Year-round greenhouse utilization enhances production yield

The first melon crop of the year has just been completed, but production remains in full swing inside the greenhouse system of HQ-FARM Yen Son High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative in Yen Son Ward, Ninh Binh Province, as new seedlings are being planted for the next harvest expected in September.

Proactively adapting to weather fluctuations

Gone are the long fallow periods between harvest seasons. Just days after completing the first melon harvest of the year, the nearly 4,200m² greenhouse area of HQ-FARM Yen Son High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative was already bustling with preparations for the next production cycle. Maintaining continuous production not only maximizes the use of the invested greenhouse system but also reduces disruptions to product supply.

The model was founded and managed by Mr. Dinh Van Hop (born in 1991), an agricultural engineer by training. After graduating from university, he decided to return to his hometown to pursue high-tech agricultural development. According to Mr. Hop, melons are a high-value crop but are also highly demanding and sensitive to weather conditions. Prolonged rainfall, sudden temperature changes, or severe pest outbreaks can all affect fruit quality and yields.

This was the main reason the cooperative chose to invest in a greenhouse system from the outset, allowing it to take greater control over production conditions and improve resilience against weather-related risks.

The enclosed greenhouse system is designed with a double-door structure to limit the entry of disease-carrying insects, while the roofing materials help reduce the impact of extreme heat and heavy rainfall. According to Mr. Hop, stable cultivation conditions enable more uniform plant growth, reduce pest and disease pressure, and minimize the use of plant protection products.

In addition, the cooperative has invested in a drip irrigation system combined with an automatic fertigation system. Water and nutrients are supplied at each stage of plant development, helping to reduce labor requirements and enabling better control over water and fertilizer application, especially during prolonged hot weather.

“Previously, many production steps had to be carried out manually, which was time-consuming and made it difficult to control the amount of water and fertilizer used. Now, with just a smartphone, we can monitor and remotely operate the entire irrigation system. Technology does not replace people, but it helps farmers become much more proactive in managing production,” Mr. Hop shared.

The integrated application of technical solutions has enabled the cooperative to better control the production process and product quality. In the first melon crop of the year, the cooperative achieved an output of around 3.5 tonnes, with an average selling price of VND 45,000 per kilogram. After deducting production costs, the cooperative earned a profit of approximately VND 150 million.

Immediately after completing the first harvest, the cooperative began planting the second crop, which is expected to be harvested in September. After that, the entire greenhouse area will be converted to Japanese cucumber production to supply the market during the year-end period and Lunar New Year. According to Mr. Hop, crop rotation helps maximize the use of greenhouse facilities throughout the year while diversifying products supplied to the market.

Agricultural extension support

According to Mr. Pham Duy Phu, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Provincial Agricultural Extension Centre, as climate change becomes increasingly evident, agricultural production in northern provinces is facing greater impacts from prolonged heatwaves, localized heavy rainfall, and the emergence of various pests and diseases. For high-value crops such as melons, greenhouse systems are demonstrating an increasingly important role in stabilizing production and reducing the adverse effects of weather conditions.

Mr. Phu said greenhouse models help control temperature and humidity, prevent insect infestations, reduce reliance on plant protection chemicals, and improve the quality of agricultural products. To encourage farmers to invest in high-tech agricultural production, the Ninh Binh Agricultural Extension Center has implemented various support programs, including assistance for greenhouse systems, crop varieties, production materials, and technical transfer.

In addition, agricultural extension officers have accompanied farmers throughout the production process, from monitoring crop growth and development to connecting them with markets and promoting their products.

Building on the model of HQ-FARM Yen Son High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has organized numerous field visits and experience-sharing tours, enabling cooperatives and farming households across the province to learn about greenhouse models that are suitable for local conditions.

However, according to Mr. Phu, the expansion of this model still faces several challenges, mainly due to relatively high initial investment costs, and producers need both technical knowledge and a shift toward commercially oriented production thinking. Therefore, Ninh Binh’s agricultural extension sector plans to develop pilot models, gradually transfer technologies, and scale up successful approaches when conditions are favorable.

For Mr. Dinh Van Hop, the results achieved from current melon crops are only the beginning. In the coming period, the cooperative aims to develop an agricultural model combined with experiential tourism, allowing consumers to visit, learn about the production process, and directly harvest products.

$ 1 = VND 26,466 - Source: Vietcombank.