BHG - Green watermelon sprouts are covering the fields in Vi Ke village, Nam Ban commune (Meo Vac) day by day. The initial success of the watermelon growing model here not only opens up a new direction in agricultural production but also brings a stable source of income to the people, contributing positively to the sustainable poverty reduction in the locality.

Watermelon planting pioneer

In 2019, while many households were still struggling with low-yield single-crop rice, Mr. Hoang Van Lu, head of Vi Ke village, boldly converted 700 m² of land to experimental watermelon cultivation. Right in the first crop, the watermelon grew well, yielded large, sweet fruits, achieved a good yield, and initially had products that could be consumed on the market.

Watermelon plants in Vi Ke village, Nam Ban commune grow and develop well.

This positive result motivated Mr. Lu to expand the watermelon growing area to 2,000 m2 in 2020. That year, watermelons had a good harvest and good prices, averaging 10-20 thousand VND/kg, even reaching 25 thousand VND/kg at times, bringing Mr. Lu an income of more than 30 million VND. Realizing the obvious economic efficiency, from 2021 to now, Mr. Lu has expanded his family's watermelon growing area to 6,000 m2. With this area, Mr. Lu earns about 100 million VND per year.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Lu: Watermelon trees are very suitable for the local climate and soil conditions. Each year, 3 crops can be grown, but mainly 2 crops are grown, from February to September every year, each crop lasts 3 - 4 months. On average, each watermelon when harvested weighs from 2 - 3 kg. Many traders and consumers evaluate that watermelons grown in Vi Ke village have good quality, sweet and cool taste, crispy, firm yolk, can be eaten directly or squeezed for juice, and are very delicious in smoothies.

In order for watermelon plants to grow and develop well and ensure product quality, right from the planting stage, Mr. Lu pays special attention to choosing to buy seeds with clear origins. During the process of growing watermelons, he limits the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, he uses manure to fertilize the plants and biological measures to prevent pests and diseases.

Replicating the model, joining hands to reduce poverty

Not keeping his experience to himself, Mr. Hoang Van Lu actively mobilized and provided technical guidance to 12 other households in the village to convert ineffective rice and corn growing areas to watermelon growing. Thanks to that, the total watermelon growing area in the village has now reached more than 5 hectares. The total income of households in the village from growing watermelons is about 800 million VND/year.

Ms. Vang Thi Chia, Vi Ke village shared: With the propaganda and mobilization of Village Chief Hoang Van Lu, since 2021, my family has converted 3,000 hectares of ineffective garden land to grow watermelon. Because watermelon has a short growing period, I can grow 2 crops/year. On average, each year my family has an additional income of nearly 50 million VND from growing watermelon. This income value is much higher than before the conversion. This is a gratifying result, creating motivation for my family to strive to escape poverty in the coming time.

It can be affirmed that the initial success of the watermelon model in Vi Ke village not only brings high income to the people, but also contributes to changing the production mindset, shifting from self-sufficiency to commodity thinking. This is considered a typical agricultural production model, contributing to poverty reduction in the locality. Notably, out of 13 households participating in growing watermelon in Vi Ke village since 2022, up to now, 4/13 households have been recognized as escaping poverty, and it is expected that in 2025, there will be 2-3 more households escaping poverty.

Chairman of Nam Ban Commune People's Committee, Hoang Van Huan, said that in the coming time, the commune will focus on implementing solutions on varieties, techniques, and market connections to continue expanding production scale, making watermelon a local strength, helping people increase income and sustainably reduce poverty.

Article and photos: TRAN KE

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/kinh-te/202504/trien-vong-tu-mo-hinh-trong-dua-hau-o-vi-ke-8161588/