Growing Israeli cantaloupe in Nghia Dan district.

Mr. Hau borrowed 250 million VND to build a greenhouse, applying high-tech processes, drip irrigation, automatically adjusting the irrigation flow 5-7 times/day, and fertilizing the plants with organic fertilizer. The greenhouse frame is constructed of steel, surrounded by thin netting, and the roof is covered with special nylon. Inside, there is a cable suspension system, an automatic control system for sunshade netting, and an air conditioning system.

After more than a month of planting and caring for the plants, the melon garden, covering over 1 sao (approximately 1000 square meters) with 1,200 plants, is thriving, and the largest fruits have begun to grow on the trellises.

Mr. Hau has implemented an automated irrigation system, automatically adjusting the water flow 5-7 times a day. Photo: Minh Thai

Recognizing the high demand for clean food among the population, and with his family having land to cultivate, Hau went to the South to work as a laborer in a melon farming center, both to learn from experience and to earn an income. After gaining knowledge, he returned to his hometown to invest in melon farming.

Regarding his experience in growing cantaloupe, Mr. Hau said that after planting, the plants are arranged in rows and secured with strings; manual pollination is carried out during the flowering stage. Only one fruit is left on each plant, then all side branches are pruned to improve air circulation and reduce nutrient loss. When the fruit reaches a diameter of 2-4 cm (about 40 days after planting), the top of the plant is pruned to concentrate nutrients on the fruit.

To achieve high yields, manual pollination is necessary during the flowering stage. Photo: Minh Thai

He meticulously planned and programmed a rational nutrient chart for the melon cultivation process, especially during the manual pollination stage, and used a fertilizer formula that ensured the plants received adequate nutrition, thus minimizing investment costs.

"The land in Nghia An (Nghia Dan) is suitable for growing high-tech cantaloupe, with two crops per year. During the cold season, we can switch to growing tomatoes and lilies for sale during Tet (Lunar New Year). With 75 days per crop, the investment for seedlings, planting, and labor is about 12-15 million VND per crop; the estimated yield of cantaloupe is 1.8 tons per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). With the current selling price at the farm of 40-45 thousand VND per kg, after deducting costs and equipment depreciation, one sao can yield a profit of about 25-30 million VND per crop," Mr. Hau added.

The melon garden will be ready for harvest in about a month, but it can be confirmed that this variety is very well suited to the soil and climate of Nghia Dan. This model has also been highly appreciated by the leaders, the district's agricultural department, and the local government.

The melon plants are currently thriving; Mr. Hau only leaves one fruit on each plant to focus on nurturing it properly. Photo: Minh Thai

Mr. Dang The Sinh, Vice Chairman of the Nghia An Commune People's Committee, said: "Mr. Hau's model of growing cantaloupe using high technology is the first of its kind implemented in the commune and has initially achieved good results. We highly appreciate it and believe it can be replicated..."