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.

In the fields, farmers are seen everywhere with bright smiles because this year watermelons sell for a good price. From early morning, Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong in Hamlet 13, Nghi Long Commune (Nghi Loc) went to the field 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, and the harvest time is big and sweet, so they are 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 ready to harvest, all of which bear big, sweet fruit. 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 in 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 brought to markets in Hanoi for sale. 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 method of covering with plastic so the fruits are big and the melons are sweet; on average, planting 1 sao of melons, farmers earn 10 million VND. Currently, we are directing people to harvest and weed to produce in between crops."

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 growing vegetables and fruits with high economic efficiency in colored communes. Propagating and replicating 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".

TMr. Hien