Growing shallots on hilly land, Anh Son farmers earn hundreds of millions per hectare

Many areas of shallots are intercropped with oranges by Anh Son people for high economic efficiency. Photo: Thai Hien

For a long time, Dinh Son has been a locality specializing in growing shallots in Anh Son district with an area of ​​25 hectares, concentrated in hamlets 19/5, 3/2, and Thang Tam; in hamlet 19/5 alone, nearly 100% of households grow shallots, with the smallest households growing 1 sao, and the largest households growing 5-7 sao.

On the hillside land, previously, Mrs. Le Thi Sau's family in village 19/5, Dinh Son commune planted cassava but it was not effective. For the past 3 years, she has switched to growing shallots on an area ofnearly 2 sao

Ms. Sau said that chives are easy to grow, have few pests and diseases, are drought-resistant, and are especially suitable for many types of soil. From planting to harvest is 6 months. However, from the second month, both leaves and bulbs can be pulled out to sell fresh onions.At a price of 2,000 VND/bunch, it both creates conditions for onions to grow and increases income..Currently, the family has only harvested half of the area and has nearly 400 kg of onions; with the price of 40,000 VND/kg, the income is more than 15 million VND.

People of Dinh Son commune (Anh Son) harvest shallots. Photo: Thai Hien

Ms. Hoang Thi Anh in village 19/5 grows more than 1 sao of chives and this is the 10th year she has been attached to growing chives. According to Ms. Anh, from September every year, the land is plowed, weeded, and raised beds are made to plant chives. After planting, cover with straw and corn to keep the moisture for the plants to grow, creating loose soil for large, beautiful bulbs.

Thanks to good care and proper application of technical processes, this year the onion yield reached more than 3 quintals/sao; with the current stable selling price, after deducting expenses, the income will be about 10 million VND.

Thanks to good care and proper application of technical processes, this year the shallots are big, white and beautiful. Photo: Thai Hien

In recent years, with the motto "short-term to long-term", Anh Son people have also planted shallots among orange trees (accounting for 2/3 of the existing shallot area) which is in the construction phase to take advantage of vacant land for high efficiency. This year, the weather is favorable so the shallots grow well, although they have been pruned and sold for sale since before Tet, but at harvest time, the average yield is still high, from 3 - 4 quintals/sao; each hectare is estimated at about 200 million VND.

Realizing that this is a crop with low investment costs, few pests, good drought resistance, and beneficial to farmers, Anh Son district encourages people to grow chives to increase income per unit area.