In Ha Tinh province , Thuong Loc commune (Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province ) has nearly 500 households growing coconut palms on an area of 25 hectares, earning 3-4 times more than rice cultivation, averaging over 200 million VND/ha.
In 2012, eggplant was grown experimentally in Thuong Loc on a 2-hectare scale. After only 3 months, the eggplant was ready for harvest. The experimental planting proved successful, with abundant and high-quality fruit. As a result, many farmers expanded their planting area in subsequent seasons, thus establishing a specialized eggplant growing region in Thuong Loc. Currently, eggplant is entering its harvest season, with prices at the farm ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 VND/kg, higher than in previous years. Eggplant is being bought up by traders as soon as it's harvested, much to the delight of the farmers.
Thanks to the coconut palm tree, hundreds of households in Thuong Loc commune have earned a decent 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 switching to organic farming methods along with suitable weather and soil conditions, the quality of the eggplant is considered good, and the selling price is high and stable. To ensure good eggplant growth and reduce the need for watering, Ms. Hai's family has applied the method of mulching with plastic sheeting to loosen the soil, prevent weeds, and retain moisture.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan, a farmer who grows eggplant, said: Due to the prolonged cold spell before the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon, this year's eggplant crop bloomed later and was harvested later than in previous years. However, the prices at the beginning of the season were quite high, and the market was stable, so right after Tet, farmers had a significant source of income.
Coconuts from Thuong Loc are considered to be of good quality and are very popular with consumers. Photo: Anh Nguyet.
“We have been growing eggplant for many years. Thuong Loc eggplant has established a brand and become a traditional occupation for many households. Eggplant is planted around the 10th lunar month and harvested multiple times until the end of the 3rd lunar month of the following year. Currently, eggplant is priced at 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg, reaching 25,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season, with some households earning tens of millions of VND per season... The most exciting thing is that all the eggplant we produce is bought up by traders, some even coming right to the edge of the fields to buy it, but sometimes we don't have enough eggplant to sell,” shared Ms. Tran Thi Loc (Son Phu village, Thuong Loc commune).
Ms. Phan Thi Tam (residing in Son Phu village, Thuong Loc commune), who is busy watering and fertilizing her family's more than 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of eggplant, said that her family has just harvested over 5 quintals of eggplant. With stable selling prices and traders coming to buy on the spot, farmers are not worried about sales and are striving to improve product quality every day. "At this time, my family is continuing to take care of the eggplant so that it will bear fruit for the next crop," Ms. Tam said.
The coconut palm has become a distinctive agricultural product of Thuong Loc commune. Photo: Anh Nguyet.
Mr. Nguyen The Tuong, a trader in Son Phu village, said: Besides his family's 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of eggplant, he also buys from other villagers to sell at markets inside and outside the district. Every day, Mr. Tuong buys about 300 kg of eggplant and sells it in neighboring areas such as Loc Ha and Ha Tinh City... The eggplant variety from Thuong Loc is easy to sell and fetches a higher price because of its beautiful color, mild taste, and lack of strong odor compared to other eggplant varieties. Furthermore, the eggplant is grown using a model geared towards clean agriculture and organic production, thus gaining customer trust.
For decades, eggplant has taken root in the Thuong Loc area and developed into a traditional and key crop of the locality. Through the production process, this variety has proven well-suited to the local weather and soil conditions, resulting in high yields, guaranteed quality, high economic value, and a stable market. Furthermore, the people have applied safe planting and care techniques, avoiding chemical pesticides and herbicides, instead using biological pesticides, and employing methods such as covering the plants with plastic sheeting and straw to ensure healthy and safe growth.
Farmers in Thuong Loc have applied various farming techniques to control weeds and minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring the safety of their coconut products. Photo: Anh Nguyet.
In Thuong Loc commune, nearly 500 households cultivate eggplant, covering an area of 25 hectares. Large-scale production is concentrated in the villages of Son Phu, Son Binh, Vinh Xuan, Dong Thanh, and Vinh Xa. At peak times, retail eggplant prices range from 25,000 to 30,000 VND/kg, averaging 20,000 VND/kg at the farm. This year's eggplant crop has been bountiful for farmers, with good prices, stable product output, and income 3-4 times higher than rice cultivation. On average, each hectare of eggplant yields an income of approximately 200-220 million VND, bringing in 4-5 billion VND per crop for farmers in Thuong Loc.
"To produce coconut coffee as a commercial commodity and increase people's income, the People's Committee of Thuong Loc commune has invested in building an irrigation system, providing capital support, and organizing training for people on planting and caring techniques. In addition, we are building the Thuong Loc coconut coffee brand, developing agricultural production according to VietGAP and OCOP standards to help farmers sell their products stably at higher prices," said Mr. Nguyen Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Loc commune.
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