Growing tomatoes, farmers in Quynh Luu earn a profit of 100 million VND per hectare.
(Baonghean.vn) - Vegetable growers in Quynh Luu district say that tomatoes are difficult to grow this year, resulting in low yields. Therefore, prices have been higher than in previous years right from the start of the season. To extend the harvesting period, farmers are actively taking care of their tomato plants.
Clip: Xuan Hoang |
After Tet (Lunar New Year), tomatoes are available at the vegetable market.Quynh LuuThe tomatoes are starting to ripen, and farmers are beginning their first harvest. Upon investigation, it was found that tomato growers are pleased with the high prices, but yields have decreased due to the recent rainy weather, which made cultivation difficult; in fact, many families have had to replant their crops multiple times.
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| After the Lunar New Year, tomatoes in Quynh Luu have begun to ripen and are ready for harvest. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Mr. Ho Van Son from Quynh Minh commune said that his family planted 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) of tomatoes (organic tomato variety). The rainy weather in the last months of 2022 made it difficult to care for the crop, resulting in...tomatoThe plants are slow-growing, and some crops even need to be replanted. Due to difficulties from the start, although the tomatoes produced many fruits, they were smaller than in previous years, resulting in low yields. Previously, this tomato variety yielded over 2 tons per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), but this year it is estimated to yield just over 1 ton per sao. However, the high selling price has allowed farmers to make a profit. At the beginning of the season, traders bought them at 16,000 VND/kg, which has decreased slightly now, but is still higher than in previous years.
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| This year, tomato yields are lower than in previous years, but the selling price is higher. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
"Farmers here plant tomatoes in staggered seasons, so the amount harvested daily isn't much, while the market demand is strong. It's predicted that tomato prices will remain high this year. Besides the tomato plants that are ready for harvest, there are still some that have just started bearing fruit, some that haven't even climbed the trellis yet. Therefore, tomato harvesting in Quynh Luu will continue for many more months," said Mr. Ho Van Son.
Observations show that on tomato plants that have already ripened and are ready for harvest, farmers continue to fertilize and irrigate daily. They explain that tomatoes produce multiple crops and have a long harvesting period, so they need to take care of the plants to prevent wilting and to ensure the fruit develops quickly and beautifully.
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| Farmers in Quynh Luu district often choose organic tomato varieties to grow. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Ms. Ho Thi Loan, the owner of a tomato garden in Quynh Minh commune, shared that growing tomatoes requires significant investment and a long period of care. Towards the end of the growing season, the tomato plants develop old, yellow leaves that need to be pruned to improve air circulation, allowing the plants to grow better, the fruit to absorb more sunlight, ripen quickly, and have an attractive appearance.
According to farmers' calculations, if this crop of tomatoes yields about 1.5 tons per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), then with the current selling price of 13,000 - 15,000 VND/kg, after deducting all costs, tomato growers will still make a profit of 5 - 6 million VND per sao.
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| When tomatoes are almost ready for harvest, farmers prune the leaves to expose the fruit, making them more visually appealing. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hang, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Quynh Luu District, said: "During the past winter season, the entire district planted about 50 hectares of tomatoes, concentrated in the coastal communes. The experience of the people in Quynh Luu is to plant in staggered seasons, which facilitates harvesting and consumption, avoiding the situation of harvesting all at once leading to 'oversupply' and price manipulation."
"Although the yield was low, traders compensated by buying at high prices, so tomato growers in Quynh Luu still made a profit of 100-120 million VND/ha this season," said Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hang.
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| Besides the tomato plants ready for harvest, there are still some that haven't climbed the trellises yet. This is a technique used by farmers in Quynh Luu to plant in staggered seasons, extending the harvesting period and preventing price pressure. Photo: Xuan Hoang |