Hundreds of tons of Ky Son squash have not been sold yet.

Many families in My Ly commune still have tons of pumpkins left over. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Green squash is grown by ethnic minorities.Ky Son districtgrown on swidden fields, beautiful fruit, good quality, favored by the market in previous years. This year, although it has been many days since the harvest, the selling price is lower than previous years, there are still hundreds of tons that have not been consumed.

The border commune of My Ly is the locality with the largest area of ​​green pumpkin in the district. Some families harvested over 5 tons of pumpkin this season, but people were not very excited. Mr. Vi Van Hoang in Xieng Tam village, My Ly commune, said that this year his family planted green pumpkin on the fields, with an estimated yield of about 7 tons of fruit, but by September 16, only 1/3 of the fruit had been sold.

"In previous years, during the pumpkin harvest, traders bought heavily and at high prices, but this year traders bought less, at only 4,000 - 5,000 VND/kg (last year it was 8,000 VND/kg), it is still difficult to sell. Currently, there are about 5 tons of fruit left on the field," said Mr. Vi Van Hoang.

This year's causezucchinidifficult to consume, according to Mr. Vi Van Hoa - agricultural officer of My Ly commune, in previous years, only a few households in Xieng Tam village grew squash with a small area, so it was easy to consume. This year, Xop Tu village also grows squash, the area has increased sharply, many families harvest squash from the fields and pile it up on the floor, hoping that traders will come to buy.

In Muong Xen town (Ky Son), there are many places selling green squash at this time, but according to the people, the consumption is very slow. Ms. Loan, a vegetable and fruit seller in Muong Xen town area, said that this year the fruit is beautiful, good quality, but the price has decreased by 3,000 - 4,000 VND/kg compared to last year.

"In previous years, traders bought in large quantities and transported them downstream for consumption, but this year purchasing power has decreased significantly. Only occasionally do people buy retail for personal use, so they don't dare buy in large quantities for people," said Ms. Loan.

Mr. Phan Van Manh - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Ky Son district said: Ky Son's green squash is grown in the communes: My Ly, Bac Ly... in which the most is My Ly commune. Like previous years, inharvestPumpkin, people have a significant source of income, because the selling price is high, consumption is good. On the contrary, this year the purchase price of pumpkin is much lower and it is difficult to consume. It is estimated that Ky Son's pumpkin output this year is over 200 tons, but there are still over 100 tons that have not been consumed, making people worried.

Green squash is grown by people on their fields. Photo: Quang An

Green squash is an easy-to-grow and easy-to-care-for plant. People mainly grow it on swidden fields. Because it is suitable for the local climate, it has high productivity and good quality. According to people, this year the favorable climate has resulted in a higher yield of green squash than in previous years.