Watermelon prices are good, farmers earn nearly 100 million VND/ha

(Baonghean.vn) - These days, people in the mountainous areas of Quynh Thang commune, Quynh Luu district are entering the watermelon harvest season with the joy of a good harvest and good prices; on average, 1 hectare of watermelon brings in a profit of nearly 100 million VND.

Present at the watermelon field of Ms. Pham Thi Thu's family in Dong Xuan village, Quynh Thang commune, she and her workers are currently harvesting nearly 1 hectare of watermelon to sell to traders in time. Thanks to favorable weather and careful care, her family's watermelon garden has a high yield when harvested; an estimated 17 tons of fruit.

Farmers in Quynh Thang commune (Quynh Luu) harvest watermelons in joy of a good harvest and good price. Photo: Viet Hung

The current price of watermelon is 8,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, Ms. Thu's family earns about 90 million VND. "This year, watermelon is expensive from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Anyone who grows watermelon has a big hit, with an income of 100 million VND per hectare. Traders compete with each other to buy, so the output is very secure," Ms. Thu shared.

Quynh Thang commune has about 15 hectares of watermelon concentrated in Dong Xuan village. It is known that the watermelon variety that people are growing is Phu Dong melon, which has been cultivated on sand dunes for the past 3 years.

The largest Phu Dong watermelon weighs 4 - 5 kg, this variety of melon is juicy and sweet. Photo: Viet Hung

According to local people, watermelon is not a main crop but it brings high economic efficiency. Especially, in hot weather, watermelon prices are high, so people are even more excited; in just 2-3 months of planting and caring, they can earn around 100 million/ha.

Although watermelon currently brings high income, the locality still prioritizes three main crops: citrus, sugarcane and pineapple. Watermelon is only intercropped after people have finished harvesting sugarcane or pineapple. However, it can be affirmed that the introduction of watermelon into hilly land has brought high efficiency, without changing the traditional production form of the people.

Currently, because watermelons are not abundant in many places, every time people harvest, traders come to the fields to buy them. Photo: Viet Hung Photo

Mr. Pham Xuan Thuy - Head of Dong Xuan village, Quynh Thang commune said: "This year, watermelon has a good harvest and a higher price than previous years. Watermelon is planted by people after harvesting sugarcane or pineapple, usually from February people sow seeds or sow late watermelon in March, and harvest in June."

In favorable land conditions like in Quynh Thang commune, the application and introduction of watermelon into cultivation has helped people have more income. However, people should not massively plant on a large scale but must investigate market demand and at the same time follow the crop calendar to produce, thereby increasing the productivity and value of each crop.

Viet Hung