Asparagus becomes latest promising crop

Farmers in Hanoi's suburban Phuc Tho District are making more money after turning to a new crop, asparagus. 

Bui Thi Lang, head of the district's Hiep Thuan Commune's farmers' association, said that they started to grow asparagus earlier this year after local authorities sought crops with higher economic value than rice. 

Lang said at that time, few local farmers were interested in growing asparagus because it was new to them and required big initial investment – about 30 million VND (1,330 USD) per ‘sao’ (360 sq.m) 

Despite this the asparagus soon flourished and helped the farmers increase their income, Lang said. 

There are 4.7 ha of asparagus in the commune, providing about 100 kilos of asparagus daily. A kilo of asparagus can be sold for 50,000 VND – 70,000 VND (2.2-3.1 USD). 

Lang said that a company and wholesaler came to the commune and ordered asparagus to sell in markets. 

"Now, we don't have enough asparagus to sell," she said. 

Chairman of Phuc Tho District People's Committee, Hoang Manh Phu, said asparagus was grown over six hectares under a pilot programme in three communes of Hiep Thuan, Cam Dinh and Tho Loc. 

Growing asparagus is a good way for local farmers to increase income, he said, adding that the crop would bring more profit if farmers learned cultivation techniques, connected with the market and built their brand.-VNA