Growing turmeric intercropped with corn brings in an income of 300 million VND/ha

(Baonghean.vn) - Implementing the policy of converting crop and livestock structure, in the past 3 years, many households in Quynh Vinh commune, Hoang Mai town (Nghe An) have intercropped turmeric and corn, bringing high economic efficiency. On average, it reaches over 300 million/ha/year.

Farmers harvest turmeric, yield reaches 1.5 - 2 tons/sao.

Ms. Le Thi Lap's family, village 5, Quynh Vinh commune has more than 2 sao of land. Realizing that turmeric is very suitable for this land, she decided to try intercropping corn and turmeric. From the first lunar month, she started sowing corn, when the corn grew well to about a span, she intercropped turmeric seeds.

From around March onwards, the turmeric begins to sprout, which is also the time when the corn has grown green and well, keeping the soil moist. After 4 months, the corn begins to be harvested, with a yield of 2.5 - 3 quintals/sao. The corn roots and leaves are used as compost for the turmeric, thanks to which the turmeric plant grows strongly.

November of the lunar calendar is the time when turmeric is old and has a high starch content, so it is harvested by farmers. Turmeric yield reaches 1.5 - 2 tons/sao. Fresh turmeric is sold to turmeric starch processing factories or pharmaceutical companies at 9,000 VND/kg. By intercropping this way, farmers can earn about 15 million/sao/year, 7 times higher than monocropping corn or rice.

Turmeric is grown intercropped with corn. When the corn is a hand's span high, people will plant turmeric seeds.

Currently, the entire Quynh Vinh commune has more than 70 hectares of turmeric, mainly yellow turmeric and black turmeric. To increase the value of turmeric, in recent years, about 50 households in Quynh Vinh commune have begun purchasing machinery to process starch themselves. On average, 1 quintal of turmeric will produce 5 kg of turmeric starch, while turmeric grown on hilly land can reach 7 - 8 kg due to its higher starch content.

Although turmeric cultivation brings high economic efficiency, people currently only grow it spontaneously. In 2015, the total turmeric growing area of ​​the commune was only 35 hectares, but in 2016, people doubled it. There are 50 households processing turmeric starch, but only one facility has registered the trademark and inspected food hygiene and safety, so it has not built a brand to compete in the market.

Currently, Quynh Vinh has 50 households processing turmeric starch.

Mr. Le Dang Thuy - Vice Chairman of Quynh Vinh Commune People's Committee said: The government has not yet established a specialized turmeric growing area, so it recommends that people do not develop it massively to avoid the situation of "good harvest, low price". At the same time, the commune is researching and preparing documents to request recognition of the craft village and looking for pharmaceutical companies and turmeric starch processing factories to consume output products for people./.

Thanh Thuy