Successfully applying the hydroponic melon growing model, Mr. Hua Thanh Phu (living in Long Phung commune, Can Giuoc district, Long An province) earns nearly 50 million VND per month.
In the days leading up to Tet, in the greenhouse area of about 2,000 m2, Mr. Phu and his workers continuously harvest melons to supply the market. Those are melons shaped like gold bars, drawing beautiful calligraphy.
Mr. Phu does not grow melons according to the traditional method, but explores and learns hydroponic growing techniques. As a result, the model brings high economic efficiency, saves labor, guaranteed product quality, and standard sweetness, so consumers are very popular.
Mr. Phu said he used to work as a freelancer with a high income. However, because of his passion for safe farming for consumers, in 2019 he partly turned to starting a farm, returning to his hometown to start a farm, starting with hydroponic cantaloupe cultivation. Nearly 700 million VND was used by him to improve the land and invest in facilities for the farm.
“In the beginning, I faced many difficulties in capital, because the investment cost was too high, I had to build a membrane house and a hydroponic reflux system to produce cantaloupe in the direction of high technology, creating clean and safe products. fully serve the increasing needs of customers. As for the technique, I have a friend in charge, so I am quite reassured”, Mr. Phu shared.
According to Mr. Phu, growing hydroponic melons is less labor-intensive because the automatic pump system brings hydroponic nutrient solution to grow thousands of melon roots quickly. Thanks to the nutrition is mixed and delivered directly to the roots to help increase yield. The greenhouse also helps melons not to be attacked by insects that affect the quality of the fruit.
“If grown in the usual way, the weight of each melon is only 1.5 – 1.8 kg, while hydroponics is from 2.5 – 3 kg / fruit. As a result, the retail price is also higher. In addition, once-invested facilities can only be replaced once every 3-5 years, “said Mr. Phu.
Cantaloupe grows about 75 – 80 days for harvest. The selling price is from 60,000 – 70,000 VND/kg. Currently, he has experimented with growing yellow cantaloupe and has been successful, named it Long Phung Gold, earning nearly 50 million VND per month. Each melon is affixed with a QR code for traceability. Mr. Phu’s melon has been registered as an intellectual property of the Department of Science and Technology of Long An province, receiving trust from customers.
Besides cantaloupe, Mr. Phu also has 1,600 m2 ponds for white-leg shrimp farming and expands his area by 3,000 m2 to grow safe vegetables, raise black apple snails, farm crabs, and grow flowers to welcome visitors to visit and experience.
The remarkable thing about Mr. Phu is not only boldly growing melons in the direction of hydroponics, he also cherishes the intention to contribute to helping the people of the commune change their production practices and stabilize their lives. Over the years, his farm has become a place where union members and local youth come to experience, study and start a business.
A source: https://thanhnien.vn
