Nghia Dan farmers 'eat and sleep' with cantaloupe and watermelon

Taking advantage of the long-term crop areas in the early years such as rubber, custard apple, guava and the orange land areas that are out of cycle and ineffective, farmers in Nghia Hieu commune have grown melons for economic efficiency. The whole commune has about 50 hectares of melons, and in Son Mong hamlet alone, there are more than 40 hectares, mainly melons.

Mr. Cao Thanh Vinh in Son Mong hamlet, Nghia Hieu commune intercrops melons in 8 sao of custard apples. Photo: Dinh Thuy

On his family's 8-acre melon field interspersed with custard apple garden, Mr. Cao Thanh Vinh in Son Mong hamlet, Nghia Hieu commune said that the melon has been planted for 1 month, and is currently focusing on pruning the branches to make the melons flower.

Although intercropping, the family still invested in machinery, drip irrigation systems, and covered with plastic so that weeding and watering were less difficult. Mr. Vinh said: Growing melons is more economically efficient than other crops such as corn and beans, but you have to "eat and sleep with melons", monitor the weather every day to have measures to care for and prevent pests and diseases for melons.

Phan Van Hien's family in Son Mong hamlet planted 9 sao of melons this year, and the melons are currently in the fruiting stage. Hien said that this year's weather has been erratic, so it is more difficult to grow melons than previous years. Some plants have curled leaves and curled tops, and there is no specific treatment so they have to be pulled out. With 9 sao of melons, Hien is present in the field every day to water, tie the vines, and pinch the tops.

Pointing to the green melon field, Mr. Hien shared: Melon varieties are often susceptible to diseases such as yellow leaves and whiteflies. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously check for timely treatment. In addition, at the beginning of the season, appropriate water regulation is very important for plant growth. Although it is difficult, I hope this year's melons will have a good harvest and good prices like last year to compensate for the hard work of melon farmers.

Ms. Le Thi Loan in Son Mong hamlet, Nghia Hieu commune said that at this time she spends most of her time pruning, watering and taking care of the melons. Photo: Dinh Thuy

Mr. Phan Trung Vinh - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghia Hieu Commune said: Most of the melon growing area of ​​Nghia Hieu Commune is concentrated in Son Mong Hamlet. This is a hamlet with a tradition of agricultural production in Nghia Hieu Commune. In recent years, farmers in the hamlet have mainly grown 10-12 hectares of melons, but this year the area of ​​melons grown by people is larger. At this time, the melon plants are growing well, people are focusing on taking care of and fertilizing the melon plants.

Despite the erratic weather, melon growers in Nghia Hieu commune have applied technical advances, using agricultural covers to limit water evaporation and control weeds, worms, and planthoppers that harm melons.

Mr. Ngo Sy Binh - Chairman of Nghia Hieu Commune People's Committee added: In the process of planting new rubber, custard apple, orange trees... or land areas that need time to be renovated, farmers in Nghia Hieu commune intercrop melons, squashes to make use of the land. In recent years, these crops have brought high economic efficiency in Nghia Hieu commune.

Melon plants are highly susceptible to pests and diseases, so to grow melons effectively, farmers must be knowledgeable and have the right techniques. The Commune People's Committee also coordinates to organize technical training courses and pest control for melon plants. At the same time, it propagates to farmers not to grow one type of melon in bulk, but to spread out the crops for more convenient output.

Early melon areas will be harvested in about a month, besides, there are melon areas that have just started to be planted. With this method of spreading out the crops, melon growers in Nghia Hieu commune will not harvest massively at the same time, avoiding being forced to lower prices. Farmers here also mainly use organic and biological fertilizers to improve quality, hoping for a bumper crop of melons.

Dinh Thuy