Miracles in the fields of Ha Tinh

Organic farming pioneers in Ha Tinh are working miracles on once-dead fields.

"I like farming like this"

Digging his hands into the rice field, Nguyen Van Anh scooped up a handful of coal-black mud. Under the midday sun, from the muddy soil crawled out worms, each one plump and shiny. The field owner laughed heartily: "I can pick up worms from anywhere in this field for you to see, as well as crabs, crabs, and fish, lots of them. The field has been revived, sir."

Model of transferring organic rice production techniques combined with regeneration and restoration of natural earthworm resources in Ky Anh district. Photo: Hoang Anh.

The Ky Khang commune field is a fairly large rice-growing area located right next to the Le canal of Ky Anh district (Ha Tinh). It is an estuary, seaport and purely agricultural area, so people mainly depend on agriculture to make a living. Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, Director of the Center for Application of Science and Technology and Protection of Plants and Livestock of Ky Anh district, sadly said in a low voice: "In the past, this place was both a rice granary and a natural granary of earthworms and clams of the land at the foot of Deo Ngang, the rice pot of tens of thousands of people. But after many ups and downs, changes, there was a time when the Ky Khang commune field seemed to have died, beyond saving. Around 2005, earthworms and clams were no longer seen in the fields."

Where did the mud crabs and shrimps go, and the fish and shrimps gradually disappeared. Without needing scientific research, we know that it is because people overuse fertilizers and chemical pesticides. Every rice crop, tons of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are dumped. The fields have become "dead fields". Not only have the fish and shrimps here all died, but many neighboring areas have also been affected, with no sign of mud crabs or shrimps. The land is barren, and many places are deserted, no different from the desert. People say that because they poison the fields, the mud crabs and shrimps have left.

The crops failed, the meals lacked the flavor of the shrimp paste and the fish sauce, making them bland. People wanted to raise more pigs and cows but it was difficult because the food source from the fields was not guaranteed, and some families had suffered because the cows ate herbicides. The situation was getting more and more dire, so people gathered to discuss and send people to find solutions. The couple Nguyen Van Anh and Hoang Thi Vinh were the most enthusiastic.

Ms. Hoang Thi Vinh, Head of the Rice - Crab Cooperative in Dau Giang village (Ky Khang commune, Ky Anh district). Photo: Hoang Anh.

“I went to meetings in the commune and district and heard people say that only organic farming can save the fields, not just Ky Khang, many places have been affected, thanks to organic farming the fields have been revived,” said Ms. Hoang Thi Vinh.

Ms. Vinh's family was the first family in Ky Khang to register to participate in the model of transferring organic rice production techniques combined with regenerating and restoring natural rươi resources of Ky Anh district, starting more than 3 years ago, on an area of ​​3 hectares and also very difficult and arduous.

“The first crop yield was not as good as conventional farming. The rice was sown but because we did not use pesticides, the grass grew densely all over the field. Just weeding was more tiring than chopping firewood. My husband and I hesitated for a long time and decided to give up, but thanks to the encouragement of the government, we worked hard and gradually learned from our experience. Especially at the end of the crop, crabs, shrimps, and earthworms suddenly appeared in our field. We harvested rice and also got a “heavenly gift”, so we made more profit than the surrounding families,” said Ms. Hoang Thi Vinh excitedly.

That crop, with an area of ​​3 hectares, Ms. Vinh's family harvested more than 2 quintals of ST25 rice per sao, the selling price fluctuated from 15 - 17 thousand VND/kg, but the good thing was that after harvesting the rice, they also harvested bloodworms, clams, freshwater shrimp and crabs, which they sold every day and earned from 500 - 700 thousand VND.

Rice and worm fields in Ky Khang commune. Photo: Hoang Anh.

Seeing that this organic model was so good, the people of Ky Khang commune came to learn and follow it. At the same time, the district came to promote the development of the collective economic model, linking with Que Lam Group to supply input materials and guarantee output for the people.

The rice-worm cooperative in Dau Giang village (Ky Khang commune) was born from that time. Ms. Hoang Thi Vinh was elected as the group leader by the villagers. The group has 8 members, and the area has been expanded by 5 hectares following the production model of "breaking away" from chemicals.

Now, the rice-worm field of the Dau Giang Village Cooperative is more than 17 hectares wide. Next crop, it will be expanded to 25 hectares, linking with businesses to both develop the production model and build the rice-worm brand of Ky Khang commune.

The day we arrived, the rice-rươi fields were about to be harvested. Team leader Vinh jokingly said that this year's rice was very good, but the people were expecting the main source of income from rươi. Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, Director of the Center for Application of Science and Technology and Protection of Plants and Livestock in Ky Anh district, compared that the people's organic fields were calling for fish and shrimp. Ms. Vinh also happily agreed: "Every day the fields give gifts. If not rươi, then there are crabs, crabs, shrimps and fish. This type of farming is very enjoyable, guys."

