A unique model of growing coriander in greenhouses in Nghe An.

(Baonghean.vn) - Dien Thai commune (Dien Chau district) has implemented a model of growing coriander on 10 hectares, accounting for 3% of the total agricultural land area of ​​the commune. However, this crop yields high profits, achieving revenue of nearly 100 million VND/ha.

The family of Mr. Dinh Viet Ky, Hamlet 7, Dien Thai, is harvesting coriander.

These days, the family of Mr. Dinh Viet Ky (Hamlet 7, Dien Thai) is still busy harvesting coriander to sell to traders. Mr. Ky is one of the first households to grow coriander in the commune. He said: “Previously, my family grew fruit trees but did not achieve high yields. However, when we converted the rice land to coriander, it brought great success. At one point, coriander reached 20,000 – 30,000 VND/kg, and my family earned more than 300,000 VND per day selling this vegetable.”

As one of the pioneers in making coriander a popular crop in the commune, Mr. Ky has experience in caring for this vegetable. He said that coriander is very easy to grow and care for, especially it is not affected by weather and rarely suffers from pests and diseases. It is a herbaceous plant, short in height and tolerant of shade, so it can be intercropped with other crops and perennial plants. This method saves on fertilizer and pesticides, utilizes production land efficiently, and increases income. During hot weather like this, it's necessary to provide shade, water, and maintain moisture for the plants. Therefore, Mr. Ky has built trellises to provide shade for the coriander, protecting it from the heat in the summer and increasing watering.

Locals have invested in greenhouses to protect their vegetables from the heat during the summer.

Another very notable feature is that the cultivation of coriander is not seasonal; people harvest it year-round, so the supply to the market is abundant. With current market prices ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 VND/kg, people in Dien Thai earn 200,000 to 300,000 VND per day.

Currently, the total agricultural land area of ​​Dien Thai commune is 375 hectares, of which only 10 hectares are used for growing coriander, accounting for 3% of the cultivated land. It is mainly grown in the gardens of individual households, but it yields higher income compared to other vegetables. Coriander appeared in the area in 2001, but at that time it was only grown sporadically, not widely propagated, and the market demand was not high. From 2011, people began to grow it more because they saw its great economic benefits. Currently, the hamlets with the most coriander cultivation are hamlets 7, 6, 1, and 3. Growing coriander requires sufficient warmth but also good drainage and protection from excessive heat.

Mr. Cao Van Huyen, Head of the Agricultural Extension Board of Dien Thai commune, said, "Coriander is a vegetable crop mainly grown in the commune, bringing high economic efficiency, with revenue reaching about 100 million VND/hectare, three times higher than rice cultivation. Coriander requires little care but can be harvested year-round, so people always have a regular income. Most of the coriander is sold to traders who take it to Vinh City for consumption."

Coriander is a very popular herb on the market, used as a seasoning in many dishes such as beef stew, sour soup, fish soup, and as a spice. In addition, it has many medicinal uses such as pain relief, treating colds and flu, and bedwetting in children.

Coriander leaves are harvested every 25-30 days. One plot of coriander yields 3-4 quintals per harvest. Harvesting takes place about 7 times a year, resulting in a yield of 2 tons per plot. This translates to an income of nearly 15-20 million VND per plot, or 100 million VND per hectare.

Quang An