Main season melons sell well, Nghe An farmers make big profits

Currently, melons are in harvest season, with each sao bringing in an average income of 15-20 million VND for Nghi Huong residents. Photo: Thanh Phuc

On a 3-hectare field in Dien Bien block (Nghi Huong ward, Cua Lo town), people are busy and hurried.melon harvestto bring to the market in time for sale. This is a traditional melon variety, associated with Nghi Huong people for 30 years. Nghi Huong melons are oblong in shape, when ripe the skin cracks open, the melon flesh is smooth and fragrant, very "popular" with consumers.

This year, the weather is favorable, the melons have a good harvest and good prices. After harvesting, the melons are purchased by traders at the field for 12,000 VND/kg or by fruit from 10,000 - 30,000 VND/fruit (depending on size). Compared to previous years, the average price of each fruit has increased by 3,000 - 5,000 VND/fruit. On average, each sao of melons brings in an income of 18 - 20 million VND, after deducting expenses, the net profit is 10 million VND, 7 times higher than growing rice.

Melons are purchased by traders at high prices in the field. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Hoang Thi Hong, a melon grower in Dien Bien block, said: “Mellow melon is a local variety, self-cultivated, requires little care, does not require pest control and has a short growing period, only 1.5 months (fruit melon) and 2.5 months (main season melon) for harvest. There are two melon crops each year, the main crop is planted from February to early April for harvest; the fruit crop starts from May to late June for harvest. Compared to rice and corn, melon has many times higher economic value.”

Dien Bien block has 200 farming households, of which about 120 households grow melons. For the past two years, the melon growing area of ​​Nghi Huong people has been reduced due to land acquisition for construction.coastal routen. Previously, the whole ward had 10 hectares of melons, but now it has decreased to 4 hectares. Due to the economic efficiency of melons and the desire to preserve and develop local melon varieties, Nghi Huong ward is planning to develop the area of ​​melons on rice fields.

Nghi Huong and Nghi Thach melons are traditional local varieties, with a special delicious taste, different from new varieties of melons in other provinces. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc), there are about 10 hectares of melons, mainly concentrated in the hamlets: Xuan Lac, Xuan Hoa, Xuan Tien, Xuan Thinh and Trung Khanh. According to melon growers, melons have the advantage of not having to buy seeds, not spending on materials such as nitrogen, phosphorus or pesticides. This type of plant only likes manure. The cost is low while the selling price is high, so growers make a profit.

Mr. Nguyen Tho Khang, a melon grower in Xuan Thinh hamlet, said: "This year, the hot weather came early, so melons are selling well. After harvesting, some people buy them right in the field. Many households sell them to passersby along Highway 46 to Cua Lo; import them to refreshment shops and retail at Vinh city markets at higher prices. My family harvests 40-50kg of melons every day, earning about 1 million VND."

Melons are available at local markets in Vinh city and are a popular summer fruit choice for many people. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, the melon harvest season is in full swing. Every day, in the Nghi Huong and Nghi Thach melon fields, traders from all over come to buy. People also proactively connect with refreshment shops to find a stable outlet for the melons. Therefore, the melons are sold out as soon as they are harvested. In about a week, the main melon season will end, so continue to prepare the land and plant seeds for the fruit melon season.

Melon is a delicious - nutritious - cheap - cool fruit, both thirst-quenching, good for cooling, and can cure many diseases such as: treating acne and pigmentation, making skin smooth, curing insomnia, dry cough, constipation...

When buying, choose a melon with a thin skin and heavy in the hand. Delicious and safe melons have a thin layer of hair on the skin, giving off a pleasant aroma. If the melon is soaked in chemicals, both the hair and the aroma will be gone.