“Many people are still worried that organic farming is hard, like taking care of a baby, but after doing it, they find it healthier than traditional farming. It’s as simple as fertilizing the fields with organic fertilizer. The rice plants absorb nutrients and then the organic matter accumulates in the fields. In the next crop, technical staff will guide us to reduce the amount from 70kg to 60kg, then 50kg, but the rice is still good and healthy. There are more and more earthworms, clams, shrimps, and fish. That’s great,” Vinh smiled.

Ky Anh is determined to build the district's rice and shrimp brand. Photo: Hoang Anh.

The direction of the difficult land of Ha Tinh

Continuing the joy of the pioneers of organic farming in Ky Khang, the Director of the Center for Application of Science and Technology and Protection of Plants and Livestock in Ky Anh district revealed more: In parallel with building this model, we took soil and water samples in Dau Giang village (Ky Khang commune) and sent them to the Institute of Agricultural Genetics and the Research Institute of Aquaculture 1 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) to coordinate to see if we could bring in the bloodworm species from Hai Duong, but after the first organic crop, we saw that the bloodworm reappeared, so that project was also abandoned.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thai analyzed that with the geographical and climatic characteristics of the land of "fire pan, rain bag" like Ky Anh, the people's lives still mainly depend on agriculture. The whole district currently has nearly 10 thousand hectares of rice, a total herd of 28.3 thousand pigs, along with shrimp farming, buffalo and cattle raising...

Identifying organic agriculture as an inevitable path, the People's Committee of Ky Anh district has proactively signed a cooperation agreement with Que Lam Group - a pioneer in organic agriculture and circular agriculture. After nearly 3 years of implementation, the district has built more than 32 hectares of organic rice, 1 organic tea growing model, 1 organic watermelon growing model and 1 organic pig farming model. The plan is that this year, Ky Anh will continue to expand livestock and crop farming models, helping people increase their income and promote organic agricultural products in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thai - Director of the Center for Application of Science and Technology and Protection of Plants and Livestock in Ky Anh District (left) always accompanies people doing organic farming in Ky Anh. Photo: Hoang Anh.

“The organic agricultural development plan of Ky Anh district is that in any area that intensively cultivates according to organic standards, it is mandatory to establish cooperatives and cooperatives. Up to now, the district has had two successful organic rice models in Dau Giang (Ky Khang commune) and Phu Minh (Ky Phu commune). All input materials and production processes are supported by Que Lam Group and technical staff are sent to guide the implementation. After a period of implementation, we brought soil and water samples for analysis and the results all met the standards. The humus content in the soil is even higher than in other areas. Scientists here call the rice field ecosystem revived,” Director Nguyen Van Thai excitedly said.

Visiting some organic production models in Ha Tinh, Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, also agreed: Many people think that Ha Tinh is a difficult land, which will be difficult for agricultural development in general and organic agriculture in particular. However, the practical models have proven the opposite. Some localities such as Vu Quang, Ky Anh, Duc Tho districts... can be called "phenomena" because the organic farming movement has affirmed its success and is spreading very strongly.

Specifically, in a recent working session on organic agricultural development in Ha Tinh, specialized agencies informed: Implementing the cooperation program between Ha Tinh province and Que Lam Group, after more than 2 years of implementing organic agricultural production and circular economy, there have been more than 30 households raising organic pigs with a total herd of 150 sows/year, producing 3,000 pigs per year. The organic rice value chain has attracted more than 1,000 households and 8 cooperatives to participate with a total area of ​​​​DT 39 Que Lam rice variety of more than 210 hectares/crop...

The organic farming model of Mr. Nguyen Van Anh and Ms. Hoang Thi Vinh's family is being followed by many local farmers. Photo: Hoang Anh.

The economic efficiency of organic agricultural production linkage in livestock farming has initially been clear, especially the livestock farming environment has no bad smell, saves water, does not discharge waste into the environment, and in two years there has been no epidemic in the context of African swine fever still occurring.

For organic rice production models, after 2-3 crops without using pesticides or chemical fertilizers, the soil becomes fertile, eliminating toxic substances, so the rice plants grow strongly, almost without having to treat pests and diseases, and have stable yields. The rice - earthworm - crab fields in Ky Anh and Duc Tho have helped people have high incomes and restored the field ecosystem.

Speaking to the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Van Viet, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ha Tinh, said: Organic production in Ha Tinh has been initially implemented on a number of crops, contributing to changing the awareness of producers. The goal by 2030 is that the area of ​​agricultural land for organic production will reach about 2 - 2.5% of the total area of ​​agricultural land in Ha Tinh.

“The trend of the times is that agricultural production must be safe, along with high-quality, high-value products. By choosing to cooperate with Que Lam Group, we hope to spread the strong organic production movement, contributing to building a green and sustainable Ha Tinh agriculture,” affirmed Mr. Nguyen Van Viet.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/ky-tich-tren-nhung-canh-dong-o-ha-tinh-d387004.html