Kale - a specialty vegetable of the "white highlands"
In the journey to experience the "white plateau" of Bac Ha in recent years, a temperate vegetable that is especially loved by tourists, selected in meals as well as bought as gifts is Kale.Kale is an imported vegetable, originating from the Netherlands. Realizing that this vegetable has characteristics suitable to the local soil and climate, in June 2018, the Agricultural Service Center of Bac Ha district brought it to trial planting. According to the theory transferred from the Netherlands, the tree will grow and harvest leaves within 6 months, but in fact in Bac Ha, the tree has a growth cycle of 8 to 10 months if the weather is favorable and taken good care.
Kale vegetables are grown in greenhouses, applying high technology for better quality. (Photo taken before April 27, 2021) |
Kale vegetables are inherently suitable for the winter crop, but when planted in Bac Ha, this vegetable is considered an off-season vegetable with high economic efficiency. Moreover, vegetables are grown once but harvested for many months, helping farmers reduce the investment in seeds.
Mrs. Ly Thi Hanh's family, in Sin Chai A village, Na Hoi commune, was one of the first to register to grow Kale. In previous years, in the Tam Hoa plum garden, Ms. Hanh intercropped with corn, but after being consulted, this entire area was converted to growing Kale vegetables. Ms Hanh said: Kale for harvesting for a long time, very suitable for Bac Ha climate, so the plant grows well.
Delicious dish from Kale kale. |
Kale has high nutritional value and is a "golden food" for health and beauty. Vegetables have a sweet taste, leaves are soft and rich, can be processed into many different dishes such as salads, smoothies, bone soup, stir-fried, boiled, fried eggs ... are very popular with diners.
Each Kale plant to harvest will be pruned and kept the stem to wait for the next harvest. Each harvest period is 5-7 days apart. When planted with appropriate density, proper care and with the current average selling price of 20,000-25,000/kg, 1 hectare of Kale can yield nearly 200 million dong. Along with planting on garden land according to the traditional farming style, some cooperatives also plant in greenhouses applying high technology to help plants avoid pests and diseases, not being affected by the weather; The quality and design are also better.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, Director of Bac Ha District Agricultural Service Center said: After successfully growing the Kale variety and realizing its high economic value, Bac Ha farmers have expanded the area. Currently, in the town and communes of Na Hoi, Ta Chai, Ban Pho, this vegetable has been grown in large quantities. In order to increase the land use coefficient in highland communes and increase the harvest value per 1 hectare of arable land, especially to increase income and solve problems for farmers, Bac Ha district is proposing the province to adopt a policy. for development, creating a large commodity production area for Kale in the area.