Green shoots rise from harsh land

Under the gentle golden sunlight of the Van Ho plateau (Son La), amidst the vast green of the mountains and forests, there is a woman quietly nurturing each tiny life in a sturdy greenhouse. From a farmer attached to rice and corn fields, Ms. Dinh Thi Huong in Hang Trung village, Van Ho commune (Van Ho, Son La) has now become a skillful "midwife" of hundreds of thousands of seedlings, opening a new path for high-tech agriculture in remote mountainous areas.

Ms. Huong's family is currently a famous supplier of seedlings in Van Ho district. Photo: Duc Binh .

From barren fields to green dreams in greenhouses

Before 2020, her family lived entirely on 1 hectare of land growing corn and rice. With the harsh climate of the Northwest mountains, cold winters and long rainy seasons, her family's crops were often unstable. Every year, the family harvested about 50 - 60 bags of corn and about 20 - 30 bags of rice. The total annual income was only around 50 million VND, just enough to cover their living expenses.

“The yield of rice or corn is very unstable due to the harsh weather, I had to find other suitable solutions, building a greenhouse was the initial idea, but the family's economy at that time was not enough,” Ms. Huong shared.

Looking at the yellow corn fields after a frost, the withered rice fields after heavy rains, Ms. Huong knew that if she did not change, her family would forever be stuck in the vicious cycle of poverty.

During the days of struggling to find a new direction, Ms. Huong received an introduction from the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Van Ho District) about the GREAT project funded by the Australian Government to support women in the highlands to develop their economy through high-tech agriculture.

With support from the project, in September 2020, she was invested in a modern nursery of 350 square meters, fully equipped with seed trays, nutrient substrates and advanced support equipment systems with a total investment value of 256 million VND, of which her family contributed 50%, equivalent to 128 million VND - a large amount of money for a mountainous farming household. But amidst the hesitation, she understood that this was the time to dare to think, dare to do and change her family's life.

Ms. Huong's greenhouse, which is over 300 square meters wide, is always covered with seedlings. Photo: Tu Thanh.

She discussed with her family about investing in another greenhouse to grow plants, taking advantage of healthy seedlings from her own nursery. Currently, her family is researching and experimenting with growing tomatoes with the hope of providing both high-quality seedlings and agricultural products to the market.

Catch up with high technology

Inside the greenhouse, trays of green seedlings are neatly arranged in long rows. Here, each seed is carefully nurtured and cared for.

Once established in the nutrient-filled trays, the seedlings are watered regularly twice daily using an automatic irrigation system. Dry areas are supplemented by hand, ensuring that each plant receives the moisture it needs.

The greenhouse is not an absolute shield. Insects can still penetrate and affect the growth of seedlings. To protect, Ms. Huong installed an insect trap light system, strictly controlled access to the greenhouse, and used biological products to prevent pests.

The incubation time also varies, in the cold season it takes about a month for the seedlings to be ready for planting, in the summer it only takes about 20 days. Each month she can export tens of thousands of seedlings, bringing in a stable income.

In addition to using an automatic irrigation system, Ms. Huong's family also watered the plants to ensure they received enough water. Photo: Tu Thanh .

With the selling price ranging from 300 - 500 VND/seedling, in just the first year, Ms. Huong achieved a revenue of over 100 million VND - a figure she had never dared to think of before. The first coins from seedlings helped her cover her living expenses, have more capital to invest in improving the model, and improve product quality. And most importantly, she found a sustainable direction for her family.

The initial success did not stop Ms. Huong. Looking back on the past, she understands that to develop sustainably, it is necessary to constantly innovate and improve the production model. She is planning to invest in additional humidity measuring systems and ventilation fans to adjust the environment in the greenhouse more optimally. In addition, she pays special attention to improving the quality of the growing medium.

The substrate used is a mixture of manure, agricultural lime, burnt rice husks, vermicompost and some biological products. The preparation process takes about 2-3 months, she always composts large quantities in advance, so that she can maintain continuous production without interruption.

Journey to change highland agriculture

Not only developing her family’s economy, Ms. Huong also wants to share her experience with other farmers. She has participated in many training sessions, guiding farmers on seedling cultivation techniques, helping them access the greenhouse model and apply technology to agricultural production. Her story is a miniature of the strong transformation in agriculture in Van Ho.

Substrate is an important factor in helping seedlings grow. Photo: Tu Thanh.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Hung, Director of the Van Ho District Agricultural Service Center, in recent years, the Center has implemented 25 agricultural extension models with a total budget of more than 2.7 billion VND, of which the district budget supported more than 2.2 billion VND, the rest was contributed by the people.

Models such as greenhouses, net houses, and water-saving irrigation systems have been changing the face of local agricultural production. From small-scale farming, completely dependent on nature, farmers can now master technology, minimize risks, and increase production efficiency.

In addition, Van Ho district also aims to build an agricultural extension model in a 5-year period, selecting models that are suitable to local potential and advantages. Priority is given to models that are urgent, have market potential, the ability to replicate and link stable outputs. Farmers are supported in linking product consumption, and are assured to maintain and replicate the model. Encourage cooperation between households and cooperatives to form a sustainable production chain.

Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight penetrate the white membrane, shining on the trays of young plants, in that large greenhouse, there are not only green shoots growing, but also faith, hope and a promising future ahead.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hung, Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Van Ho district, shared: “Ms. Huong’s model is the result of timely support and determination to change. Farmers can completely master technology, develop sustainable production and improve their lives.”

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/nhung-mam-xanh-vuon-len-tu-vung-dat-khac-nghiep-d742183.html