The Crop Rotation Model Of Edamame And Watermelon Yields High Efficiency In Challenging Areas

To address the issue of efficient crop structuring in challenging production areas, the local government of Vinh Thang commune, Go Quao district – Kien Giang, has boldly implemented a rotation model of watermelon on rice fields, using a structure of 2 rice crops + 1 watermelon crop or 2 watermelon crops + 1 rice crop.

This region faces very difficult production conditions, such as acid sulfate soils or frequent droughts, with the risk of saltwater intrusion from the coast during the dry season.

In recent years, watermelon has been introduced to this promising new area, opening up new directions for diversifying crop structures, breaking the monoculture of rice, and helping farmers quickly increase profits per unit of cultivated land.

However, the current rice + watermelon model is still a temporary solution, addressing short-term issues without providing long-term value for the local farmers. Currently, there are no units in the locality building long-term linkage models and converting low-efficiency rice crops to other crops.

Understanding the information and needs of the locality, recently, An Giang Fruit and Vegetable Food Joint Stock Company (Antesco) discussed with the local government and cooperative partners about implementing a linked rotation model for the Winter-Spring 2024-2025 crop to replace the ineffective rice + watermelon rotation with edamame + watermelon. This aims to increase profits per unit of cultivated land and improve soil quality.