Prosperity through hard work

Article and photos: MAI THY

Talking about the property built over the years, Uncle Ho Van Nha, in Thoi Binh area, Thoi Thuan ward, Thot Not district, confided: “The assets my wife and I passed on to our children and grandchildren were all from our labor, soaked in sweat and hardship. Now that we are old, my wife and I still encourage each other to work hard, not only to create wealth but also to set an example of diligence for our children and grandchildren.”

Specializing in growing 2 types of herbs and watercress, Mr. Nha has a stable income, developing the family economy.

Every early morning, in Uncle Nha’s yard, the women in the neighborhood select, weigh and bundle vegetables, waiting for traders to come and deliver them to various places. During the peak harvest season, especially in the summer months, when vegetables are consumed in large quantities, Uncle Nha hires about 6 people to help. Uncle Nha said: “I am happy to create regular jobs for the people in the neighborhood. I encourage everyone to try their best and pay them accordingly.”

As a "pure" farmer in the Thoi Binh area, at the age of 26, Mr. Nha got married and worked for hire to make a living. Mr. Nha discussed with his wife selling his pair of earrings - his only wedding jewelry - as capital to "start a business" with a flock of 200 ducks. Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong, Mr. Nha's wife, wholeheartedly supported her husband. Every morning, Mr. Nha tended the flock of ducks, she stayed home to take care of their 2 young children, and took on hired work. In the first 3 years, he kept selling this flock of ducks, raising another, saving up to buy 2 hectares of land. Not minding the hardship, saving every penny, Mr. Nha gradually "owned" 10 hectares of land to grow rice 3 times a year, saved up to build a brick house, and raise 2 children to go to school. Uncle Nha said: “Since joining the farmer association, I have diligently attended training and agricultural extension classes, learning many good and effective ways of doing things. I started experimenting with growing a few hectares of vegetables and ornamental flowers, introducing my own products, and finding long-term buyers with good reputation. Although it was hard to stay up late and wake up early, the profits increased significantly, so I was excited to put in the work.” When they failed, Uncle Nha and his wife encouraged each other to “lose this game, try another one.”

For over 20 years, Mr. Nha has applied the "crop rotation" production process. From February to August, Mr. Nha has improved the land to grow 8 hectares of herbs and watercress. He has set aside 2 hectares of land to sow crystal chrysanthemum and gerbera seeds, in time to pot, fertilize, and sell each Tet holiday. Every day, from 3am, he and his son go to the field to cut vegetables. Depending on the current price, it fluctuates from 10,000-30,000 VND/kg of vegetables, earning from 5-10 million VND/day. Since October, Mr. Nha has planted 5 hectares of winter-spring rice and 5 hectares of vegetables and chrysanthemums. For each rice crop, Mr. Nha earns from 20 million VND. During the Lunar New Year, Mr. Nha sells 1,000 pots of crystal chrysanthemum and 1,000 pots of gerbera chrysanthemum. Thanks to his diligence in applying the crop rotation production method, Mr. Nha does not let himself and his land "rest", bringing in an annual profit of about 230 million VND. Uncle Nha confided: "Farming is very hard work. You have to really stick to the land, love the job and be good at calculating to get results."

During the production process, Uncle Nha always has his son accompanying him, helping him with farming, calculating and balancing the prices of input materials and output agricultural products. Uncle Nha said: "My son is quick to approach and connect with many sources of information, learn new methods and approaches to apply to the family's production model, in order to reduce costs and bring economic efficiency." Uncle Nha also dedicates a large garden to grow orchids, apricot and bonsai with many designs, as a place to relax after a hard day's work, and increase his income by taking care of apricot and bonsai after each Tet holiday.

In the story he told us, Uncle Nha optimistically “made” plans to grow seeds, cultivate soil, and order pots to prepare for the Tet flower crop. Listening to him tell the story and watching him work, we further understood the meaning of the results of hard work and overcoming difficulties.

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