In recent days, farmers in Phu Ninh district of Quang Nam province have entered the main harvest season of watermelon. On the farmers’ faces, all are overjoyed because the watermelon crop this year is a “big win”, with all watermelon-growing households earning millions of dollars in profit.
Mr. Huynh Sang – living in Tam Phuoc commune, Phu Ninh district – said that his family grew 10 sao of watermelon, harvesting more than 20 tons. With a selling price of 5,000 to 6,000 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, he earned a profit of over 40 million VND.
Watermelon farmers in Phu Ninh district are elated when watermelon is a bumper crop with good prices
Compared to other crops such as vegetables, peanuts, and rice, watermelon yields higher productivity and takes only 50 days to harvest.
According to Mr. Sang, due to favorable weather with little rain, watermelon is less prone to pests and diseases, grows well, and yields higher than last year. Specifically, 1 sao of watermelon this year harvests over 2 tons, almost double that of 2023, and the selling price has also increased by 1,000 to 2,000 VND/kg.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tien, also in Phu Ninh district, said that he grew 3 sao of watermelon and had sold all of it for 5,000 – 6,000 VND/kg. Thanks to applying planting and care techniques under the guidance of agricultural engineers, the quality of his watermelons is always guaranteed, with productivity doubling that of previous years.
The harvested watermelon is purchased by the cooperative right in the field.
Mr. Nguyen Van Xuan – Tam Phuoc commune, Phu Ninh district – is currently harvesting 7 sao of watermelon. He shared that as the watermelon is a good crop with stable prices, he is very delighted. Watermelon in the locality is grown on sandy loam soil, with superior quality compared to other places, thick rind making it convenient for transportation, firm flesh, bright red color, and sweet taste.
According to the leader of the Phu Ninh District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, for the Winter-Spring crop this year, the total area of watermelon cultivation in the entire district is about 400 hectares, of which Tam Phuoc commune is 120 hectares.
The district’s average watermelon yield is about 32 tons/ha, with an estimated output of nearly 13,000 tons, an increase of more than 3,000 tons compared to 2023. After harvesting, people’s watermelons are purchased by the cooperative right in the field. With stable prices, many households earn tens of millions of VND in profit.
In recent years, watermelon has become a key product helping many farming households in Phu Ninh district to escape poverty. To improve productivity, the local government has organized numerous training courses to transfer technology, so that farmers can master the technical production process for watermelon.
