Nam Dan farmers earn 60 million VND/ha from red sweet potatoes

Previously, on 3 acres of fertile land of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ty's family in Ho Son 1 hamlet, Van Dien commune, they often grew corn; in this year's autumn-winter crop, after being informed about the model and trained in the technical process of growing red sweet potatoes, Mrs. Ty registered to participate.

According to Mrs. Ty, growing sweet potatoes requires less labor and material costs than growing corn and peanuts; mainly using decomposed manure, no need to use pesticides, after harvest, it reaches more than 1.5 tons/sao, which means the income is much higher.3 times more than corn.

Experimental planting model of starchy sweet potato varieties Ha Nam Vuong 1 and KL 20209 in Van Dien commune (Nam Dan). Photo: Thuy Tinh

In the 2017 winter crop, Van Dien commune cooperated with enterprises to select 1 hectare of fertile land in Ho Son hamlet to test planting two varieties of red sweet potatoes, Ha Nam Vuong 1 and KL 20209. Participating in the model, in addition to being instructed on how to plant and care for them, people were also supported with a portion of seedlings and fertilizers.

Through the actual production in abnormal climatic conditions, affected by consecutive heavy rains, but thanks to the high beds and the application of the correct production process, the sweet potatoes grow well. According to the evaluation of the model's results, after only 3 months of planting, 1 sao of sweet potatoes can be harvested.yield 1.5 - 2 tons of tubers, profit reaches over 3 million VND/sao.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai - Chairman of Van Dien Commune People's Committee said that in the coming time, he will cooperate with businesses to replicate the model in the area, aiming to change the crop structure because the commune currently has an area of ​​other ineffective crops.

Currently, localities in Nam Dan district are also focusing on expanding the area of ​​red sweet potato cultivation. In the 2017 winter crop alone, Nam Dan had more than 300 hectares of sweet potato cultivation, with 20 hectares planted under the product consumption linkage model.

Model evaluation, starchy sweet potato variety yields from 1.5-2 tons/sao. Photo: Thuy Tinh

According to Mr. Ho Dinh Thang - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Dan district, if 1 sao of winter corn only earns more than 1 million VND/crop, growing sweet potatoes according to the model gives an income of over 3 million VND/crop. "MDespite the unfavorable weather conditions affecting production, the assessment shows that growing red sweet potatoes is highly economically efficient, reaching over 60 million VND/ha. In the coming time, the district will continue to direct communes to replicate the model, and at the same time coordinate with businesses to consume the products" - Mr. Thang added.