Anh Son farmers grow off-season squash on rice fields for record high prices

While harvesting squash, Mr. Nguyen Van Song in village 8, Duc Son commune said: Although the yield of off-season squash is not as high as the main crop, the economic efficiency is many times higher. My family has 2 sao of rice fields, in previous years we produced summer-autumn rice but the yield was not high, this year we switched to growing off-season green squash.

Farmers in Duc Son commune, Anh Son district are excited to harvest green squash. Photo: Thai Hien

According to Mr. Song, this is a short-term crop, easy to grow, from planting to harvest is only 90 days and can be harvested from 5 to 6 crops. Currently, his family's squash has been harvested twice, because squash is grown off-season so the price is very high, while squash in the main crop sometimes dropped to 2,000 VND/kg, but now the price is nearly 9 times higher at 17,000 VND/kg. The first crop his family harvested 700 kg, the second crop 1.5 tons, the total of 2 crops for his family earned more than 30 million VND. In particular, although this crop is difficult to grow, it is very easy to sell, the price is high, traders come to the field to buy, so the family is very excited.

Mr. Le Van Manh's family in village 8, Duc Son commune has been growing green squash for 5 years now. In previous years, they mainly grew winter crops. This year, his family has boldly invested in growing summer-autumn crops on rice fields. Starting from April, Mr. Manh's family planted seeds, and currently the squash is being harvested. With an area of ​​3 sao, his family harvested nearly 2 tons of the last crop, earning more than 30 million VND. From now until the end of the season, they will harvest 4-5 more crops.

This is a short-term, easy-to-grow crop, only 90 days from planting to harvest, and can be harvested 5 to 6 times. Photo: Thai Hien

Mr. Manh said: The reason why the family planted pumpkins off-season is because the economic value is many times higher than that of the main crop and the output of the product is very easy. Currently, we sell at the field price of 17,000 VND/kg, if the price remains stable as it is now, on average, each sao until the harvest is complete, we will earn at least 20 million VND.

Currently, squash is still a short-term commodity crop with the highest income. In particular, this year, people have boldly planted off-season squash on rice fields, with an area of ​​nearly 2 hectares. Although off-season squash is more difficult to grow than the main crop, thanks to good care, the yield still reaches nearly 2 tons/sao. After deducting expenses, people earn over 200 million VND/ha. What makes people excited is that off-season squash has a very stable output, people harvest and transfer to 1-2 locations to wait for trucks to come and buy immediately.

Mr. Tran Quang Trung - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Duc Son Commune, Anh Son District

Although this crop is difficult to produce, it is easy to sell, the price is high, and traders come to the fields to buy, so farmers are very excited. Photo: Thai Hien

In 2020, the Commune Farmers' Association also established a vegetable production cooperative with 34 participating members. Over the past time, the cooperative has been operating regularly to improve the knowledge of Farmers' Association members on science and technology, planting, fertilization, disease prevention, and application of science and technology to squash production to bring high productivity, quality and economic efficiency. Therefore, all households participating in off-season squash cultivation this year are members of the cooperative.

This year, not only farmers in Duc Son commune have planted off-season green squash, but some farmers in Cam Son and Tao Son communes have also planted it on alluvial land and barren land with an area of ​​nearly 10 hectares. Growing off-season green squash with a good price like now is a new way of doing business for Anh Son farmers, increasing income per unit area. Currently, Anh Son district is encouraging people to expand the area on fertile land, barren land, and rice fields, making green squash a key crop that brings high income to people.