Nghia Dan farmers rent dozens of hectares of land to grow watermelons
(Baonghean.vn) - Having affirmed its position in Nghia Dan land, watermelon is the plant that helps many families escape poverty and become quite rich. In addition to the area in the district, farmers also rent land in Thanh Hoa and other districts to grow this plant.
We were present at Dua village, Nghia Yen commune and witnessed farmers planting a new crop of watermelon.
This is the 6th year that Mr. Le Khac Tue's family has grown watermelon. Mr. Tue shared: "Realizing that this type of plant is suitable for the local soil and climate conditions, in the 2021 melon crop, the family expanded the area by 2.5 hectares to intercrop watermelon and cantaloupe. Taking advantage of favorable weather, the family mobilized nearly 20 people to plant seeds with the hope that this year's melons will have a good harvest and good prices."
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| Farmers are planting new watermelon crops. Photo: Minh Thai |
Ms. Hoang Thi Le in Son Lien hamlet, Nghia Son commune, who has been growing watermelon for 4 years, said that last year, she rented 2 hectares in Xuan Hoa commune, Nhu Xuan district (Thanh Hoa). Thanks to good care and good prices, after deducting expenses, her family earned more than 200 million VND. This year, the family continued to rent nearly 3.5 hectares in Xuan Hoa commune, Nhu Xuan district to grow watermelon. To have products to sell on the market as soon as possible, from the end of the 12th lunar month, the family focused on preparing the land and growing the seedlings to plant after Tet.
Ms. Le added: “The family rented 1 hectare of land for 13-15 million VND. This year, the family planted tea the earliest, so we hope that when the fruit comes, the melons will be sold for a high price.”
In fact, over the years,watermelonIt is a crop with high economic efficiency but the price is unstable, depending largely on the Chinese market, so the government has also advised people not to grow it en masse to avoid the situation of having a good harvest but still suffering losses.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tho - Vice Chairman of Nghia Yen Commune People's Committee said: "Implementing the 2021 production project, Nghia Yen farmers have planted 50 hectares of watermelon, 10 hectares of cantaloupe, concentrated in Dua, Dong Song, Lam Sinh villages...".
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| Farmers take care of melons after planting. Photo: Minh Thai |
Learning from previous years’ experiences, seeing the profits of watermelon, people rushed to rent land to grow watermelon without taking into account the difficulties of watermelon plants in the care process such as: pests, water sources, so in the dry season, many watermelon areas withered due to lack of irrigation water. This year, right from the beginning of the season, the Farmers’ Association of Nghia Son commune has stepped up propaganda work, mobilizing people to switch to suitable crops… In addition, the commune also has a specific plan for people to plant seeds, avoiding the situation of having to harvest at the same time.
Mr. Tran Quoc Hong - Chairman of Nghia Son Farmers' Association said: "The Commune Farmers' Association has instructed farmers who are eligible to plant, if the land is too old, they should switch to growing new, adapted crops or rent land elsewhere. And to reassure people, we have coordinated with the District Agricultural Service Center to organize training courses to guide people on how to care for and prevent diseases on melon plants."
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| Before that, from the end of the 12th lunar month, the family focused on preparing the land and growing the seedlings to plant after Tet. Photo: Minh Thai |
Avoid the situation of good harvest but low price this yearNghia Dan districtplanted nearly 500 hectares, less than last year (last year planted 650 hectares) concentrated in the communes of Nghia Yen, Nghia Lam, Nghia Mai, Nghia Binh, Nghia Son... Of which, Nghia Son occupies a relatively large area, about 86 hectares, mainly people here rent land in neighboring communes such as Nghia Binh, Nghia Phu, Nghia Trung (Nghia Dan district); Bai Tranh commune, Xuan Hoa commune, Nhu Xuan district (Thanh Hoa) and Tan Thang commune, Quynh Luu district.
The district also instructed farmers to plant melons in batches, avoiding mass planting to force down prices. To avoid risks, the District Agricultural Service Center and the District Department of Agriculture have also gone directly to the communes to instruct people on how to plant and care for the plants.