Tan Ky farmers stick with sugarcane - the main crop

Mr. Nguyen Van Duc's family in Hong Son hamlet, Nghia Hop commune, Tan Ky district has 5 hectares of sugarcane in Ve field. Thanks to land consolidation, the family has planned a concentrated production area to facilitate intensive investment and mechanization in production.

This is the 2nd and 3rd sugarcane crop area and this year the dry weather has somewhat affected the growth and yield of the sugarcane. However, thanks to planting the KK3 sugarcane variety and paying attention to care, the family has now hired machines to harvest the sugarcane, the average yield is estimated at more than 60 tons/ha, the first year sugarcane area alone is estimated at 90 tons/ha, the total output is estimated at more than 330 tons of sugarcane.

In just 2 days, Mr. Duc's family harvested 5 hectares of raw sugarcane. Photo: Cam Tu

The current price of sugarcane purchased by Song Con Sugar Factory is 830 thousand VND/ton, the family earns more than 270 million VND. The family is happy and excited because this year Song Con Sugar Factory cooperates with businesses.put machine into sugarcane harvestinghas shortened time, reduced labor.

Mr. Duc shared: "I have been growing sugarcane for 6 years now, this is the main source of income for my family. Every year, the sugarcane harvest lasts a month. After cutting the sugarcane, it has to be left in the field for a whole week before being brought to the factory. Now, in just 2 days, my family has harvested 5 hectares of sugarcane. The cost of each ton harvested by machine is 170,000 VND, a reduction of 60,000 VND/ton compared to harvesting by hand. Not only that, the time is prolonged, affecting the next crop."

Mr. Truong Van Ninh's family in Trung Luong hamlet, Tan Xuan commune has been attached to sugarcane for decades. Currently, the family has 2 hectares of sugarcane in the hilly area. At this time, he has finished harvesting the 3rd year of sugarcane stumps and is in the process of removing stumps and preparing the land for new planting. This year, he has brought in machinery to produce from the stage of preparing the land, planting, and later taking care of and harvesting by machine to reduce labor.

He said: "At this time, hiring manual labor is also difficult, expensive, and not profitable. The first time I hired a machine, I found it quick, deep plowing and loose soil, helping the planting and crops grow smoothly. With the machine, I feel secure in growing sugarcane."

Mr. Truong Van Ninh and raw material staff of Sugarcane Joint Stock Company are checking the depth of plowing the land with a machine. Photo: Cam Tu

In the 2020-2021 crop year, the entire Tan Ky district plans to plant over 1,500 hectares of new crops, including 400 hectares in the autumn-winter crop (Dong Van 70 hectares; Tien Ky 30 hectares; Tan Hop 76 hectares; Tan Xuan 40 hectares; Giai Xuan 85 hectares...). Localities have focused on mechanization in production, and planting key high-yield varieties such as LK92-11, KK3.

This year, right from the beginning of the sugarcane harvest and planting season 2020-2021, the Company has coordinated to demonstrate sugarcane harvesting machines as well as sugarcane planting machines for Tan Ky farmers to help them see the effectiveness of shortening the harvest time as well as reducing production costs. Especially for areas with roots from the 3rd year onwards, it is convenient to harvest quickly so that they can be cleared in time to make way for replanting.

Planting sugarcane with machines helps farmers shorten time and reduce production costs. Photo: Cam Tu

The entire Tan Ky district currently has 1,135 hectares of sugarcane concentrated on large-scale fields that are favorable for machinery production, giving superior productivity compared to other areas. Productivity reaches 80 tons/ha or more.

Support policies of Song Con Sugarcane Joint Stock Company help sugarcane growers stick with this crop, have conditions to invest in intensive farming, increase productivity, output and quality of sugarcane.