Green fields, ripe mangoes, and guavas full of fruit in Khanh An

Not only bitter melon, eggplant, corn, chili, long beans, cucumbers… but this place also stands out with mango gardens that have already produced fruit and rows of Taiwanese guava trees that are laden with fruit. Khanh An is in the bustling farming season, showing the strong vitality of the riverside countryside.

Mr. Le Van Thach is one of the typical farmers, with more than 13 hectares of land specializing in intercropping vegetables and fruit trees. He said that growing crops requires a large investment, especially in the context of high prices of fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel. "Each hectare of white corn without profit is also a month's effort. If the investment cost is over 7 million VND, but the sale price is only about 5 million VND, it is a heavy loss" - Mr. Thach said. Growing hybrid corn is not much better, when the purchase price has remained low for many years, while production costs are constantly increasing. Not wanting to depend on growing short-term crops, Mr. Thach switched to growing Taiwanese pear guava. He commented that guava is a perennial plant, does not need to be planted and replanted each season, the cost of care is low, and the yield is more stable. However, the lack of output and no purchasing unit make him still hesitant to expand the area. If there is a business that buys at a stable price of about 7,000 VND/kg, he is willing to invest more to develop this model.

Farmers happily pump water to help irrigate fields and fruit gardens in the dry season.

Like Mr. Thach, Ms. Bui Thi Gion, a long-time farmer who specializes in growing bitter melon on alluvial land, is taking a break with four other women after stringing up the new bitter melon trellis. Under the blazing sun, they chat and wipe their sweat. “We work on the fields all year round, only when the flood comes do we rest for a few months. The rest is just clinging to the soil and the trellis,” Ms. Gion said. With many years of experience, she is used to distributing irrigation water appropriately so as not to damage the roots of the plants. “I water every few days, depending on the weather. When the season comes, customers come to the garden to buy, so there is no worry about unsold products. But prices are still erratic,” she worried.

One strength that helps Khanh An people to stay afloat in farming is the abundant source of irrigation water. Mr. Trinh Van Ri, a farmer who is cultivating 2.5 hectares of land to grow white corn, said: “The whole area does not lack water because every house has a well. The well is about 18 - 33m deep depending on the area, thanks to which the soil does not dry out and crack, and the plants grow well. This is a favorable condition that not every area has.”

As for Mr. Trinh Van Truc, who specializes in growing "vines" such as cucumbers and bitter melons, life is associated with early mornings and long days of sweat. Every day, he wakes up at 4-5 am to prepare the soil, take care of the plants, spray pesticides, and weed. During the harvest season, he has to stay up all night to pick cucumbers in time for the early shipment, because traders need fresh goods to bring to market. According to him, 1 hectare of cucumbers can cost up to 10 million VND, including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labor... Despite the hardship, he still keeps the job, because it is the source of income for the whole family and for his children's education.

Green corn fields interspersed with lush bean beds

The elderly still clearly remember the daily changes of Khanh An land. Mr. Trinh Van Ral, an old farmer who has lived here for more than half a century, said: “In the past, river water was everything. We had to carry buckets of water to use, and we also had to bathe in the ditches and rivers. Now we have tap water and wells, so it is much less difficult.” However, he also worries that the weather is different now, the sun is hotter, there are more pests and diseases, making farming more dependent on fertilizers and pesticides, affecting costs and the health of farmers.

Despite facing unstable market prices, harsh weather and complex pests, Khanh An people still persevere in their land, preserving each field, each mango garden and guava row. The rows of green bitter melon, plump mangoes and rows of guava trees laden with fruit are proof of the perseverance and spirit of overcoming difficulties of the farmers here.

BICH GIANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ray-xanh-xoai-chin-oi-sai-qua-o-khanh-an-a418612.html