Off-season fragrant gourds fetch high prices in Nghe An.

Farmers in Cam Son commune are harvesting off-season fragrant gourds with joy at having a bountiful harvest and good prices. Photo: Thai Hien

At this time, while most farmers are preparing the land to sow winter gourds in time for the planting season, some people in Cam Son commune are focusing on harvesting off-season fragrant gourds with the joy of a bountiful harvest and good prices.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang, residing in Hamlet 4, Cam Son Commune, stated that in previous years, loofah was grown in two main seasons: spring-summer and autumn-winter; however, selling the produce was very difficult during harvest season. Recognizing the significantly higher economic value of loofah compared to other vegetables, and its shorter growing period of only 45 days, her family invested in off-season cultivation on 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) this summer-autumn season. Currently, the main harvest season is underway, yielding 8-9 yens (approximately 100-90 kg) of loofah daily, and up to 200 kg at peak times.

Due to the scarcity of loofah this season, the supply of green vegetables in the area is insufficient, resulting in high prices. After harvesting, traders come directly to the farm to purchase the produce; the current purchase price is 8,000 - 10,000 VND/kg. In just 4 days since harvesting, Ms. Giang's family has already earned nearly 5 million VND. By the end of the season, after deducting expenses, each plot of land will yield an income of approximately 10-12 million VND.

These days, the family of Ms. Le Thi Hoa in Hamlet 4, Cam Son Commune, is also busy harvesting off-season fragrant gourds. Ms. Hoa shared: This is the first year she has grown gourds out of season.Starting in July, she planted the seeds on her fertile land. Although the weather wasn't favorable for gourd growth at the beginning of the season, good care resulted in a fairly high yield. With an area of ​​2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters), she harvests and sells about 80-100 kg of gourds every day. Especially after the floods, when green vegetables were scarce, gourds fetched a good price and were easy to sell. On harvest day, traders came directly to the fields to buy and weigh the gourds right there, so the farmers didn't have to go to the market to sell them like during the main season.

Not only in Cam Son commune, but also in Thach Son, Hoa Son, and Tao Son communes, farmers are utilizing their home gardens, embankments, and cultivated land to grow loofah.With an area of ​​10 hectares, according to the locals, growing loofah requires little investment, yields daily harvests, and provides continuous harvesting for 3-4 months. At current prices, each plot of land (1 sao) of loofah yields 1.5-2 tons, with a net profit of 10-12 million VND per plot.

Currently, growing loofah is helping people earn extra income, contributing to alleviating difficulties after some crops were completely destroyed following floods.Given the value that fragrant gourd brings, Anh Son district encourages people to expand the cultivation area on fertile land, hillside land, and paddy fields.