Green asparagus on Tam Hop land

(Baonghean) -Farmers in Son Thanh hamlet, Tam Hop commune, Quy Hop district are starting to harvest the first batches of green asparagus and its initial effectiveness is gradually being confirmed through income.

In April 2012, after visiting and learning in Thai Hoa Town and seeing suitable climate and soil conditions, 9 households of Son Tay Cooperative (Tam Hop Commune - Quy Hop) started a trial planting of more than 2 hectares of green asparagus. For example, Mr. Ho Duc Thong boldly destroyed 7 sao of low-yield, low-quality crop production to plant green asparagus. After 6 months of planting, it is now ready for harvest. He said: "Asparagus plants bring double the income compared to other crops. This plant does not use pesticides, idle laborers invest once, and can be exploited for 5 to 7 years later".

Growing asparagus for high yield Photo: Tran Hai

For farmers in Tam Hop, the most difficult thing is still the output for agricultural products, but since switching to growing green asparagus, people are very excited because Ha Hiep Company Limited is purchasing the products.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Son Thanh hamlet, Tam Hop commune shared: “Switching to growing bamboo shoots, we are happy to have the company buy our products. The initial bamboo shoot harvest yielded good results, with 1 yen per day.”

Green asparagus can be harvested all year round and can be harvested for 8 to 10 years, depending on the care and investment of each household. Growing green asparagus requires meticulousness, effort and a large investment cost, the cost of buying seeds, fertilizers and care for each hectare is about 170 million VND. According to calculations, 1 hectare of asparagus can bring in an income of 400 - 450 million VND/year.

Currently, the demand for green asparagus is very high, ordered by restaurants, hotels and supermarkets. Currently, each kg of asparagus is sold for over 40,000 VND. According to farmers' calculations, each kg of asparagus only needs to be sold for 40,000 VND, each year 1 sao of green asparagus will bring in an income of about 100 million VND. In the coming time, the Board of Directors of Son Tay Cooperative will gradually turn this plant into a main vegetable crop.

Green asparagus growers here have been provided with seeds, fertilizers and loans to pay 50% of production costs by Ha Hiep Company Limited in Thai Hoa.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoang, Director of Ha Hiep Company Limited added: “Up to now, 2 hectares have been successfully planted and have generated high income. The company's direction in the coming years is to build a large raw material area, at least 10 to 20 hectares, even 30 hectares, to both improve the people's lives and create a raw material area for the company, creating a clean vegetable area to serve the common life of the people in the area".

This is a favorable condition for farmers in Son Tay Cooperative, Son Thanh hamlet, Tam Hop commune to develop a sustainable green asparagus model, aiming to create a new product of high value in the district.

Phan Giang (Quy Hop Station)