Abandon rice to plant larva
Since 2017, every flood season, farmer Luong Van Dau (Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang province) has kept water in his fields to grow Taiwanese water chestnuts. Currently, Mr. Dau's 4 hectares of water chestnuts (1 hectare = 1,000 square meters) will be ready for harvest in about 20 days.
According to this farmer, planting water caltrops during the flood season helps the plants grow well and achieve much higher yields than growing rice.
“During the flood season, rice yields are low, so in recent years I often intercrop with water caltrop. Water caltrop planting at this time is very favorable because there is a lot of alluvium, the plants are provided with enough nutrients, grow well, and have high yields. It is estimated that on average, we can harvest 80 - 100 kg/acre/day,” Mr. Dau shared.
During this year's flood season, farmer Tran Van Ut (Vi Thuy district, Hau Giang province) continues to grow water chestnuts instead of sowing rice. Mr. Ut said that due to many favorable conditions, growing water chestnuts during the flood season gives very good yields.
“Autumn is a type of plant that does not worry about flooding like other types, so it is suitable for planting in this season. In particular, with abundant alluvium, I do not need to spend much on fertilizer, I only need to worry about pests and snails that eat young plants. With the situation this year, the estimated amount of autumn harvested will be the same as last year, about 100 kg/work/day, and if the season is good, it can be more,” said Mr. Ut.
Profit increased 3-4 times
Since planting water chestnuts, Mr. Dau has increased his income 3-4 times compared to growing rice. Accordingly, the price of water chestnuts is currently sold wholesale at 15,000 - 18,000 VND/kg, and retail at 20,000 VND/kg.
“If I sow rice during the flood season, after deducting all expenses, my profit is only about 1 million VND/cong. Meanwhile, if I grow water caltrops, I can earn 5-7 million VND/cong, many times more than growing rice. Therefore, every year during the flood season, I grow this crop. When the water recedes, I return to sow rice,” said Mr. Dau.
From the high profits from growing water caltrops, Mr. Ut plans to expand the cultivation area in the following years to increase his family's income during the flood season.
“Currently, the price of larva is fluctuating from 15,000 to 18,000 VND/kg. With this price, after deducting all production costs, I still make a profit of nearly 7 million VND/cong. This is 3 times higher than growing rice in the flood season. Currently, my family is cultivating about 5 cong of larva, and the remaining 3 cong are used for raising silver carp, common carp, etc. I plan to grow larva on these 3 cong next year because the profit is higher,” said Mr. Ut.
