QUANG NAM – At the beginning of the 12th lunar month, people in the Thang Binh district go to the fields to harvest Kieu to sell on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

Thang Binh district planted about 200 ha of palanquin, concentrated in the communes of Binh Phuc, Binh Giang, Binh Sa… Kieu in Binh Phuc grown on sandy soil grew quickly and the tubers were large. This is the largest palanquin growing area in Quang Nam.

The palanquin is planted on a bed with a height of more than 30 cm, so that when it rains heavily, the water drains quickly, and the tubers do not rot.

In early December, the palanquin field in Binh Phuc commune turns yellow, which is the time when farmers go to the fields to harvest tubers.

In the sun, Mr. Tran Ngoc Duc, 55 years old, wearing a hat and two family members harvested 2 poles of Kieu (one pole of 500 m2).

Every year in the eighth lunar month, when it rains, farmers begin to sow seeds. Each pole of investment in seed and fertilizer costs more than one million dongs. During the cultivation process, growers must weed, water when it is sunny, and spray pesticides. After five years and five months, a palanquin has a yield of 200-300 kg.

The palanquin planted on sandy soil has thick and long roots. Compared to the previous year, this crop has yielded more than 200 kg of tubers/pole, down by nearly 100 kg, because of heavy rain, the bush does not produce branches.

Mr. Duong Minh Cuong, 37 years old, residing in Binh Phuc commune, is harvesting 2 Sao of palanquin, down 5 Sao compared to the previous crop. “Learning from experience in 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic has no place to consume, so I reduce the planting area,” he said.

Not only Mr. Cuong, but the whole commune also reduced the area, afraid of not being able to sell.

To get the tubers, people put the sickle upside down on the bamboo that is firmly planted in the ground. Hold the leaves and roots with both hands and put them in the sickle to cut off the tubers. This job requires care, if you accidentally cut your hand on the sickle.

The palanquin sold from 28,000 to 35,000 VND/kg, 10,000 VND higher than the previous year. Excluding costs, farmers collect 5 million VND per pole for growing Kieu.

The palanquin tubers are cut off all the leaves and roots and are turned over and over again to get the sand out before being poured into the sacks.

Mr. Nguyen Hue (left) goes to the field every day to buy from 2 to 5 tons of tubers. The road to the palanquin field is narrow, trucks do not come to the place, so he uses a motorbike to transport it to the main road and then distribute it in the locality and the Central – Central Highlands region.

After taking tubers, leaves and roots, leave the field for manure.

Before Tet, people in Quang Nam buy Kieu to clean and dry them together with carrots, papaya, radishes, onions, and peppers to make pickles. This species is eaten with Banh Chung, Banh Tet, and pork on Tet. Follow (vnexpress)