Early season watermelons in Nghia Dan have good prices.

(Baonghean.vn) - These days, watermelon farmers in Nghia Dan district (Nghe An) are very excited because it is the season.are purchased by traders at high prices, earning profits of tens of millions of VND/ha.

According to the farming calendar, the watermelon harvest is about 20 days away, but currently, many farmers in Nghia Thinh commune, Nghia Dan district have harvested watermelons early, selling them at prices twice as high as last year.

Thanks to proper fertilization techniques, Nghia Thinh watermelons are even and sweet, so they are favored by customers. Photo: Minh Thai

Previously, this sandy riverside land was often abandoned. This year, Mr. Vo Van Thanh (Hamlet 10, Nghia Thinh Commune) boldly bid with the Veterans Association of Hamlet 2 to invest in growing watermelon. During the watermelon season, there was a lot of rain, so the yield and output decreased compared to last year, estimated at 1 ton/sao. However, because the watermelon was planted early, the selling price was 1,500 - 2,000 VND/kg higher than previous years. Currently, the selling price at the field is 6,000 VND/kg. With 1.5 hectares of watermelon, after 3 months of planting, Mr. Thanh's family earned a profit of over 90 million VND.

According to people's calculations, if the melons are sold for 4,000 VND/kg, farmers will have made a profit. However, in recent years, watermelon has also been the riskiest crop, because the price depends on the Chinese market. Learning from previous years, due to massive planting without spreading out the season, Nghia Thinh watermelons were sold for only 1,500 - 2,000 VND/kg, and there were even no buyers. This year, many households planted 20 days earlier to sell the melons early, for higher income.

Farmers in Nghia Thinh commune sell early-season watermelons to traders; currently selling at the field price of 6,000 VND/kg. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Nguyen Van Lien - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghia Thinh Commune added: The whole commune currently has 5 hectares of watermelon. Although this is a crop that brings high economic efficiency, the output is unstable, so the income is also uncertain, one year is profitable, the other is not. This year, people plant scatteredly in many teas, not ripening at the same time as every year, so they avoid being forced to lower prices by traders. Currently, the weather is hot, the demand for watermelon is high, traders buy as soon as the watermelon ripens.

The entire Nghia Dan district has nearly 700 hectares of watermelon, grown mainly in the communes of Nghia Son, Nghia Yen, Nghia Lam... This is also the main crop in agricultural production of the people. In recent years, the district has promoted the transfer of science and technology for farmers to apply and improve crop efficiency.

Minh Thai