Anh Son farmers harvest solid green squash for record high price
(Baonghean.vn) - After 3 months of planting and caring, more than 10 hectares of squash planted in the first mass crop by the people of Phuc Son commune (Anh Son) have now been harvested, with the selling price reaching 17,500 VND/kg, earning a profit of 7-8 million VND/sao.
These days, Mr. Nguyen Van Chung's family in village 8, Phuc Son commune is harvesting pumpkins on the sandbank along the Lam River.
Mr. Chung said: Previously, in this alluvial land, only a few households grew squash and it was very effective, so this year, all households have grown it en masse. This is the first year that Mr. Chung's family has put 2.5 sao of their alluvial land into growing squash.
 |
| Anh Son farmers harvest the first green squash of the season. Photo: Thai Hien |
According to Mr. Chung, this is a short-term crop, easy to grow, only 90 days from planting to harvest and 5 to 6 harvests. To help the squash grow well, limit water evaporation and weeds, his family covered it with plastic.
Currently, squash is entering the harvest season. Due to the cold weather at the beginning of the season, squash cannot grow, so it has affected the yield, each sao only reaches 800 kg - 1 ton, but the price is at a record high. Currently, traders buy at the garden for 17,500 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, Mr. Chung's family earns 8 million VND/sao.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, in village 1 of Phuc Son commune, shared: After the People's Committee of the commune had a policy to change the crop structure, planting green squash on alluvial land, her family planted on an area of 3 sao. The land here is very good because it is silted with alluvium, has few pests and diseases, and has a water source nearby, convenient for irrigation, so this season her family has harvested 2 crops of fruit, with more than 1 ton of squash, bringing a net profit of nearly 10 million VND.
 |
| Traders buy pumpkins for sale in the northern provinces. Photo: Thai Hien |
Mr. Nguyen The Phuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Son Commune, said: In the winter crop of 2016, Phuc Son Commune started planning 5 hectares in the Lam River alluvial area for specialized production of commercial vegetables, mainly growing green squash.
Seeing the effectiveness of squash, this year people have expanded the mass planting area to more than 10 hectares. Up to this point, on local land, there is no plant that brings a stable income like squash.
The selling price at the field is high, fluctuating at 17-20 thousand VND/kg, so farmers still earn 150 million VND/crop per hectare of squash. Moreover, the squash is long, has a dense core, few seeds, is favored by consumers and has a very stable output, farmers harvest and transfer to 1-2 locations to wait for trucks to come and buy immediately to send to the northern provinces. This is the premise for the locality and people to feel more secure and confident to plant squash in the following crops.
Not only in Phuc Son commune, but currently, green squash is grown by people in Anh Son district in Cam Son, Thach Son, Duc Son, and Tao Son communes with an area of over 100 hectares.
With the motto "clean, quality, good for health", Anh Son squash growers have paid more attention to the consumer market, focusing on producing clean agricultural products to meet consumer needs.
Anh Son district is encouraging people to expand the area of fertile land, hilly land, and rice fields, making squash a key crop that brings high income to people.
