At this time, people in Quyet Thang commune are busy harvesting baby cucumbers. While quickly harvesting the cucumbers, Mr. Luan Van Binh, Ray village, shared: In 2023, my family converted the ineffective rice field area to grow 4 sao of baby cucumbers. Thanks to the technical staff of the cooperative guiding on how to care for them according to the correct process and techniques, the cucumbers have grown well, with an average yield of about 1 ton/sao, bringing in an income of approximately 36 million VND for the family. I find baby cucumbers easy to grow, and they are purchased as soon as they are harvested, so I am very confident about the output.

Not only in Quyet Thang commune, the baby cucumber growing model has also been expanded to other communes: Yen Binh, Nhat Tien, Hoa Binh... It is known that at the end of 2023, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Huu Lung district coordinated with the ORGANIC Xuong Lam General Production and Service Cooperative to deploy a baby cucumber growing model in Yen Binh and Quyet Thang communes with an area of ​​over 50 hectares/2 crops in the direction of safe and sustainable agricultural production. Up to now, the model has initially shown its effectiveness and has been expanded to communes in the district with an area of ​​over 70 hectares/2 crops. Participating in the baby cucumber growing model, the Cooperative will provide people with seeds and fertilizers in advance in the form of deferred payment; disseminate and guide people on the technical process of planting, caring for and harvesting baby cucumbers. At the same time, sign a contract to consume all products for people. In particular, baby cucumbers are classified and sold at a price of 5,000 - 12,000 VND/kg depending on size.

Baby cucumber is a short-term crop suitable for the climate and soil of the district. It can be grown twice a year; the planting time is only 35 to 40 days for the plant to be harvested and the harvest time lasts 2 months.

Mr. Nguyen Van Luan, Head of the baby cucumber growing cooperative in Nhat Tien commune, said: Baby cucumber is a moisture-loving plant, and it is necessary to regularly monitor the growth and development of the plant to promptly handle any pests or diseases that may harm the plant. With the desire to build and develop a sustainable baby cucumber growing model, in 2024, I established a baby cucumber growing cooperative with an area of ​​over 2 hectares and 20 members participating. On average, the melon yield of the cooperative reaches 9-10 quintals/sao each year, bringing in an economic value of 10-12 million VND/sao, 2-3 times higher than growing rice and corn.

Ms. Nong Thi Huyen Trang, Deputy Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Environment, assessed: The initial success of the model has opened up prospects for new production directions for the people. In the coming time, we will continue to promote the expansion of the area of ​​intercropping baby melon on agricultural land, contributing to increasing income. Thereby, contributing to effectively transforming the crop structure, increasing income for people in the area.

With positive signals, the model of growing baby melon is considered an effective economic development direction, helping people increase their income. Currently, people in the district are harvesting the first baby melon crop this year, with an estimated yield of 10 quintals/sao.