At the end of the year, Lao Cai farmers are busy taking care of vegetables to prepare for the Lunar New Year.
After storm No. 3, people have urgently restored their farmland to replant lush green vegetable fields. Farmers here are ready to bring to the market the highest quality products to serve peak consumer demand.
In mid-January, when there were only two weeks left until Lunar New Year, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters were present at the vegetable fields in Bao Thang district to record the enthusiastic working atmosphere of the farmers.
Through observation, green vegetable beds are spread across the fields next to the Red River. Here, farmers are watering vegetables to help them grow in time, while others are preparing the land to plant the new crop.
Ms. Bui Thi Hanh (Xuan Quang commune, Bao Thang district) said: "The Lunar New Year is approaching, so we are urgently taking care of the vegetables so that they grow quickly to sell during Tet. This is the peak time for vegetable consumption in the year, so everyone hopes for a good harvest and good prices."
According to Ms. Hanh, in the cold weather below 20 degrees Celsius due to the increased cold air, taking care of vegetables to help them grow well is extremely important.
Mr. Nguyen Van Son (Son Hai commune, Bao Thang district) said that in the last months of the year, people often choose leafy vegetables and fruits with short growing periods to plant in large quantities to meet high consumption demand during Tet.
“When it’s almost time to harvest, we often have to closely monitor the growth of vegetables. Just a small impact or a sudden change in weather can cause all our efforts to go down the drain,” said Mr. Son.
Through research, this winter crop, the whole Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province planted more than 800 hectares of various vegetables such as kohlrabi, cabbage, beans, potatoes..., concentrated in the communes of Xuan Quang, Son Hai, Xuan Giao, Gia Phu and Phu Nhuan.
To ensure vegetables grow and develop well, the agricultural sector of Bao Thang district has directed communes and towns to step up propaganda and instruct farmers to prepare well in terms of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and produce according to the right time frame.
Besides, it is necessary to choose suitable, short-term plant varieties and intercrop at the end of the season to increase land use efficiency, especially after storms and floods.
A representative of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bao Thang district informed: Tet is the time when people's demand for green vegetables increases sharply. Therefore, to ensure enough safe green vegetables to serve the market, the district directs communes to propagate farmers to actively stay in the fields, take care of and prevent pests for vegetables to sell in time.
Along with that, the district's specialized units regularly organize training courses and transfer science and technology in vegetable growing to farmers.
