Dien Chau farmers 'pocket' hundreds of millions of VND/ha thanks to new chili varieties

Farmers in Dien Phong commune harvest hot chili peppers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Que Van Son's family in Dong Ho hamlet, Dien Phong commune grows 3 saochilion fertile land. After 2.5 months of care, the chili is now in the main harvest season. This local chili variety has a yield that is superior to previous chili varieties.

According to estimates, each sao of chili yields 1.5 - 2 tons, with the current selling price of 12,000 - 15,000 VND/kg of ripe chili, Mr. Son earns 45 million VND, minus expenses, net profit is 35 million VND. Mr. Son is excited: "This year, chili has a good harvest, the yield is twice as high as last year, the price has also doubled, so farmers have a big profit."

Growing 2 sao of chili peppers, Mr. Tran Lan Long in Huong Duong hamlet is also very excited that this year, the disease-free, high-yielding chili peppers were all purchased by the company at a price 2-3 times higher than previous years.

This year, chili peppers have a bumper crop, with exceptionally high yields. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“The first harvest, green chili was bought for 8,000 VND/kg, then ripe chili was bought for 12,000 VND/kg and now, in the main season, the price has increased to 15,000 VND/kg. With high productivity and high purchase price, people can still make a profit of 12-17 million VND per sao after deducting expenses,” said Mr. Long.

Winter-spring cropThis year, the entire Dien Phong commune planted 10 hectares of chili, which is a traditional crop of the locality. Previously, people planted chili varieties with lower productivity and unstable output.

Chili plants are harvested from the Lunar New Year to the end of the fourth lunar month. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Starting in 2017, Dien Phong Commune Agricultural Service Cooperative has partnered with a company specializing in exporting chili to grow and purchase products for the people. However, before that, chili varieties were still low in productivity and the purchase price only fluctuated from 5,000 - 7,000 VND/kg, so the income from chili plants was not high.

“After a year of not growing chili due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, this winter-spring crop, Dien Phong Agricultural Service Cooperative cooperated with a chili export company to plant new chili varieties. Accordingly, the company provided seeds, technical support, and contracted to purchase all products at market prices. In particular, thanks to good disease management, the chili plants are disease-free and have high yields.

Chili peppers are purchased at market prices. Currently, ripe chili peppers cost 15,000 VND/kg, 2.5 times higher than previous years. Photo: Thanh Phuc

According to estimates, chili yield reaches 30 tons/ha, in some households with good care, yield reaches 35-40 tons/ha", said Mr. Que Van Duyen - Director of the Cooperative.

According to calculations, for each sao of chili, farmers only need to invest 2 - 2.5 million VND and take about 2.5 months of care to harvest. With the current purchase price, after deducting expenses, farmers still "pocket" 200 - 300 million VND/ha.

Ms. Chu Thi Mai - an agricultural officer of Dien Phong commune said: "Chili pepper is very suitable for the land of Dien Phong commune. At the beginning of the season, due to the impact of heavy rain, the entire chili area of ​​the people was flooded, seemingly lost. Thanks to following the recovery care process instructed by a company specializing in agricultural science, the chili field was saved, recovered quickly, and achieved high productivity.

The flood in 2022 caused the chili plants to be heavily waterlogged and wilted. Later, thanks to following the care and disease management process, the chili plants recovered quickly and produced high yields. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With the success in productivity and price of this year's chili crop, next year, the commune will cooperate with the company to expand the chili growing area, in order to improve the economic efficiency of winter-spring crops.

The most difficult problem in chili cultivation is the harmful anthracnose disease. Anthracnose causes damage to many parts of the chili plant, from leaves, branches, fruits, especially if the fruit is severely damaged, all preventive measures are ineffective. The disease causes serious yield loss in the field and after harvest, it is very difficult to preserve and transport because the pathogen spreads quickly, causing fruit rot, making it almost impossible to export. For anthracnose, regularly check the field, and take preventive measures when the disease first appears on leaves and fruits using Profesfar®Vosong 800WP combined with Mitop One 390SC. If detected in time and treated according to the correct technical process, farmers do not have to spray the drug many times, because the source of the disease is cut off right from the beginning of the flowering stage and before. Ensuring a long and safe quarantine period".

Master of Agriculture Phan Anh The