Good income from growing native cucumbers in Yen Thanh

Farmers in Minh Thanh commune harvest cucumbers. Photo: Xuan Hoang

These days before and after Lunar New Year, farmers in Minh Thanh commune, districtYen Thanhgo to the fields to harvest cucumbers to sell to traders. This is a native cucumber variety, has a fragrant, cool taste, and is popular in the market.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Quy in Hamlet 8, Minh Thanh Commune said that her family grows 2 sao of winter cucumbers on ineffective rice land, and the time near Tet is the time for the first harvest, with a price of 5,000 VND/kg. Characteristics ofcucumberCucumbers are fast-growing fruits, so they should be harvested continuously. After Tet, the family continues to harvest and sell them to traders. "Cucumbers are harvested continuously for 2 months, with a yield of over 2 tons/sao. With a field price of 5,000 VND/kg, 1 sao can earn 10 million VND. For this type of soil, it is higher than other crops," Ms. Quy shared.

The native scented cucumber variety has small fruit but has a fragrant, cool taste and is popular in the market. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Ho Xuan Sau - Vice Chairman of Minh Thanh Commune People's Committee said that as a mountainous locality, many years ago the commune directed people to grow cucumbers on fertile land, ineffective rice cultivation in hamlets: 8, 1 and 7, almost every year they brought good income. Therefore, cucumbers and winter crops are traditional crops for these hamlets, winter cropsThis year, the whole commune planted 16 hectares. This is a local cucumber variety, the fruit is small, but has a fragrant, cool flavor, so customers like it. After Tet, many traders from many places, including Thanh Hoa, come to order and buy. However, the price depends on the weather, on hot sunny days the price is high and conversely, on cold rainy days the price will decrease.

"When harvesting, people choose beautiful fruits for breeding, so every year they can proactively source this native breed for production. However, growing cucumbers requires a lot of investment, because they have to build a trellis for the cucumbers, so people have to prepare many sticks," said Mr. Ho Xuan Sau.

This winter crop, Minh Thanh commune planted 16 hectares of native cucumbers. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Mr. Nguyen Trong Huong - Director of Yen Thanh District Agricultural Service Center said: Last winter crop, the district grew a number of vegetables, but cucumbers were only grown on Minh Thanh land. Of the 16 hectares of local cucumbers, the Center supported 8 hectares from the intensive farming model on ineffective rice-growing land, with a level of nearly 10 million VND/ha for people to buy fertilizers, pesticides, training... Because people have experience in planting and caring for them and apply techniques, cucumbers here grow well and have high yields./.