Invest in building a systematic and scientific production area

Taking us on a tour of the unit's farming, livestock and kitchen areas, Major Nguyen Trung Duc, Battalion Commander of Battalion 460, shared: "We determined that in order for soldiers to have good health, peace of mind in studying and training, and attachment to the unit, first of all, logistics and ensuring life must always be given importance."

Next to the green vegetable garden of all kinds ready for harvest is a trellis of squash and pumpkins laden with fruit. In the barn, there are about 60 pigs weighing from 50 to 90 kg and thousands of chickens and ducks, which are neatly fenced and raised separately at the end of the growing area, always ensuring cleanliness.

The 460th Battalion's water spinach garden is ready for harvest.

Seeing us engrossed in watching, Major Nguyen Trung Duc excitedly shared: “From the investment source from above and the unit's capital fund, we have mobilized thousands of working days to build a system of gardens, trellises, ponds, barns, and roads in the production and livestock areas according to standards. Diverse crops, combined with intercropping, crop rotation, and upgrading and renovating items of the production garden such as: Adding fertile soil to vegetable gardens, renovating the drainage system, automatic watering system with remote control and reinforcing the electrical system to ensure safety during use."

Delegation from the Logistics and Engineering Department, Military Region 5 visited the gourd trellis of Battalion 460.

In the garden areas, there are bio-compost tanks to fertilize vegetables. Waste is classified and arranged for scientific treatment, ensuring environmental hygiene. In addition, the unit also arranges a net house of about 200m2 to grow high-tech vegetables such as chocolate tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans... and maintains 2 beds of loose, fertile soil to grow seedlings, ensuring the unit can plant, care for and harvest all year round. Along with that is nearly 1000m2 of fruit trees, mainly growing bananas, papaya, guava, coconut and a garden of spices such as lemongrass, ginger, coriander, onions, garlic, chili...

Chocolate tomatoes in the unit's high-tech vegetable garden.

Practical effectiveness, improving soldiers' lives

Senior Lieutenant Mau Minh, Logistics Assistant, Battalion 460 said: “With current market prices, to ensure sufficient demand for green vegetables as well as improve the quality of meals for soldiers, the top solution that the unit has put forward is to expand the garden area to increase production, combine crop cultivation with livestock farming, focus on expanding the model of planting and developing clean, high-quality vegetables and tubers, maintaining the caloric intake of officers and soldiers to reach and exceed 3,200 kcal/person/day”.

Thousands of chickens and ducks in the farm.

Increasing production not only contributes to improving soldiers' lives, creating revenue to support cultural and spiritual activities in the unit, but also helps officers and soldiers to improve their awareness and overcome difficulties in performing their tasks.

Private Pham Minh Tan, a soldier in charge of the 460th Battalion, said: “Every day, I am very happy to grow vegetables and raise livestock and poultry with my teammates in the unit to improve our meals, especially when I can eat “clean vegetables and clean meat” that I have produced myself, ensuring food safety and hygiene while saving the unit’s expenses. I have accumulated some experience in farming and raising livestock. When I complete my military service and return to my hometown, I will apply the experience I have gained to develop my family’s economy.”

Visit the unit's vegetable and fruit storage warehouse.
Check and evaluate the quality of soldiers' meals.

According to Colonel Nguyen Son, Head of the Quartermaster Department, Logistics and Engineering Department, Military Region 5, the production garden system of Battalion 460 is fundamentally and sustainably built. Vegetables, tubers, and fruits in the garden grow very well, especially the electricity and irrigation systems ensure safety, suitability, and efficiency. The arrangement and organization of areas in the dining room and kitchen are clean, airy, cool, reasonable, and ensure environmental hygiene. The quality of the soldiers' meals is sufficient, all according to the prescribed standards and quantities, with the price of products imported to the kitchen 10 to 15% lower than the market price, including many nutritious dishes.

In 2024, Battalion 460 increased production of 84 tons of green vegetables; nearly 9 tons of meat, and thousands of poultry eggs. The total revenue from increased production of the Battalion is estimated at over 1.7 billion VND, at the same time self-sufficient in 100% of the needs for green vegetables, pork, meat, and poultry eggs of all kinds. The results from increased production have added 1,500 VND/person/day to the daily meals of soldiers. During the recent Lunar New Year, Battalion 460 allocated from the increased production fund to support cadres in the unit with 1,200,000 VND/person, non-commissioned officers and soldiers with 120,000 VND/person.

  Article and photos: MAI VAN DONG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/mo-hinh-tang-gia-san-xuat-hieu-qua-tai-tieu-doan-460-823713