Nghe An: Millet farmers earn 40 million VND/hectare.
(Baonghean.vn) - Taking advantage of the potential of the fertile alluvial land along the Lam River, farmers in the flood-prone area of Hung Nhan (Hung Nguyen) have introduced high-yield millet into their summer-autumn crop. Each hectare of millet can yield 40 million VND after only 3 months of planting.
Millet has long been cultivated by the people of Hung Nhan commune, a flood-prone area, on the alluvial plains along the Lam River. However, in the past, the villagers mainly planted it in small plots, intercropping it on both sides of the spring peanut crop using traditional, low-yield millet varieties. Each household would plant five to seven rows, yielding 5-7 kg of millet grains, mainly for making millet cakes, millet porridge, and millet dessert for the family.
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| Officials from Hung Nhan commune inspect a millet field. Photo: Thanh Tam |
To improve productivity and shift towards commercial millet production, in recent years, Hung Nhan commune has sought out and introduced new millet varieties with large ears, many grains, and yields of 2-2.2 quintals/acre, replacing traditional millet varieties.
Previously, farmers mainly produced millet in the spring season and did not include it in the summer-autumn crop. To effectively exploit the potential of the fertile alluvial land along the Lam River, Hung Nhan has built a model millet production field.
First, we encouraged Party members and officials to set a good example, then we promoted the idea to encourage households to participate in production. Initially, it was only 5-10 hectares, but after a few trial seasons, seeing the effectiveness of millet production during the summer-autumn season, many households boldly expanded its cultivation.
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| For the 2017 summer-autumn crop season, the expected millet yield is 2.2 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). Photo: Thanh Tam |
"Growing millet eliminates concerns about product consumption because traders come directly to the farm to purchase it at 2 million VND per quintal. Each hectare of millet can yield 40-45 million VND," said Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tu, a farmer from Hamlet 4, Hung Nhan Commune.
Although millet has only been widely cultivated in the last 5-6 years, it has proven its value in the Hung Nhan alluvial plain. From initial pilot planting models, most hamlets have now incorporated millet into their summer-autumn production, making it a major crop that brings significant income to the people.
After harvesting the spring peanuts, farmers only need to plow and prepare the land for sowing. When the millet plants have 2-3 leaves, they thin out the seedlings, weed, and fertilize until harvest. Since the millet ripens simultaneously, it only needs to be harvested once, like rice. The investment cost for growing millet is also low; each plot only requires 0.7 kg of millet seeds and 3 kg of fertilizer. From sowing to harvesting takes only 3 months. |
In the 2017 summer-autumn crop season, Hung Nhan commune planted over 50 hectares of millet. Mr. Tran Cong Hoan, Secretary of the Hung Nhan Commune Party Committee, stated: “Compared to other crops, millet is easy to cultivate, requires low investment, but yields a high harvest, making farmers very happy. In the coming years, Hung Nhan will continue to expand its millet cultivation area. In 2018, Hung Nhan is expected to plant approximately 70 hectares of summer-autumn millet.”
With the potential of 140 hectares of riverside land along the Lam River, farmers in Hung Nhan can expand their cultivated area in the coming years because this crop is tolerant of both drought and flooding.
Thanh Tam
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