Right after the Tet holiday, on the fields along National Highway 6, Yen Chau commune through Dong Tau, Luong Me, Mo, Bung Mo, Dan villages, the atmosphere of labor is bustling again with the purple garlic harvest.
According to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, from early morning, people were present in the fields, quickly picking each clove of garlic, cleaning the soil, and arranging them into bundles.
Motorbikes and improved vehicles continuously carry garlic home to dry in time, clearing the plowed land for spring rice cultivation.
According to statistics from the Economic Department of Yen Chau commune, the whole commune currently has more than 90ha of garlic, with an average yield of 10-15 tons of fresh tubers/ha.
In which, multi-branch garlic still accounts for a large number. Some garlic bulbs develop especially into single-branch garlic (lonely garlic) with high economic value thanks to its rich aroma and characteristic spicy taste.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Vice Chairman of Yen Chau Commune People's Committee, said that garlic has become the main crop of the winter crop, contributing to increasing income for people.
According to Mr. Huong, this year the weather is favorable, garlic grows uniformly and is of good quality; the locality is directing people to harvest quickly and neatly to ensure the spring rice crop season frame.
Mr. Hoang Van Thanh's family, Dong Tau village, grows more than 1ha of purple garlic. This crop, the family harvested over 10 tons of fresh tubers.
Mr. Thanh informed that garlic is in season, tubers are even, the selling price is 20,000–25,000 VND/kg of fresh garlic, estimated revenue is nearly 150 million VND after deducting expenses. After harvesting, the family urgently prepares the land to be ready for spring cultivation.
And Mr. Hoang Van Lai, Nhom village, planted more than 1,000m2 with about 50kg of seeds, estimated output reached over 1.5 tons of fresh tubers.
Thanks to proper technical care, garlic grows well. This winter crop helps the family have additional income at the beginning of the year, creating momentum for production for the spring crop," Mr. Lai said.
According to Mr. Lo Van Thang, Secretary of the Party Cell, Head of Dong Tau village, the whole village has more than 200 households growing garlic with an area of over 30ha.
Garlic brings clear economic efficiency. People are focusing on harvesting thoroughly to avoid affecting the progress of spring rice production," Mr. Thang said.
The harvest atmosphere also spreads to every yard, village cultural house. Garlic is sown, pruned leaves, sorted and then dried in a cool place or tied into bunches hanging under the porch.
Thanks to stable quality, traders from many places come to buy Yen Chau purple garlic. In addition, cooperatives in the area also participate in consumption and deep processing of products.
Currently, Tay Bac Cooperative and Tuoi Tre 26.3 Cooperative (Yen Chau commune) are actively purchasing from 50 - 70 tons of purple garlic and solitary garlic to produce black garlic.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Director of Tuoi Tre Cooperative on March 26, said that Yen Chau garlic is of good quality, when fermented it produces a beautiful color and a mild sweet taste. Processing black garlic helps improve product value and stabilize output for people.
In the early days of the year, in Yen Chau fields, farmers are busy harvesting garlic, the yard is sunny with purple color. The garlic crop not only brings significant income but also creates a momentum to be ready to enter spring rice production.
