In recent years, many farmers have chosen to grow spices for economic development. From the home garden to the fields, herbs and spices are helping farmers increase their income thanks to low investment costs and year-round harvests.
Quynh Hai commune is considered the largest vegetable granary in Quynh Phu district, with more than 2,000 households producing spices and vegetables on an area of about 170 hectares. Many types of vegetables are grown here such as green onions, celery, leeks…, bringing main income to households.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khoat, Director of the commune’s Agricultural Service Production and Business Cooperative, said: Growing spice vegetables is a long-standing traditional profession of the locality, people have a lot of experience in planting and fertilizing.
To create favorable conditions for production households, the cooperative focuses on doing a good job of in-field irrigation, proactively dredging canals, clearing the flow, and doing a good job of water regulation.
In addition, the commune encourages people to expand planting areas and actively apply science and technology to improve productivity and product quality. The commune is aiming to expand the scale of spice vegetable production to 200 hectares to meet customer needs.
Although the production area is not too large, Mr. Nguyen Van Duong, An Phu 2 village and many households still boldly invested in installing domes to cover spices and vegetables.
“The application of science and technology in production helps limit insect damage to vegetables, reduces care and increases output. Each year, the spice vegetable fields harvest about 6 batches. On average, each harvest is about 6-7 quintals of vegetables and gives an income of about 7 million VND/acre” – Mr. Duong shared.
Households in Tong Tho Nam village, Dong My commune (Thai Binh city, Thai Binh province) harvest Chinese coriander – one of the spices with an attractive aroma.
In the green spice fields in Dong My commune (Thai Binh city), we had the opportunity to talk with farmers who were harvesting Chinese coriander. Growing vegetables does not bring too much income at a time but is a source of daily income to maintain the lives of households.
Ms. Pham Thi Thin, Tong Tho Nam village shared: My family grows 3 sao of herbs and a combination of many types of vegetables on the same land area. The selling price is quite stable, not too high like other vegetables. After harvesting, traders will come to your home to purchase, so it is very convenient.
Unable to continue doing heavy work because of her advanced age, Ms. Pham Thi Tam, 68 years old, and her husband, Tong Tho Nam village, converted 4 acres of fields to grow vegetables such as coriander, marjoram, perilla…
According to Ms. Tam, this job is light, suitable for health and gives a pretty good income. While harvesting vegetables, Ms. Tam excitedly shared: Compared to cultivating rice, spice vegetables are easy to grow, easy to care for, and the efficiency is much higher.
During the year we only need to plant once but harvest in 8-9 months, each harvest is about 20 days apart. On average, my family provides traders with 50 – 60kg of vegetables every day. After deducting expenses, the profit is about 30 – 40 million VND/sao/year.
People in Quynh Hai commune (Quynh Phu district, Thai Binh province) take care of the area planted with green onions – one of the spices that is easy to grow and sell.
Mr. Pham Van Dinh, Chairman of Dong My Commune Farmers’ Association, said: The entire commune has 30 hectares of spice vegetables, mainly in the two villages of Tong Tho Nam and Tong Tho Trung.
People have a lot of experience in timing vegetable planting and know how to apply shielding techniques to help spice plants grow well.
The Commune Farmers’ Association has coordinated with 4 units to support purchasing and consuming products to help people feel secure in production.
We hope to be able to form safe production areas with large areas to meet market needs, thereby increasing family income and helping the spice farming industry develop sustainably.
However, currently many households still have difficulty expanding the scale and area of growing spice vegetables. Production in localities is still small and the connection between businesses and farmers is still not tight.
Hopefully in the coming time, the Party Committee, authorities at all levels, and relevant units will pay attention to support and create favorable conditions to help farmers build product brands, enhance the value of spice crops, and contribute part of local economic development.
