A commune in Nghe An earns 20 billion VND from chayote

Located in the coastal area, Quynh Lien commune is known as the largest vegetable growing area in Hoang Mai town. In the last days of the year, people are focusing on harvesting chayote, a key crop grown in the winter in the commune.

Quynh Lien chayote is planted at the end of the 8th lunar month and can be harvested after more than 2 months; The harvest period lasts from 5 to 6 months. Photo: Viet Hung

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan in Hamlet 5, Quynh Lien Commune, this year the weather is favorable, the chayote crop is in good season and the price is good; currently her family is gathering people to harvest 7 sao, expected to bring in an income of nearly 100 million VND.

Chayote is planted by people at the end of the 8th lunar month, and can be harvested after more than 2 months. The harvest period lasts from 5 to 6 months; the time when chayote gives the highest yield is in the 12th lunar month. According to people, it has been a long time since chayote has been purchased at such a high price as now, from 4,000 to 5,000 VND/kg. Meanwhile, there were times when chayote dropped to 500 VND/kg. Currently, on average, growers make a profit of about 15 million VND per sao of chayote.

Farmers in Quynh Lien commune (Hoang Mai town) harvest chayote. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, a chayote grower, excitedly said that his family grows 3 sao of chayote. During harvest time, he only needs to add fertilizer and water, the fruit will continue to grow and be harvested gradually. Every 2 to 3 days, his family picks about 1 ton of fruit; as soon as they harvest, traders come to the field to buy it all.

"Since the harvest, my family has picked 6 tons of fruit, earning more than 30 million VND; if the harvest is finished, we will have about 60 million VND. From now until Tet, we will harvest about 3 more times, then stop and continue harvesting after Tet. With good prices, growers will be better off this year," said Mr. Binh.

Quynh Lien commune currently has 310 hectares of vegetable cultivation area, of which about 300 households grow chayote on an area of ​​70 hectares. According to statistics, on average, 1 hectare yields nearly 100 tons; with 70 hectares of chayote growing area, the annual output reaches nearly 7,000 tons. With a purchase price of 4,000 - 5,000 VND/kg lasting the entire season, the entire Quynh Lien commune earns more than 20 billion VND from growing chayote.

Chayote is purchased at the field for 4,000 - 5,000 VND/kg; on average, 1 hectare brings in about 350 million VND in income. Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Ho Ngoc Tang - Chairman of Quynh Lien Commune People's Committee said that chayote is considered a key crop in developing winter crops in the locality, therefore, in recent years, the area of ​​chayote has remained stable despite fluctuating prices. At this time, each hectare brings in an income of about 350 million VND. Therefore, the commune always cares and directs people to follow the crop calendar to sow and care for it; at the same time, it seeks markets so that Quynh Lien chayote is welcomed and consumed in many places.

To sell the products to the people, there are currently over 20 sources in the commune that collect chayote in the fields and then bring it to Hanoi for consumption, about 100 tons per day. Not only is it sold domestically, but in the past 7 years, chayote has also been exported to China.