Melon plants in Nghi Thach

(Baonghean.vn) -For many years, farmers in Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc district) have known how to exploit the advantages of their land to cultivate muskmelon. To date, the total area planted with muskmelon in the commune has reached 12 hectares per season, and the produce is not only supplied to the local market but has also reached other districts through traders...

Cantaloupe has been grown in Nghi Thach for a long time. Because the climate and soil here are well-suited, the melons are much tastier and more fragrant than those from other regions, making them very popular. Almost all villages in the commune grow cantaloupe, although the area is not large, but every household has melons to sell during the season. When speaking with the farmers in the cantaloupe fields, they all share the same opinion: In terms of economic efficiency, growing cantaloupe yields two to three times the profit of growing rice and other vegetables. A major advantage of cantaloupe is that the seeds don't need to be purchased; simply select ripe fruits, extract the seeds, dry them, and store them properly for use in planting the next season.

This year's spring melon crop faced unfavorable weather conditions, with little sunshine and prolonged high humidity leading to root rot and leaf wilting, causing the vines and plants to die. Most of the crops, which had only been harvested the first time, suffered from wilting. Farmers have now finished harvesting the spring crop and are preparing for the next planting.

Farmers in Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc district) are continuing to care for their summer-autumn muskmelon crop.

Introducing new varieties of cantaloupe to be intercropped with rice has helped many families quickly escape poverty and achieve stable incomes. Mr. Mai Khac Duong (from Xuan Tien hamlet) said: "My family has utilized shallow, unsuitable rice fields to grow cantaloupe. With 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of cantaloupe in the spring, if well cared for, we could earn nearly 30 million VND in just 2 months. But this year, due to unfavorable weather, the yield and quality of the cantaloupe are low, with only 8-10 million VND per sao. Last year, between April 1st and April 20th (lunar calendar), I harvested 30-40 kg of cantaloupe daily, but this year it takes 2-3 days to harvest about 30 kg. Because of the poor harvest and low yield, traders come to buy the cantaloupe directly from the field as soon as it's harvested, at an average price of 5,000-6,000 VND/kg."

Through research on the cultivation techniques of cantaloupe from several long-time farmers, it has been learned that this variety is not picky about soil, requires little fertilizer or pesticides. Newly planted cantaloupe can be harvested within two months, and does not need trellises; the vines are allowed to trail on the ground to bear fruit. The planting beds are not complicated. Care techniques are quite simple; for one acre (approximately 1000 square meters), the entire crop only requires an investment of 15-20 kg of NPK fertilizer, 5 kg of potassium fertilizer, 2 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 1-2 kg of manure, and a small amount of animal manure. During growth, the cantaloupe is resistant to pests and diseases, and when it's time to harvest, the fruit ripens evenly, allowing for quick harvesting. To achieve high yields and good quality, pest and disease control is crucial. The most common cantaloupe disease is wilting, so good care is needed to keep the plants healthy and disease-resistant. To ensure beautiful, high-quality fruit that is easy to sell, each plant should only be allowed to bear 3-5 fruits.

Mr. Dang Ba Huong, Vice Chairman of the Nghi Thach Commune People's Committee, said: "Mustard melons have been grown in Nghi Thach for a long time, mainly in Hamlet 13 with a modest area of ​​about 1 hectare. Since 2005, the area has continuously expanded, concentrated in Hamlet 1, Xuan Lac, Xuan Tien, Xuan Hoa, Xuan Thinh... By 2007, the commune had changed its crop structure, forming specialized cultivation areas in the Cang Ba, Nuong Toan, and Sau Dinh fields... on high, inaccessible land where water sources are not readily available. The reason why mustard melons are chosen by the people is because they are suitable for the local climate and soil, so they develop quite well and have become a key crop helping many households develop their economy. But more valuable is that the spring mustard melons are harvested from the end of April to mid-May, making them a lifeline for people during the lean season. However, one of the difficulties for melon growers is the lack of techniques for preserving the fruit after harvest. Therefore, in the hot climate..." "In the summer, the melons ripen all at once; if they're not sold quickly, they'll crack open and rot."

The economic benefits from growing muskmelon are very promising, opening up a new direction for the people of Nghi Thach commune and overcoming the difficulties caused by the complex terrain. The commune also focuses on changing the crop structure, upgrading the irrigation system, encouraging the expansion of muskmelon cultivation area, and promoting the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge for farmers to apply, improving the quality and yield of the crop. Currently, the spring muskmelon crop has ended, and farmers are continuing to care for the summer-autumn crop on this land.

Text and photos: Ngoc Anh