Nghe An shallots are harvested early, with prices three times higher than the main crop.

Shallots in Nghia Trung commune, Nghia Dan district grow well. Photo: Minh Thai

It's still more than a month until the onion harvest, but now that onion prices are high, many farmers in Nghia Trung commune, Nghia Dan district have harvested early.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan's family in Trung Tam hamlet has nearly 30 years of experience growing shallots in Nghia Trung commune. According to the family's experience, every year they plant a few weeks earlier than the farming calendar to select large bulbs to harvest early before Tet, which will sell for a higher price than in the main crop. At this time, shallot prices range from 70,000 to 80,000 VND/kg, while in the main crop, they only sell for 20,000 to 25,000 VND/kg.

Farmers in Nghia Trung commune exchange experiences in growing shallots for high efficiency. Photo: Minh Thai

Currently, many households in the Central hamlets have boldly switched from ineffective cassava and sugarcane growing land to growing chives, which is more economically efficient than growing other crops. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien's family has 2.5 sao of land that used to grow sugarcane, but in recent years she has switched to growing chives. At this time, the onion leaves are still green, and it will be more than a month before harvest, but with the field price of 70-80 thousand VND/kg, her family has harvested early.

According to Ms. Hien's calculation, 2.5 sao of onion land, after deducting expenses, 1 sao earns about 15 million VND in profit. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien shared: "Previously, my family grew sugarcane, but the factory's purchase price was unstable, so my family switched to growing chives, which brought in a much higher income."

Shallots in Nghia Trung commune, Nghia Dan district are selling for a good price. Photo: Minh Thai

With the advantages of being an easy-to-grow plant, with few pests and diseases, drought-resistant, and very suitable for gravelly soil, chive growers in Nghia Trung are very confident with this plant variety.

Shallots are purchased by traders in neighboring districts and sold in big cities such as Vinh, Hanoi, and Saigon. Every year at this time, traders come to buy directly from the garden, the price is higher than in previous years, so the shallot growers in Nghia Trung commune are very excited.

Since early January 2021, people in Nghia Trung commune have harvested shallots early. Photo: Minh Thai

Shallots have a good harvest and good prices. Each sao of shallots yields 2.5-3 quintals, and sells for 70-80 thousand VND/kg. After deducting all expenses, each sao of shallots brings in 12-15 million VND.

Mr. Vi Dinh Tuan - Vice Chairman of Nghia Trung Commune People's Committee added: In the past time, chives have contributed to increasing income for people in 3 hamlets 17, 21 and 22, now Trung Tam hamlet. In the coming time, we will continue to convert ineffective sugarcane growing areas to grow chives suitable for the local soil. From chives products, people can sell fresh bulbs or dry them to sell dried onions. It can be said that if the price is good, each hectare of chives can bring in 300 million VND./.