Watermelon ready for harvest withered and died, farmers lost billions

Dien Phong Commune is considered the "capital" of watermelon in Dien Chau District. Every year, people grow two crops of watermelon, with an area of ​​about 200 hectares. These days, farmers are sitting on hot coals as many fields of Black Beauty watermelons planted after Tet suddenly wilted and rotted before they could ripen. The cause is believed to be the impact of unseasonal rains that caused the watermelons to be flooded and the roots to rot. When exposed to hot weather, the watermelons began to deteriorate, wilt and gradually die.

Watermelons of farmers in Dien Phong commune (Dien Chau) died prematurely due to heavy rain and hot weather. Photo: Mai Giang

Looking sadly at her family's nearly 5 sao watermelon field, Ms. Chu Thi Luong in Tay Ho hamlet, Dien Phong commune said: "The entire watermelon field is currently wilted and dry, the fruit has reached a weight of 1.5 - 2 kg but is not ripe yet so it cannot be harvested. The dead plants cannot grow fruit so it is considered a total loss. The investment of 5 sao of watermelon cost more than 20 million VND, not including labor costs. The lucky households can keep 30%, otherwise they have to uproot the whole field."

Sitting absentmindedly next to the damaged melon field, Mr. Nguyen Van Huu sadly said: “The heavy rain lasted so long that people were unable to react in time, and his family's 3 sao of watermelon were flooded. When the rain stopped, the watermelon plants soaked in water became infected, then, exposed to the hot and humid weather, they withered and died. The family's 3 sao of watermelon will be ready for harvest in about 10 days. On average, each sao of watermelon produces 1.5-2 tons of fruit, with a selling price of 6,000 VND/kg, they can earn more than 30 million VND. Now, with this situation, it is a total loss."

Melon fields facing erratic rain and sunshine also suffered crop losses. Photo: Mai Giang

Due to early land clearance, Dien Phong commune has a spring-summer watermelon crop of 100 hectares, of which 60 hectares are only 10-15 days away from mass harvest. However, this area was damaged by unseasonal rain, then sudden sunshine caused the plants to die and no longer be able to produce fruit.

In addition, the newly planted melon area in the pollination period was also washed away by the rain, losing the first fruit set tea. Dien Phong commune also had more than 20 hectares of melon trees that died and had to be harvested early and sold at low prices.

Mr. Tran Quoc Binh - Vice Chairman of Dien Phong Commune People's Committee said: We mobilized forces to drain water in the fields after the rain, instructed people to spray root stimulants to save the plants, but it was not effective, the melon plants in the sun all lay limp on the ground.

"On average, each hectare of melon in Dien Phong commune brings in an income of 200 million VND. With 60 hectares, this crop Dien Phong commune suffered a loss of more than 10 billion VND, not to mention the investment in seeds, fertilizers, and plastic bags of up to 4 million VND/sao. The commune People's Committee has reported to the district and proposed to support farmers to restore production. We also instructed people that if there is no way to save them, they have to destroy them and collect the plastic bags to plant a new crop," said Mr. Binh.