The effectiveness of growing melons in greenhouses

These days, the working atmosphere in the greenhouses in the northern mountainous region of the province is bustling, as many farming households enter the harvest season of melons grown in greenhouses. This is a new direction that is proving to be clearly effective economically.

Melon products of Thanh Dat High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative, Hiep Luc commune, are sold to many stores and supermarkets nationwide.

In the highland village of Na Nac, Hiep Luc commune, Mr. Nong Van Thanh, an enthusiastic young man, boldly invested 600 million VND to build a greenhouse model since 2017.

Mr. Thanh shared: At that time, the greenhouse model was still very new to the people in this area. Although I knew in advance that I would encounter many difficulties, I was still determined to try this model.

Starting with an area of 1,000m2², facing many difficulties in terms of technology, market, and investment capital, but thanks to perseverance and the spirit of daring to think and dare to do, Mr. Thanh's melon products gradually have a stable market.

Mr. Thanh said: Up to now, I have expanded the net house to 3,000m2² and the melon product has achieved the 3-star OCOP certification at the provincial level in 2023. Currently, I am preparing all conditions to expand the net house by nearly 2,000m2², with the hope of creating a breakthrough in the development of high-tech agriculture right on my homeland.

Visiting the greenhouse model in Phong Quang commune, we saw many workers focusing on selecting the best quality and standard melons to serve customers.

Mr. Nong Thanh Nha, Director of Duong Quang Cooperative, said: By applying the correct technical process of care and pest control, with an area of 1,000m2, we harvest from 3 to 4 tons of melons per crop. Growing 2 crops a year, with an average selling price of about 35,000 VND/kg, melons are a crop with high economic value, bringing stable income to the cooperative.

Melons grown in greenhouses have good growth characteristics, high yield and stable quality, growing period from 75 to 85 days, depending on variety and care conditions.

Growing melons in a greenhouse helps control factors such as temperature, humidity, and light, increases fruit set, reduces up to 90% of pests, and saves about 50% of irrigation water and labor costs.

Net house owners have been interested in using high quality F1 hybrid melon varieties, so the average yield of net house melons is 1.5-2.5 tons/crop, on an area of 500m2².

With the selling price ranging from 30,000-45,000 VND/kg, each crop growers can earn from 45-70 million VND, many times higher than growing rice or traditional crops.

Thanks to a good understanding of the growth and development characteristics of melon plants, the owners of the greenhouse melon growing model have proactively calculated the appropriate planting time, focusing on harvesting during holidays and Tet, especially on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month to meet the high consumption demand of the market.

Melon products in Phong Quang commune.

Currently, in the communes in the northern region of the province, many models of growing melons in greenhouses have initially brought about clear economic efficiency.

Typical communes include Cho Moi, Bach Thong, Dong Phuc, Nam Cuong... In particular, Phong Quang commune has built 3 large-scale net house models for growing melons, while Hiep Luc commune has also developed 2 models with increasingly expanding investment scale.

With many advantages, the development of the greenhouse melon growing model not only creates jobs for the owner but also gives local people more stable jobs.

Ms. Long Thi Lua, a seasonal worker in Hiep Luc commune, shared: Since the model of growing melons in greenhouses was established, we have had light, stable work, with an income of 250,000 VND/day, and do not have to travel far.

In addition to working here, my sisters and I also take advantage of the time to do farm work, grow vegetables to sell to increase family income. The greenhouse melon growing model also promotes the formation of high-tech agricultural cooperatives and groups, Ms. Long Thi Lua shared.

People are trained in new farming techniques, learn how to operate smart irrigation systems, and take care of crops according to safe and scientific processes.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Hiep Luc Commune, said: The model of growing melons in greenhouses is a suitable direction for local farming conditions. In the coming time, the locality will coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to support people in accessing preferential capital sources, transferring technology and calling on businesses to invest in processing and consuming products. We believe that the model of growing melons in greenhouses not only increases farmers' income but also contributes to transforming the crop structure towards modernity and sustainability.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202508/hieu-qua-tu-trong-dua-trong-nha-luoi-f744eb6/