Living green with young people

Green startup trend

IMO is the abbreviation of Indigenous Microorganism, living and developing completely outside the natural environment in which we live. These microorganisms are actively participating day and night in the process of decomposing organic matter into _CO2 and other substances that provide nutrients for plants; some microorganisms also convert nitrogen in the air into nitrogen for plants to absorb. IMO can be widely applied in many different fields such as animal feed, composting, garbage composting, deodorizing, reducing environmental pollution. From these practical benefits, many young people in Binh Phuoc have continuously studied, researched, and applied IMO to cultivation, livestock breeding, and economic development.

For the past 5 years, Luong Van Hau's earthworm farm in Duc Phong town, Bu Dang district has regularly welcomed many youth union members to visit and learn from his experience. Because Mr. Hau is one of the successful people in producing organic fertilizer from by-products, agricultural and livestock waste with the earthworm farming model in Binh Phuoc.

Mr. Hau's story of organic fertilizer production originated from his desire to find a solution to increase the productivity of his family's cashew garden when the price of chemical fertilizers on the market was too high. Mr. Hau searched for a solution to create a source of organic fertilizer to reduce production costs and develop the garden sustainably. He chose to raise hybrid earthworms to create a source of fertilizer. Specifically, he studied videos on how to make original microbial yeast on the internet and successfully created many lines of microbial preparations, then used these microbial preparations to treat waste, by-products, and livestock and poultry waste as input feed for earthworms. Currently, Mr. Hau's earthworm farm supplies the market with about 5 tons of organic fertilizer each month at a price of about 5 million VND/ton. In addition, from the application of original microbial yeast, Mr. Hau has produced beneficial microbial preparations specialized in composting garbage, composting organic fertilizer, and liquid fertilizer; Pesticides for family farming and supply to people in surrounding areas.

In Phuoc Minh commune, Bu Gia Map district, Mr. Do Van Phuc has successfully applied the IMO method to create organic fertilizer for his marigold garden. Mr. Phuc is currently the owner of a 7,000m2 marigold garden with about 130,000 seedlings and 25,000 finished flower pots.

Mr. Do Van Phuc's cyclamen garden in Phuoc Minh commune, Bu Gia Map district is fertilized with IMO biofertilizer so it grows and develops well.

During the process of developing the flower garden, Mr. Phuc was guided on organic agriculture by Master Hoang Son Cong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute for Talent Development, an expert in supporting rural youth startup competitions of the Central Youth Union. After that, he began to apply the IMO method to create organic fertilizers from locally available materials. For the flower garden to develop sustainably, he studied and produced IMO4 himself, then gradually developed IMO6, IMO8, helping to save tens of millions of VND on fertilizer each year. "Applying IMO to the carnation garden not only helps me save on fertilizer and pesticides, helping plants grow and develop well, but is also a safe solution for the workers who work in the garden every day and protect the health of product buyers," Mr. Phuc shared.

Applying the IMO method to farming and livestock models to start a business is the way of many young people in Binh Phuoc. From there, it contributes to promoting the trend of "green startups", "green production", "green living" among the province's youth. In 2023 alone, there were 7 startup projects of Binh Phuoc youth applying IMO to farming, production and livestock. These projects have been supported by the Provincial Youth Union, connecting with the provincial departments and branches to help project owners implement, thereby promoting the role of young people in protecting the living environment and combating climate change.

Spread green lifestyle

IMO is a proactive, low-cost, easy-to-implement solution, completely suitable for application in organic agriculture, clean agriculture and waste treatment. With the enthusiasm of youth, many young people in Binh Phuoc have actively transferred this microbial solution to people to move towards organic, sustainable agricultural production and protect the green - clean - safe living environment.

“I apply IMO in the fields of environmental protection, agriculture, and probiotic food processing. Currently, I focus on applying probiotics to deep processing of turmeric products to produce health care and beauty products... At the same time, I record videos about the process of treating household waste with IMO microbiological solutions, then share them for free on social media channels and with people around me” - Ms. Doan Thi Minh Tram in Hung Long ward, Chon Thanh town shared about her journey to spread a green lifestyle.

Ms. Tram was trained on IMO organized by the Central Youth Union and Binh Phuoc Provincial Youth Union. Along with researching and learning in-depth knowledge about IMO from courses, classes, books, newspapers and the internet, from 2021 to now, Ms. Tram has successfully applied IMO to many products. In particular, taking advantage of bird droppings, rotten fish, eggs, shells, seafood... to produce low-cost microbial fertilizers. Producing beauty and health care products from turmeric starch... In addition, Ms. Tram also coordinates with a number of localities inside and outside the province such as Dak Nong, Dong Nai, the Women's Union of Chon Thanh town and a number of schools in Chon Thanh to guide and transfer the application of IMO into practice. Specifically, such as instructing on how to classify waste; composting organic waste with biological products from IMO into fertilizer, using fertilizer to take care of green trees in schools; treating odors in school toilets with IMO microorganisms; growing plants with fertilizer from waste…

Ms. Doan Thi Minh Tram (6th from left) instructs teachers and students of Nha Bich Primary School, Chon Thanh town to treat waste with microorganisms.

District Youth Union, Vietnam Youth Union of Chon Thanh town launched the Club "Application of IMO in environmental protection" in 2023

In Loc Ninh district, the youth union members of Loc Thien commune are spreading and replicating the IMO method in daily life. Mr. Le Ngoc Thoan, Secretary of the Loc Thien commune Youth Union, said: The commune's youth union members have learned and applied the IMO method in treating household waste. At the same time, they have transferred this method to treat odors at pig farms for a number of households. The commune's youth union has also mobilized funds, installed and donated a disinfection spraying system to treat the environment in a pig farm to a household.

Mr. Duong Van Doan, owner of a pig farm in Loc Thien commune, shared: After 20 years of raising pigs, thanks to the application of the IMO method, I have treated about 90% of the odors arising during the farming process. Thank you to the Commune Youth Union for transferring the automatic disinfection system to the farm. My family is effectively applying the IMO method to process feed for pigs, treat waste as well as odors arising during the farming process.

Mr. Hoang Minh Dieu, Deputy Secretary of Loc Ninh District Youth Union said: “In the coming time, we will expand the application of IMO among Loc Ninh youth, especially in the treatment of household waste. We encourage youth union members to apply IMO in the production of microbial fertilizers and pesticides in production and livestock breeding to contribute to protecting the living environment.”

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/4/167251/cung-nguoi-tre-song-xanh