Winter squash grown on double-cropped rice land in Hung Nguyen.
(Baonghean)Currently, it is the most bountiful pumpkin harvest season in several years for the family of Ms. Ho Thi Hoa - Hamlet 8, Hung Tan (Hung Nguyen). Ms. Hoa's pumpkin field, covering more than 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters), has been harvested from early August to November.
Compared to many other winter crops, pumpkins are easy to grow. Preparing the planting beds is quite simple; just plow two furrows that overlap to create a planting bed. The investment cost for one sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of pumpkins includes seeds, 30 kg of NPK fertilizer, and 3 kg of urea as base fertilizer. Ms. Hoa's family has invested in trellises for the pumpkin plants, protecting them from waterlogging. According to Ms. Hoa, pumpkins sell very well. Traders from Vinh City come by truck to buy them all, at a price of about 35,000-40,000 VND per 10 kg. One sao of pumpkins yields nearly 1 ton, and after deducting expenses, her family earns a profit of nearly 4 million VND per sao. Compared to growing rice, growing green pumpkins is four times more economically efficient.
Many households in Hamlet 8, Hung Tan Commune, have had a good harvest from growing green squash on their double-cropped rice land. Currently, 30 households in the hamlet cultivate squash on an area of over 5 hectares. Mr. Nguyen Trong Chuong has over 1.5 sao (approximately 1500 square meters) of green squash grown on his double-cropped rice land. Thanks to significant investment, he earned tens of millions of dong this season. He said: “Those in the hamlet with large rice fields can grow squash more easily. Those without land are managed by the hamlet to work together, grouping several households to create larger planting areas. This makes it easier to care for the plants, control pests and diseases, and harvest. Thanks to this, growing squash has become a popular trend.”
Green squash plants yield high productivity on double-cropped rice land in Hung Tan.
In Hung Tan commune, farmers are encouraged to plant green squash in several hamlets with elevated fields that facilitate drainage, such as hamlets 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9. To ensure production, farmers sow seeds and prepare seedlings 10-15 days before harvesting the summer-autumn rice crop. According to farmers' experience, sowing seeds early allows for earlier harvesting and higher prices compared to harvesting during the main season. To date, the entire commune has over 15 hectares of squash in 5 hamlets. Mr. Nguyen Huu Thong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Tan commune, said: The Resolution of the Party Committee and the Resolution of the People's Council of the commune, term 21, 2010-2015, clearly identified winter crops as the main crop, with green squash being the primary crop on fertile land, embankments, and garden land, especially on double-cropped rice land; aiming to leverage the strengths of the land resources, utilize idle agricultural labor, and take advantage of the intensive farming practices of the local people. In 2012, the commune allocated 15 million VND from its budget to invest in pumpkin seeds and seedling preparation. In the coming period, the commune will continue to direct the expansion of pumpkin cultivation on double-cropped rice land in 8 hamlets, striving to have 30-50 hectares of green pumpkins on double-cropped rice land by 2013.
Over the past six years, Hung Tay has also been a locality that has successfully developed winter squash cultivation on land previously used for the third crop. The entire commune currently has over 5 hectares of green squash, grown concentrated in the predominantly Catholic parish area. Mr. Le Dinh Ty, Vice Chairman of the Hung Tay Commune People's Committee, said: "To encourage farmers to develop squash cultivation, the commune invests in all aspects of protection, seedling provision, provides 1 kg of squash seeds per 3 hectares, and even supports farmers with rice seeds for the spring crop on the same land used for the third winter squash crop."
Since 2008, the winter pumpkin cultivation movement in Hung Nguyen has developed significantly. Currently, the entire district has nearly 100 hectares. Mr. Hoang Duc An, Deputy Head of the Agriculture Department of Hung Nguyen district, shared: Recognizing the effectiveness of the winter pumpkin cultivation model on double-cropped rice land, the district has implemented a program to support 100% of the cost of pumpkin seeds, labor for making seedlings and trellises for farmers in the localities. In particular, they have guided farmers to apply minimum tillage methods in pumpkin cultivation to minimize labor costs. In 2012, the district implemented a support program for pumpkin cultivation in Hung Tan at a rate of 250-300 thousand VND/acre for trellis construction, seeds, and plastic seedling bags.
Compared to the past, growing corn on land previously used for two rice crops requires higher investment costs due to the labor involved in land preparation, seed costs, and the uncertainty of yield and corn prices. Therefore, the area under corn cultivation is expected to shrink. Growing pumpkins, on the other hand, requires less investment and has attractive market prices, making farmers very enthusiastic. This year, favorable weather conditions, with no flooding, resulted in an average pumpkin yield of 7 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). Based on market prices, households growing pumpkins earned at least 7-10 million VND per sao.
According to the people of Hung Nguyen district, growing pumpkins has provided them with experience in commercial production. Pumpkins can be stored for 3-4 months, helping them to proactively manage their supply to the market and ensure stable prices. Therefore, in the coming time, Hung Nguyen district plans to expand the area of green pumpkin cultivation on land previously used for two rice crops.
Luong Mai
