Nghia Dan farmers enter watermelon growing season

(Baonghean.vn) - After the Lunar New Year, Nghia Dan farmers are busy planting a new crop of watermelons to serve summer consumption. Watermelon plants have now established their position in Nghia Dan with the advantages of being quick to harvest and easy to consume.

Plant protection station staff go to the field with people growing melons. Photo: Minh Thai

This year, Nghia Dan planted 700 hectares of melons, concentrated in the communes of Nghia Yen, Nghia Lam, Nghia Mai, Nghia Binh, Nghia Son... Of which Nghia Yen occupies a relatively large area, about 115 hectares.

Nghia Yen commune has 5 hamlets that benefit from the water source from Khe Canh dam. Therefore, many households have boldly switched to growing watermelons to take advantage of irrigation water. Mr. Phan Van Quang's family in hamlet 2 has 8 sao of land and this is the second year the family has grown watermelons. Although the seedlings have only been planted for a week, with favorable weather like this, the garden has few pests and diseases, and the plants are growing well.

Vo The Hung's family in Son Doai hamlet, Nghia Son commune also rented land to grow watermelons in Nhu Xuan district (Thanh Hoa). This year, Hung rented 2 hectares, about 15 million VND/ha, to grow watermelons. Hung said, "Last year's watermelon crop had an average yield of 25 to 27 tons/ha. With a selling price of 4,000 - 6,000 VND/kg. After deducting investment costs and land rent, the profit was about 100 million VND."

Mr. Phan Van Quang in Hamlet 2, Nghia Yen Commune, is growing watermelon for the second year. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Nguyen Huy Anh, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture, said: This year, the district has instructed farmers to plant melons in batches, avoiding mass planting for high efficiency. The district's plant protection station and the district's Department of Agriculture have directly gone to the communes to instruct people on how to plant and care for the plants./.

Minh Thai

(Dai Nghia Dan)