Honey pumpkin fields in Ban Nguyen commune, Lam Thao district have entered the harvest season. With the planting time from September and harvesting in mid-December, the honey pumpkin growing model F1 Honey 28 - winter crop 2024 has made good use of local weather and soil conditions, contributing to limiting the situation of abandoned land, creating concentrated production areas, and at the same time reducing dependence on traditional crops with low productivity.

People are excited because pumpkins are in season and have good prices.

This is the first year that Ban Nguyen commune has implemented the production of the F1 Honey 28 pumpkin growing model in the winter crop. To implement the model, in addition to financial support from the Lam Thao district and local programs, Ban Nguyen commune has coordinated with Toan Cau - Hanoi Seed Company, a seed supplier, to link up with farmers to purchase products and establish a production steering committee, a technical working group, and directly provide technical guidance to farmers throughout the process of implementing the F1 Honey 28 pumpkin growing model.

On average, 1 sao of land growing pumpkin can yield from 300 - 450 kg/sao. With the contract purchase price of Toan Cau Seed Company - Hanoi, fruits weighing 1.6 kg or more are purchased at 4,800 VND/kg. After deducting costs, people can earn a profit of about 2 million VND/sao (360m2).

Honey pumpkin is less susceptible to pests and diseases, easy to care for, and suitable for local soil.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tan - a farmer in Zone 12, Ban Nguyen Commune, excitedly shared about the effectiveness of the honey pumpkin growing model: “My family grows pumpkins on an area of ​​6 sao (2,160m2). The pumpkins that meet quality standards, weighing 1.6kg or more, and are square at both ends will be purchased. As for the unqualified ones, I will keep them and bring them to the market to sell.

In the last harvest, I earned 11 million VND, after deducting expenses, the profit was more than 7 million VND. I see that growing pumpkin does not require much care but the profit is higher than growing rice. Having people buy directly from the place, with stable prices like this, we feel very happy."

F1 Honey 28 pumpkin growing model - winter crop 2024 includes 255 participating households.

Honey 28 F1 pumpkin variety is suitable for the soil of Ban Nguyen commune, so it grows well, has few pests and diseases, is easy to care for, and has larger, tastier fruits than other pure pumpkin varieties. In fact, before starting to grow honey pumpkin, many people are still worried about product output.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh, representative of the squash growing area in Zone 9, Ban Nguyen Commune, said: “For nearly 10 years, people have not cultivated in the winter, the land has been left vacant. When implementing the honey squash growing model, at first, people were hesitant, partly because they had no experience in growing, but thanks to the support from the district, commune and product purchasing units, many households have participated, confidently producing, not worrying about output.

Zone 9 currently has a total of 16 households growing pumpkins on an area of ​​2.5 hectares, each household grows at least 2-3 sao on average. Realizing the economic efficiency, many households in the area also asked to participate in the pumpkin growing model next year.

On average, 1 sao of land growing pumpkin can yield from 300 - 450 kg/sao.

Ms. Bui Thi Kim Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ban Nguyen Commune, informed that the F1 Honey 28 pumpkin growing model was deployed from zone 7 to zone 14, divided into 6 concentrated growing areas in Quynh Lam village. The whole commune currently has 255 households participating in planting, implemented in Muong Ma field in zone 7,8 and Chan Kenh 2 field, from zone 9 to zone 14 with a total area of ​​15 hectares.

“In about a week, people will continue to harvest pumpkins in regions 7, 8 and 14. The areas that planted later than usual were affected by the storm, so they had to sow seeds a few days later. Although the weather is not favorable, the pumpkins still grow well, the quality, shape and size are still guaranteed when supplied to the market," said Ms. Dung.

By following the correct procedures and technical instructions, the F1 Honey 28 winter pumpkin model in Ban Nguyen commune has initially achieved a yield of 300 - 450 kg/sao.

In the coming time, Ban Nguyen commune will continue to expand the area of ​​​​honey pumpkin cultivation, making pumpkin the main crop in the winter season, to replace the previous low-yield crop varieties. This model not only helps increase the value of agricultural production but also contributes to improving the lives of farmers.

The honey pumpkin growing model in Ban Nguyen commune is not only a typical example of the transformation in agricultural production but also opens up new opportunities for farmers to improve their income. With support from local authorities and seed companies, farmers in Ban Nguyen commune are increasingly confident in the future of sustainable and effective agriculture.

Bao Thoa