Watermelon covered with plastic, profit 10 million VND/sao

(Baonghean.vn) - Across the fields, farmers in Nghi Loc are harvesting watermelons; currently 100 hectares of plastic-covered watermelons are being purchased by traders from the northern provinces at high prices.

Across the fields, farmers’ bright smiles can be seen everywhere because watermelons are selling well this year. Early in the morning, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong in Hamlet 13, Nghi Long Commune (Nghi Loc) went to the fields to pick watermelons to sell to traders.

"This year, I covered all 4 sao of watermelon with plastic, the soil is more moist, the plants absorb more nutrients, the harvest time is big and sweet so it is very popular. Currently, watermelons are sold at the field price of 6,500 VND/kg, about 2,000 VND/kg higher than last summer-autumn crop. With 4 sao of watermelon produced within 2 months, my family earned 40 million VND, many times higher than other crops" - Mr. Cuong shared.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong's 4 acres of plastic-covered watermelons are all big and sweet when ready for harvest. Photo: Thu Hien

According to melon growers in Nghi Long commune, normally, watermelons are sold for 5,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the season, and during the main season, they drop to 4,300 VND/kg. However, this year, even though it is the peak harvest season, the selling price at the field is still 6,500 - 7,000 VND/kg. Notably, this year, the number of traders coming to buy melons is greater than previous years, not only with motorbikes but also with large trucks, coming from many provinces and cities in the North.

A trader named Dao said that Nghi Loc watermelons are not only supplied to markets in the province but also sold in markets in Hanoi. I think the soil here is suitable for watermelons, so the fruit is sweet, delicious and popular in the market.

In Nghi Long commune (Nghi Loc), on average, 1 sao of watermelon in the summer-autumn crop brings in an income of more than 10 million VND. Photo: Thu Hien

Mr. Nguyen Tu Ngoc - Vice Chairman of Nghi Long Commune People's Committee said: "This year, the locality directed the production of watermelons using the plastic covering method, so the fruits are big and the melons are sweet; on average, farmers earn 10 million VND from planting 1 sao of melons. Currently, we are directing people to both harvest and weed to produce in alternating seasons."

Watermelon is a crop that adapts to fields with fast drainage systems; the growing area is mainly concentrated in the color-rich communes such as Nghi Long, Nghi Trung, Nghi Truong, Nghi Thinh, Nghi Hop, Nghi Khanh. The time from planting to harvest is within 2 months. This summer-autumn crop, the yield of watermelon reached 32 tons/ha; with an average selling price of 6,500 VND/kg, Nghi Loc earned over 20 billion VND.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Tho - Vice Chairman of Nghi Loc District People's Committee: "The district continues to review and develop plans for vegetable and fruit growing areas with high economic efficiency in colored communes. Propagating and expanding models with economic efficiency in the direction of VietGAP; focusing on improving technical infrastructure to ensure intensive farming for people, especially the issue of waterlogging".

THu Hien