Nowadays, quality and safe agricultural products, especially organic agricultural products, are increasingly favored by consumers. Taking advantage of existing advantages, the provincial and local agricultural sectors are focusing on developing organic agricultural production models and natural farming towards a clean, safe and sustainable agriculture.
Caring for plants certified to meet Vietnam organic standards at Dfarm farm, Kim Thach commune, Vinh Linh district - Photo: LA
Organic ecological pepper garden
Coming to Gio An commune, Gio Linh district, it is not difficult to see houses surrounded by lush green pepper gardens. Under the pepper gardens, people intercrop gourds, squash, and luffa for daily meals and sell for extra income. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang in Binh Son village, Gio An commune said that her family has been intercropping vegetables under the pepper garden for the past 7-8 years, since the time her family's 300 pepper trees were certified to meet European organic standards.
Previously, like many households in Gio An commune, her pepper garden only grew pepper because the pesticides and herbicides her family had used for many years had caused the soil to degrade and become infertile. In 2014, after attending many training courses, Ms. Hang decided to switch to organic pepper cultivation.
At this time, everything changed completely, especially in terms of farming techniques and the use of organic fertilizers and biological pesticides. It took 3 years to improve the soil, and in 2017, after many sampling tests, Ms. Hang's pepper garden was certified to meet European organic standards. Everyone in the family breathed a sigh of relief and was overwhelmed with joy.
According to Ms. Hang, pepper is a difficult crop, cannot withstand waterlogging but needs a lot of water. Therefore, when growing organic pepper, weeds growing in the garden will help retain moisture in the soil. A source of organic fertilizer applied in sufficient doses will provide nutrients to help pepper plants have long-term vitality, firm, spicy and delicious seeds.
In particular, growing pepper according to organic standards not only provides consumers with clean, healthy products, but also allows her family members to live in a safe environment. The pepper garden becomes her family's ecological space. In the garden, wild grasses and cyperus rotundus naturally grow and flourish. When necessary, they are cut and piled on the pepper roots to retain moisture and add organic matter to the plants.
The life span of pepper plants is longer; the yield when growing organic pepper is even higher than when using chemical fertilizers and conventional pesticides. The price of organic pepper is also purchased by Ong Voi Cooperative (HTX) at a price 5,000 - 10,000 VND/kg higher than the market price at the same time. Therefore, overcoming the sun and wind, Ms. Hang's organic pepper garden still grows well. The vegetables grown in the garden also grow better.
“Not only is organic pepper purchased at a higher price, but it also always has a stable output, so farmers are very excited. In addition, every year the cooperative provides technical training and closely monitors the organic pepper production process,” said Ms. Hang.
According to statistics from the Gio An Commune People's Committee, up to now, out of the total 75 hectares of pepper in the locality, 45 hectares have been certified to meet European organic standards. The remaining area is also being converted to organic cultivation. The entire annual organic pepper output of about 70 tons is purchased by Ong Voi Cooperative in the commune at a higher price than the market price for export to European, Japanese and American markets.
Vice Chairman of Gio An Commune People's Committee Le Phuoc Hieu said that it was difficult to have a cultivation area, and it was even more difficult to form and maintain an organic pepper area. However, gradually, with the close propaganda and supervision of Ong Voi Cooperative, people's awareness and responsibility have changed greatly.
For many years, through sample tests, Gio An's organic pepper has still met the needs of foreign partners. The locality is striving to have 100% of the pepper area in Gio An certified as European organic within the next 2-3 years. In addition, other fruit trees such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and guavas are currently being grown organically.
“Along with the ancient well system left over from long ago, the year-round green organic pepper gardens have created an attractive ecological living space in Gio An. This is also one of the reasons why the local government is more bold in the story of developing agricultural tourism,” Mr. Hieu revealed.
Towards building green and sustainable agriculture
The last winter-spring crop was the first crop that Mr. Nguyen Tan Le in Dinh Xa village, Cam Hieu commune, Cam Lo district planted 0.5 ha of ST25 rice variety according to the organic rice production model using tray seedlings and transplanters linked to product consumption implemented by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center in coordination with Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company. After nearly 3.5 months, he harvested more than 3.3 tons of fresh rice. With a purchase price of 13 million VND/ton of fresh rice right in the field, Mr. Le earned nearly 43 million VND, net profit of over 18 million VND.
“Most of the steps in the process are mechanized. Economically, if done well, the profit can be up to 40 million VND/ha. Therefore, I will continue to maintain organic rice cultivation to both improve economic efficiency and bring many environmental benefits,” said Mr. Le.
Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center Tran Can informed that the model was implemented in Cam Hieu commune with an area of 8 hectares, using ST25 rice variety. This is an area that farmers have been producing organically since previous crops. The growth process of the rice plants is strictly cared for and managed. Using organic fertilizers, biological products, fish and snail protein; fermented stem and leaf water; herbs; bone calcium phosphate, eggshell calcium, egg milk...
Fresh rice yield reached over 6.5 tons/ha and was purchased by Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company with a purchase price at the field of 13,000 VND/kg... After deducting costs, the model field achieved a profit of over 36.5 million VND/ha, twice as high as that of mass fields. According to Mr. Can, the advantage of organic rice cultivation is that it helps reduce ecological pollution and protects the health of producers and consumers. Using organic fertilizers, in addition to supplementing micronutrients and nutrients for rice plants, also has the effect of reducing acidity, washing away alum, and improving the soil very well.
Up to now, Vinh Linh district has 8 cooperatives producing rice in the direction of organic farming, linking to consume products on an area of 158 hectares with nearly 600 farmer households participating. The average yield is 6 tons/ha; income is 49 million VND/ha. On average, 1 hectare, after deducting costs, has a higher income than normal rice production by 3 - 4 million VND/ha.
In particular, by using a closed, concentrated process from planting to harvesting fresh rice in the field, post-harvest losses have been reduced by 5-7%. Currently, the associated companies have gradually stabilized the output market; have created the Vinh Lam organic rice brand and are certifying Vinh Linh organic rice.
In addition to economic efficiency, organic farming does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides, only uses organic fertilizers and microbial products from herbs, creating a safe environment for producers, without pesticide residues or fertilizers, creating surface water, fresh air, fertile land, reducing carbon emissions, safe and quality products and gradually re-establishing the balance of the field ecosystem. In addition, promoting synchronous mechanization, strengthening the linkage of the four houses, improving the operational efficiency of agricultural cooperatives.
Vice Chairman of Vinh Linh District People's Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan said that in order to facilitate the association and consumption of organic rice products, in 2023 the district established the Union of Organic Rice Production Cooperatives to promote production, expand the market, increase people's income, and contribute to local socio-economic development.
Support investment in field improvement, land consolidation, irrigation canal system for organic rice production areas. Build a preliminary processing and processing system for Vinh Linh rice in Duc Xa Cooperative, Vinh Thuy Commune. Strive to have 300 hectares of organic rice production in the district by 2025, of which 100 hectares will be certified organic. At the same time, increase the search and invite businesses to cooperate in consuming products with a quantity of about 3,000 tons/year.
With the view of restructuring agriculture associated with building new rural areas, gradually shifting from quantity agriculture to quality and value, in recent years, the agricultural sector has exploited the potential and strengths of localities in the province to shift production from breadth to depth, investing with focus and key points to create key agricultural products, contributing to improving production efficiency in the direction of goods.
In particular, aiming at the goal of sustainable agricultural development, comprehensive in terms of economy, society and environment with the breakthrough of developing large-scale organic agricultural production associated with key products such as high-quality organic rice, Khe Sanh Arabica coffee, Quang Tri pepper and specialty fruit trees. From there, shaping a new agricultural production, turning harsh conditions into development advantages, linking agricultural development with eco-tourism.
Up to now, the whole province has 478 hectares of organic crops including: rice, pepper, fruit trees... In addition, there are 74 hectares of naturally cultivated rice, 317.9 hectares of organic production and 40 hectares of VietGap rice. Organic products have been exported to demanding international markets such as: the US, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands...
Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ha Sy Dong said that in order for farmers to stick with organic agriculture, the province has had many policies, prioritizing the allocation of resources to support people, cooperatives and businesses investing in the agricultural sector in general, and organic agriculture in particular. Support and create favorable conditions for businesses in terms of land for building facilities for drying, preserving, processing, consuming, scientific research, and testing models.
Forming and replicating the “5-house” linkage model in rice production. Establishing factories for preliminary processing, processing organic rice and deeply processed products from rice. Making the most of by-products in rice production such as straw and rice bran to serve the development of livestock, organic fertilizers, food and cosmetics industries.
In addition, organic production models have contributed to positively impacting farmers' awareness and farming practices in using organic fertilizers and biological pesticides that are beneficial to the environment... Thereby, aiming to build a green and sustainable agriculture.
Le An
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/huong-den-nen-nong-nghiep-huu-co-ben-vung-186620.htm
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