Off-season coriander yields an income of 150 million VND/ha.

(Baonghean.vn) - With favorable conditions regarding land and irrigation water sources,People in Quynh Luong commune, Quynh Luu district, have been growing coriander out of season, yielding high economic value and income 3-5 times higher than growing it in the main season.

These days, the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Quy in Hamlet 3, Quynh Luong Commune, is harvesting coriander to sell to traders. Ms. Quy is one of the first households in the commune to grow off-season coriander in greenhouses.

To grow coriander out of season, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quy in Hamlet 3, Quynh Luong Commune (Quynh Luu District) invested in building a greenhouse system to protect it from the effects of the weather. Photo: Thanh Toan

According to Ms. Quy, growing vegetables in season doesn't require much care, but the economic efficiency isn't high. After researching and visiting vegetable farming models in other localities, she adopted off-season vegetable cultivation. Coriander grows best in the winter-spring season, from October to January of the following year. During the peak season, coriander only costs 3,000 - 5,000 VND/kg, but off-season prices increase to 12,000 - 15,000 VND/kg; with an area of ​​1.5 sao (approximately 1500 square meters), Ms. Quy earns about 300,000 VND per day.

These days, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quy in Hamlet 3, Quynh Luong Commune (Quynh Luu District) is hiring laborers to harvest coriander in the fields. Photo: Thanh Toan

As one of the pioneering households in Quynh Luong commune in introducing off-season coriander cultivation, Ms. Quy has experience in caring for this vegetable.

Ms. Quy said that coriander is very easy to grow and care for, grows vigorously, and is rarely affected by pests or diseases. Before sowing, the seeds should be soaked in water for 12-14 hours. After sowing, a light layer of straw or a very thin layer of soil can be used to retain moisture and encourage faster germination. During hot weather, the plants need to be shaded and watered frequently to maintain moisture.

"Growing off-season vegetables requires special attention to the weather because both sunny and rainy weather affect the plants, so careful protection is necessary. Every night I have to listen to the weather forecast; if the weather station predicts rain, I have to go to the field to carefully protect the plants," Ms. Quy shared.

Coriander from Quynh Luong is purchased by traders and transported to various provinces and cities; during the off-season, coriander fetches prices ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Toan

Ms. Vo Thi Thu Hien, an agricultural officer in Quynh Luong commune (Quynh Luu district), said: "Currently, the entire commune has 2 hectares of coriander. Previously, coriander was mainly grown in winter, but for the past two years, some households have switched to growing coriander out of season in greenhouses. This has overcome the challenges of hot weather and heavy rain, is suitable for the investment level of farmers, and the plants grow and develop well, yielding an income of about 150 million VND/hectare. The commune is completing the application to request district support for a model of safe vegetable production in greenhouses, with an investment of about 150-200 million VND."

Thanh Toan