The 'counting leaves to collect money' season of betel growers in Nghe An

People of Nghi An commune (Vinh city) pick betel leaves to import for traders. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Is a household with a growing areabetel leavesThe largest in Nghi An commune, Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai's family (Hamlet 5) said. "My family has been growing betel since the 90s of the last century. At first, there were only ten betel bushes for family use and sale at the market. The demand for betel is increasing, the economic value is many times higher than other crops, so my family decided to expand the area. Up to now, my family has about 1,500m² Betel leaves are grown in gardens and fields, each month giving an average income of 25 - 30 million VND from selling betel leaves. In the near future, I will rent fields to expand the betel growing area.

According to Mr. Thai, betel leaves sell best and have the highest price during this time.TetFrom Tet Ong Cong, Ong Tao to the 15th day of the first lunar month is the time when people's needs increase.

During Tet, Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai's family earned millions from selling betel leaves. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“On this occasion of Tet, each betel leaf costs 1,500 - 2,000 VND. We cannot pick enough to supply to traders, so we have to mobilize the whole family to pick and stack betel leaves. There are days when we sell thousands of betel leaves, earning 2-3 million VND,” said Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai.

On an area of ​​300m² Growing betel, these days, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy's family in Hamlet 7, Nghi An is also busy harvesting betel leaves to sell to traders. "Since the full moon of December, the price of betel has shown signs of increasing. Currently, each betel leaf in the garden is sold for 1,500-2,000 VND, double the previous price. The peak is from the 24th to the 29th of Tet. As soon as the betel is picked, people come to buy it right in the garden. Although we have mobilized all the human resources in the family, we cannot meet the number of traders purchasing it in time."

The entire Nghi An commune currently has about a few dozen households growing betel trees commercially, most concentrated in hamlets 5, 7, and 8. Many households grow several acres, while the smallest grow only a few meters.

Betel leaf prices increase during Tet. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to betel growers, the months before Tet have favorable weather, the plants grow well, produce high yields and are less susceptible to leaf fungus. Especially at the end of the year, the demand for worship increases, the price of betel increases compared to normal days (3 to 4 times higher), bringing a good income to people.

“At one point, in Nghi An, there were hundreds of households growing betel leaves with an area of ​​up to several hectares. However, the plant is very picky about soil, picky about growers, and susceptible to disease, so many households do not know how to care for it, causing many areas of betel leaves to die. Therefore, near Tet, Nghi An betel leaves are very “in demand”, said Mr. Nguyen Duy Tho, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Nghi An commune.

Not only in Nghi An, on the occasion of Tet, betel growers in Nghi Truong (Nghi Loc) and other localities are excited that this year, there is no frost, the betel leaves are beautiful and sell for a good price./.