VietGAP melons: Market demand guaranteed

Technology helps reduce labor costs

According to Thai Thanh Viet, an official at the Hoai An Commune Public Service Center and a member of the Hoai An Youth Agricultural Cooperative, in mid-2025, the cooperative purchased a 1,000 m² melon greenhouse from Tran Bao Diep in the former An Phong Commune, now part of Hoai An Commune, Gia Lai.

At the time of purchase, the greenhouse was in poor condition. The cooperative invested around VND 500 million to reinforce the structure, replace the covering, and install a smart irrigation system to support production.

“Since purchasing the greenhouse, the cooperative has grown two melon crops. In the first crop, we harvested 4 tons from 2,000 melon plants. The second crop has just been harvested, with a higher yield of nearly 5 tons from the same 2,000 plants. In the first crop, we lacked experience, so the fruit quality was not up to standard and the yield was relatively low. We took better care of the plants in the second crop, resulting in more uniform fruit, with an average weight of 1.8-3 kg/fruit.

For the second crop, the cooperative planted the NH7952 melon variety, a high-quality variety known for its sweetness and aroma. As a result, the melons were sold out as soon as they were harvested. The cooperative currently sells its melons only locally and in neighboring communes such as An Tuong, Kim Son, Van Duc, and An Hao, while we still have many customers in Quy Nhon and Da Nang. Each crop generates a profit of around VND 70 million,” Thai Thanh Viet said.

According to Viet, the smart irrigation and fertigation system, which can be controlled via smartphone, helps ensure uniform plant growth. The system operates through a central control unit equipped with filters and a fertilizer injection system. Each type of fertilizer for the melons is pre-mixed and stored separately in individual tanks. When it is time for irrigation, the system automatically starts, with fertilizer from each tank flowing into the main mixing tank according to preset doses.

The main pump draws all the fertilizer solution and delivers it to the plants, eliminating the need to mix fertilizer manually every day. Irrigation water from the main tank passes through a pressure-compensating system before reaching the plants, ensuring that every plant receives the same amount of water with an equal concentration of nutrients. With the smart irrigation system, cooperative staff can even travel away from the greenhouse while continuing to monitor and care for the melon plants remotely via smartphone.

Melon cultivation techniques

Throughout the growing cycle, the melons cultivated by the Hoai An Youth Agricultural Cooperative are carefully monitored and tended every day. Even a minor mistake during the early stages can affect the fruit’s appearance and quality later on.

After two greenhouse melon crops, Thai Thanh Viet, a member of the Hoai An Youth Agricultural Cooperative who oversees the model, has gained a thorough understanding of the production process needed to achieve optimal results.

According to Viet, during the flowering and pollination stage, spraying chemical pesticides can cause female flowers to drop, preventing fruit formation. The same applies during the fruit enlargement and netting stages. If chemical pesticides are sprayed during this period, they can penetrate the fruit through cracks in the skin, causing the flesh to become less crisp and harder while compromising food safety.

Therefore, the melons are primarily fed with organic fertilizers and biological preparations throughout the cultivation process. Every stage, from variety selection, planting, and crop care to pruning, pollination, fertilizer and pesticide application, fruit selection, and harvesting, is carefully controlled and recorded in production logs.

Nguyen Thi Hien, 44, who is directly responsible for tending the melons at the Hoai An Youth Agricultural Cooperative, said the first 40 days, from planting to fruit selection, are particularly important. Growers must continuously prune side shoots, pollinate flowers, monitor plant growth, and select fruits that meet quality requirements.

Every stage requires meticulous care. Even a minor mistake during cultivation, pollination, or fruit selection can affect the melons’ appearance and quality later on. Hien said growing melons requires the same level of care and attention as raising a young child to achieve good results.

“Melons grown in greenhouses are easier to control, while the smart irrigation system reduces labor requirements, limits pest and disease pressure, and helps maintain stable plant growth. With a 1,000 m² greenhouse, the cooperative can produce three crops a year, planting around 2,000 melon plants/crop,” Hien said.

“Currently, the cooperative is growing yellow honeydew melons outdoors. The plants have begun to be topped and are expected to be harvested in about a month. Inside the greenhouse, we are preparing the soil for the 2027 Tet melon crop. We plan to plant the next crop in the 10th lunar month,” said Thai Thanh Viet, a member of the Hoai An Youth Agricultural Cooperative.

$ 1 = VND 26,260 - Source: Vietcombank.