Farmers earn hundreds of millions of dong from intercropping squash

(Baonghean.vn) - To make short-term profits, Nghia Dan farmers have intercropped pumpkin with oranges, tangerines, and rubber trees, bringing high economic efficiency.

Currently, the whole district has more than 100 hectares of pumpkin. Each hectare of intercropping brings in nearly 100 million VND in revenue. Planting pumpkin intercropped with oranges, tangerines, and rubber trees kills two birds with one stone, not only helping farmers earn hundreds of millions of VND/hectare but also reducing the time spent weeding and caring for long-term crops.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung in Hong Duc hamlet, Nghia Hong commune, grows more than 1 hectare of oranges, and at the same time he intercrops pumpkins, which are currently preparing for harvest. He said that growing pumpkins is much healthier than growing watermelons, not only does it require less care but it also has fewer pests and diseases. With the time from planting to harvesting being about 3 months, each hectare of farmer spends about 10 million VND on seeds, fertilizers, and care, and after deducting expenses, the income is about 100 million VND.

Mr. Hung shared: Growing oranges in the first 3 years costs a lot, while the canopy is still narrow, the orange tree has not been harvested yet, so I intercropped pumpkin to have income to invest back into the orange tree. Growing pumpkin both limits weed growth and keeps the soil moist, when watering the pumpkin, the orange tree also benefits. In addition, after harvesting the stems and leaves, they can be used as fertilizer for the orange tree.

Growing pumpkins among rubber trees brings high economic efficiency. Photo: Dinh Thuy

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

Easy to grow, easy to harvest, and low cost, pumpkin has become the top choice of many farmers. Ms. Tran Thi Yen, Son Tay hamlet, Nghia Son commune said: Growing pumpkin if sold at 4,000 to 5,000 VND/kg can bring in an income of 80 million to 100 million VND/ha. Last crop, her family harvested nearly 100 million, thanks to which she had money to reinvest in orange trees.

Harvested pumpkins can be stored for 2 months. Each pumpkin crop can be harvested in many different batches, which is convenient for farmers. Photo: Dinh Thuy

Ms. Dang Thi Mai, Binh Nghia hamlet, Nghia Binh commune, is planting 10 sao of rubber trees for the third year. To take advantage of the empty land between the rubber rows, her family has planted pumpkins. Ms. Mai said: In 3 years of planting, from 10 sao of pumpkins each year, the family earns 50 million VND. Near the harvest time, traders come to order in advance. I have been planting pumpkins with rubber trees for 3 years, but I have never had to sell pumpkins. Cars come to buy right away, buying and selling are mutually beneficial, if I see a cheap price, I wait for someone else to come and pay more. When the pumpkins are ripe, they can be kept for a long time without spoiling. In general, growing pumpkins is very comfortable because I do not have to worry about the output.

Currently, the whole Nghia Dan district has about more than 100 hectares of pumpkin intercropped with orange, tangerine, and rubber trees from the first to the third year. In which, the communes with large intercropping areas are Nghia Binh, Nghia Hong, Nghia Yen, Nghia Son, Nghia Lam...

To avoid being forced to pay higher prices, Nghia Dan farmers plant in between crops so that the squash plants do not ripen all at once. At this time, some farmers have started harvesting with excitement because the squash plants have a good harvest and good prices.

Dinh Thuy

(Nghia Dan Radio)