Farmers earn hundreds of millions of dong from intercropping pumpkins.

(Baonghean.vn) - To generate short-term income while waiting for long-term growth, farmers in Nghia Dan have intercropped pumpkins with oranges, tangerines, and rubber trees, yielding high economic returns.

Currently, the entire district has over 100 hectares of pumpkin cultivation. Each hectare of intercropped pumpkins yields nearly 100 million VND in income. Intercropping pumpkins with oranges, tangerines, and rubber trees is a win-win situation, not only helping farmers earn hundreds of millions of VND per hectare but also reducing the time spent weeding and caring for long-term crops.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, from Hong Duc hamlet, Nghia Hong commune, cultivates over 1 hectare of oranges, intercropping them with pumpkins, which he is currently preparing to harvest. He says that growing pumpkins is much easier than growing watermelons, requiring less care and being less susceptible to pests and diseases. With a planting-to-harvest period of about 3 months, farmers spend approximately 10 million VND per hectare on seeds, fertilizers, and care, and after deducting expenses, they earn around 100 million VND.

Mr. Hung shared: "Growing oranges in the first three years requires very high costs. While the canopy is still narrow and the orange trees haven't yielded any harvest yet, we intercrop pumpkins to generate income to reinvest in the orange trees. Pumpkins help control weed growth and retain soil moisture. When we water the pumpkins, the orange trees also benefit. Additionally, after harvesting, the stems and leaves can be used as fertilizer for the orange trees."

Intercropping pumpkins with rubber trees yields high economic returns. Photo: Dinh Thuy

Mr. Dinh Van Minh, Chairman of the Nghia Hong Commune People's Committee, added: "Investing in orange trees in the early years requires a large capital investment, so intercropping is a short-term solution to support long-term growth. In 2016, out of about 60 hectares of newly planted oranges and tangerines in the commune, people focused on intercropping with pumpkins. The commune has organized training courses to help farmers improve the productivity and efficiency of crops in the area."

Easy to grow, easy to harvest, and low-cost, pumpkins have become a top choice for many farmers. Ms. Tran Thi Yen, from Son Tay hamlet, Nghia Son commune, said: "Growing pumpkins and selling them at 4,000 to 5,000 VND/kg can yield an income of 80 million to 100 million VND/ha. Last season, my family earned nearly 100 million VND, which allowed us to reinvest in orange trees."

Pumpkins can be stored for up to two months after harvesting. Each pumpkin crop can yield multiple harvests, which is advantageous for farmers. (Photo: Dinh Thuy)

Ms. Dang Thi Mai, from Binh Nghia hamlet, Nghia Binh commune, is cultivating 10 sao (approximately 1000 square meters) of rubber trees in their third year. To utilize the empty spaces between the rubber rows, her family has planted pumpkins as intercrops. Ms. Mai said: "In the three years since planting, the 10 sao of pumpkins have brought my family an income of 50 million VND per year. Near harvest time, traders come to place orders in advance. I've been intercropping pumpkins with rubber trees for three years, but I've never had to take the pumpkins to sell. Trucks come to buy them directly from the farm; it's a win-win situation. If I see a low price, I wait for someone else to offer a higher price. The pumpkins, once ripe, can be stored for a long time without spoiling. In general, growing pumpkins is very relaxing because I don't have to worry about finding buyers."

Currently, Nghia Dan district has over 100 hectares of pumpkin plants intercropped with orange, tangerine, and rubber trees from the first to the third year. The communes with the largest areas of intercropping include Nghia Binh, Nghia Hong, Nghia Yen, Nghia Son, and Nghia Lam…

To avoid being forced to accept low prices, farmers in Nghia Dan intercrop their pumpkins so that they don't ripen all at once. At this time, some farming households have begun harvesting with great joy, anticipating a bountiful pumpkin crop and good prices.

Dinh Thuy

(Nghia Dan Radio Station)