguyet.

Ms. Luong Thi Hai (Son Phu village, Thuong Loc commune) said that her family has been growing eggplant for decades. Compared to rice cultivation, eggplant provides a stable and much higher income. This year, thanks to the conversion to organic care along with suitable weather and soil conditions, the quality of the eggplant is considered good, the selling price is high and stable.... To help the eggplant grow well and reduce watering costs, Ms. Hai's family has applied the method of covering the soil with plastic bags to help loosen the soil, prevent weeds and keep the soil moist.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan, a coffee grower, said: Due to the impact of the prolonged cold spell before the Lunar New Year, this coffee crop bloomed late and was harvested later than in previous years, but in return, the early season price was quite high and the output was stable, so right after Tet, people had a significant source of income.

Coconut eggplant in Thuong Loc is considered to be of good quality and is very popular with consumers. Photo: Anh Nguyet.

“We have been growing coconut eggplant for many years. Thuong Loc coconut eggplant has created a brand name and become a traditional profession for many households. Eggplant is planted from around the 10th lunar month and harvested many times until the end of the 3rd lunar month of the following year. Currently, eggplant costs 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, at the beginning of the season it costs 25,000 VND/kg, some households earn tens of millions of VND/season... The most exciting thing is that all the eggplant produced is purchased by traders, some even come to the edge of the field to buy, but many times there are not enough eggplants to sell,” said Ms. Tran Thi Loc (Son Phu village, Thuong Loc commune).

Ms. Phan Thi Tam (residing in Son Phu village, Thuong Loc commune) is focusing on watering and fertilizing more than 1 sao of coconut eggplant of her family. She said that her family has just harvested more than 500 kg of coconut eggplant. With stable selling prices and traders coming to buy on the spot, people are not worried about output but try to improve product quality every day. "At this time, my family is continuing to take care of the eggplant so that it can produce the next crop," Ms. Tam said.

Coconut eggplant has become an agricultural product that creates a unique mark for Thuong Loc commune. Photo: Anh Nguyet.

Mr. Nguyen The Tuong, a trader in Son Phu village, said: In addition to his family's 1 sao of eggplant, he also buys more from local people to sell at markets inside and outside the district. Every day, Mr. Tuong buys about 300 kg of eggplant and sells it in neighboring localities such as Loc Ha, Ha Tinh City... The coconut eggplant variety in Thuong Loc is easy to sell and has a higher price because of its beautiful color, mild taste, and not as strong smell as other eggplant varieties. In addition, the eggplant is grown based on a model that aims for clean agriculture and organic production, so it is trusted by customers.

For decades, coconut eggplant has been "destined" in Thuong Loc land and has developed into a traditional, key crop of the locality. Through the production process, this variety of plant is very suitable for local weather and soil conditions, so it brings efficiency, guaranteed quality, high economic value, and a stable consumption market. Along with that, people have applied safe planting and care techniques, not using chemical pesticides or herbicides, instead using biological drugs, and applying measures such as covering with plastic bags and straw to ensure good growth and safety.

Thuong Loc farmers have applied many farming techniques to control weeds and minimize the use of fertilizers and chemicals to ensure the safety of coconut products. Photo: Anh Nguyet.

The entire Thuong Loc commune currently has nearly 500 households growing coconut eggplant, with an area of ​​25 hectares, large-scale concentrated production areas in the villages: Son Phu, Son Binh, Vinh Xuan, Dong Thanh, Vinh Xa... At peak times, retail eggplant prices range from 25,000 - 30,000 VND/kg, an average of 20,000 VND/kg sold in the field. This year's coconut eggplant crop has been a good harvest for farmers, with good prices, stable product output and income 3 - 4 times higher than rice cultivation. On average, each hectare of coconut eggplant brings in about 200 - 220 million VND, each crop brings in 4 - 5 billion VND to Thuong Loc farmers.

"In order to produce coconut fruit in the direction of goods and increase income for people, the People's Committee of Thuong Loc commune has invested in building an irrigation canal system, supporting capital sources, and organizing training for people on planting and care techniques. Besides, we are building the Thuong Loc coconut fruit brand, developing agricultural production in the direction of VietGAP and OCOP to help farmers consume products stably at higher prices," said Mr. Nguyen Hai - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Loc commune.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/xa-co-500-ho-trong-ca-dua-thu-nhap-gap-3--4-lan-trong-lua-d379176.html