Bustling onion harvest season in Luong Son

These days, the shallot fields in Luong Son commune (Ninh Son) are entering the peak harvest season to serve the upcoming Lunar New Year 2024 market.

We were present at the 2-hectare shallot growing field in Tra Giang 4 village, where from very early on there were already more than 100 workers diligently pulling shallots. To be able to meet the traders' purchase deadline, farmers gathered to pull shallots from early morning and evening. The families who grow shallots hire workers and acquaintances and have to wake up at 2 or 3 am to pull the shallots, then wash them until about 10 am to deliver them to the traders.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy (Tra Giang 4 village) said: This is the peak time for harvesting pickled onions, so many workers are needed to carry flashlights all night to harvest and transport them to markets outside the province. Harvesting at night ensures that the pickled onions are fresh and delicious, retaining their spicy flavor when they reach consumers.

People harvest shallots in Tra Giang 4 Village, Luong Son Commune (Ninh Son).

This year, Luong Son commune planted about 60 hectares of shallots, mostly in Tan Lap 2, Tra Giang 3 and Tra Giang 4 villages. The shallots are grown year-round by farmers here, divided into 2 crops, but the winter-spring crop is the main one. The shallots are planted from the end of the 6th lunar month until the 12th lunar month for harvest. This is also the main source of income for many families here at the end of the year.

According to shallot growers, the harvest area per sao has a yield of 700 kg to 1 ton. From the beginning of November 2023 until now, traders have started to buy shallots in the field at prices ranging from 22,000 - 35,000 VND/kg depending on quality and size. At this price, if deducting costs and care, shallot farmers still make a profit, but not as high as last year. Growing shallots not only creates income for farmers during Tet but also creates jobs and income for many local workers in their spare time.

With her hands nimbly picking onions, Ms. Kieu Thi Giang (Tan Tap 1 village) said: When the onion season comes, women here invite each other to work for hire to earn a little money to celebrate Tet. Some people focus on picking, others classify, trim... The employer will calculate the wages based on the number of kilograms that one harvests, on average, a working day is about 200-300 thousand.

Along Highway 27, on the shallot fields covered in white bulbs, lush green leaves blending with the bustling atmosphere of people harvesting shallots, convoys of trucks carrying goods make the atmosphere of Tet approaching even closer./.

Mr. Thi

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