Growing pumpkin in 70 days, earning 100 million VND

(Baonghean.vn) - After only 70 days from planting to harvest, pumpkin plants have brought about better economic efficiency than traditional crops on alluvial land in Anh Son and Tan Ky districts.

With 5 sao of pumpkin, Ms. Le Thi Niem's ​​family in Ha Du village, Cam Son commune earned more than 40 million VND.

The pumpkin growing model of Ms. Le Thi Niem in Ha Du village, Cam Son commune, this spring her family planted 5 sao of pumpkin, since the first harvest until now she has sold more than 7 tons of fruit, with the selling price of 5 - 6 thousand VND/kg, she earned nearly 20 million VND, minus expenses the profit is over 18 million.

Ms. Niem excitedly said: It is expected that from now until the end of June, Ms. Niem's ​​family's pumpkin field will harvest about 6 tons of fruit. Thanks to that, her family earned more than 40 million VND in this pumpkin crop. Also in 6 months, if you plant 1 sao of corn on alluvial land, minus expenses, you will only earn 400 thousand VND. Meanwhile, planting pumpkin has the same investment cost as corn, but in a shorter time, it gives 7 times higher income.

The whole Anh Son district currently has over 20 hectares of pumpkins, grown in the alluvial lands along the Lam River such as Cam Son, Tao Son and Thach Son. According to long-standing practice, due to high risks, each year, farmers in the communes along the Lam River only cultivate one spring crop per year, growing traditional crops such as corn, peanuts, and sweet potatoes, but the efficiency is not high. Since the introduction of pumpkins to this land, they have been effective.

Ms. Thuy said that squash is easy to grow and requires little care, especially on this poor land, but the plants are still green and lush. Each squash when sold weighs from 1 to 2.5 kg.

According to farmers' experience, pumpkin is a plant that can withstand drought well, grows quickly, has a short growing period (70-75 days to harvest), avoids floods, and has good fruit quality that is favored by the market. On the other hand, this is a crop with few pests and diseases, requires little use of pesticides, so the investment cost is low. Through harvest, the average yield reaches 30 tons/ha, bringing in a revenue of not less than 100 million VND/ha after deducting expenses. In addition, pumpkin tops and flowers are also a significant source of additional income for farmers.

Recently, farmers in Tan Ky district have focused on changing the crop structure to increase income value per unit area. A typical example is the pumpkin growing model on the barren sandy soil of the Con River alluvial area with an area of ​​12 hectares of Ms. Ngo Thi Thuy's family in Thai Son hamlet, Nghia Thai commune.

Ms. Thuy's family is very excited because this year's pumpkins have good prices and are easy to sell. As soon as they are harvested, traders come and buy them all at a price of 5,000 VND/kg. Each hectare yields 12 tons of fruit, and on average, one hectare of pumpkins brings in a profit of 50 million VND in 6 months.

It can be affirmed that the effectiveness of pumpkin growing models in Anh Son district is a new direction in shifting crop structure, increasing productivity per unit of cultivated land area. This is also the driving force to help farmers promote crop intensification and economic development.

Le Na - Hoai Chung - Cam Tu