Traders are busy buying up frozen potatoes in Nghe An.

In early April, the potato fields of Hung Hai commune, Dien Chau district, are bustling with activity as the harvest takes place. Large baskets of uniformly sized potatoes are quickly loaded onto traders' trucks for transport to various destinations.

According to local authorities, the entire commune currently has over 70 hectares of sweet potato cultivation, concentrated mainly in hamlets 2, 4, and 6. This year's sweet potato crop achieved an average yield of 9-10 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). With selling prices ranging from 9,000 to 10,000 VND per kilogram, each sao of sweet potatoes brings in revenue of nearly 15 million VND.

Sweet potatoes are planted from the end of October in the lunar calendar. Farmers mainly grow local sweet potato varieties, such as the white-flowered sweet potato, which have high resistance and are suitable for the sandy soil in the area. Throughout the cultivation process, people did not encounter too many difficulties thanks to favorable weather, few pests and diseases, and convenient irrigation due to consistent rainfall this year.

Ms. Pham Thi Buoi, a farmer in Hamlet 2, Hung Hai Commune, shared: “I have been growing sweet potatoes for nearly ten years, but I have never seen the tubers so uniform, beautiful, and fetch such a good price as this year. After 4 months of cultivation, each plot of sweet potatoes yields an income of nearly 15 million VND. After deducting investment costs of just over 2 million VND, my family earns a profit of up to 12 million VND per plot.”

This year, the product's consumption has been rapid and smooth. According to surveys, the purchase price at the farm ranges from 9,000 to 10,000 VND/kg, about 15-20% higher than the same period last year. Many traders had placed orders before the harvest.

Ms. Tran Thi Phon, a long-time agricultural product trader in Hung Hai commune, said: “This year, the potatoes here are beautiful, with bright skins and high quality. I buy tens of tons every week to send to the South and the North, mainly to wholesale markets and some processing facilities. The price is high, but they are still easy to sell, and there is almost no unsold stock.”

Currently, most of the potatoes harvested from Hung Hai commune are sent to major markets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Vinh, and to some restaurants and hotels that order them as ingredients for specialty dishes. A small portion is used as seeds for the next season.

According to calculations by many farmers, the investment cost for each plot of land planted with sweet potatoes is over 2 million VND. The time from planting to harvesting is about 4 months. With current selling prices, after deducting costs, growers earn a profit of about 12 million VND per plot. This is a very promising income level in the context of rising agricultural input costs.

The Hung Hai commune government also plays an active role in supporting farmers' production. Ms. Hoang Thi Huyen, an agricultural officer in Hung Hai commune, said: “Right from the beginning of the season, we coordinated with specialized agencies to organize training on potato cultivation techniques, guidance on pest and disease control, and post-harvest care and preservation techniques. At the same time, the commune also created favorable conditions for traders to purchase the produce conveniently, ensuring that the product reaches consumers in a timely manner.”

Besides technical support from the government, the Farmers' Association of Hung Hai commune also implements a policy to support farmers in borrowing fertilizer on deferred payment terms, helping people reduce financial pressure at the beginning of the season and feel secure in investing in production.

At the same time, the association also guided local people to utilize the small tubers and vines of sweet potatoes after harvest as feed for deer – a characteristic livestock of the area. Utilizing by-products from sweet potato plants not only saves on livestock costs but also contributes to building a circular economy model in Hung Hai commune – where deer farming is thriving.

Sweet potatoes are gradually establishing their role in the crop structure of Hung Hai commune thanks to their low investment costs, short cultivation time, and high economic efficiency. Many farmers are planning to convert land previously used for less productive vegetables to sweet potato cultivation. Some households are even considering forming cooperatives or production groups to ensure stable output and increase product value.

The successful potato harvest not only helps farmers increase their income but also contributes to promoting the transformation of crop structure and building a sustainable agricultural foundation for the locality.