A few weeks ago, after picking bitter melon, Ms. Ha Thi Nguyet in Ru Than hamlet, Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district had to take it to the purchasing households in the commune to import the melon, but now traders come to buy it right in the field. Picking nearly 100 kg of melon in the hot sun, she was tired but very happy because the price of melon has increased and it is easy to sell.

“This is the fifth harvest since the beginning of the season. My family has 3 sao of luffa, each harvest averages 200 kg, but only in the last 2 harvests has the price of luffa increased. This harvest I sold for 10,000 VND/kg, traders bought as soon as I picked it,” Ms. Nguyet happily said.

Just loading bitter melon onto the truck, Ms. Phan Thi Ngan in Nghi Dien commune (Nghi Loc) said that every day she buys about 200 kg of bitter melon, mainly from Nghi Thuan commune, then brings it to markets in the district and brings it to Vinh market for wholesale sale.

"The price of squash has increased for the past few weeks because after the rain, many areas no longer have squash. Not only has the price increased, but the supply is also scarce. You have to order in advance, then go to the fields to wait until the harvest is finished to get it right away, otherwise there will be no more to buy."

The family has 2 sao of squash, the recent flood has affected a small area of ​​squash of Mrs. Pham Thi Suu's family, but the price of squash has increased so she is still excited: "Squash is planted from July, and the harvest begins in mid-August. Nearly 2 weeks ago, 1 kg of squash was only sold for 2,000 VND, and it was still difficult to sell, then it increased but only 4,000 VND/kg at most. But this harvest, I bought it for a buyer in the village at 9,000-10,000 VND/kg, I am very happy".

Having been in the business of purchasing vegetables, tubers, and fruits for several decades, during the bitter melon season, Ms. Tran Thi Van in Nghi Thuan commune sells an average of about 2 tons of melon per day, mainly to Vinh city, Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces. However, at present, she can only collect 0.8-1.2 tons per day at most, not enough to meet the needs of regular customers. Prices have increased, and supplies are scarce, so in addition to bitter melon, Ms. Van also collects mustard greens to sell.

Nghi Thuan commune has 97 hectares of various vegetables, but only 15 hectares of bitter melon, a small area due to the large investment and care, and the market demand for this vegetable is not as high as other vegetables. However, thanks to the suitable soil quality and good care, the bitter melon area of ​​the commune always develops well and has high productivity. During the harvest season from August to November, every day in the commune, people harvest tons of fruit.

The recent heavy rains caused by the tropical depression caused many bitter melon gardens to have all their young fruits destroyed, resulting in low fruit production, reduced productivity, and supply not meeting demand, leading to a sharp increase in prices for more than a week now./.