The application of modern techniques, machinery and production linkages has helped farmers in Huong Khe (Ha Tinh) regain confidence in sugarcane and determined to build molasses products that meet OCOP standards.
Huong Khe farmers are regaining confidence in sugarcane.
Molasses processing has been established for a long time in many villages and communes of the mountainous district of Huong Khe and has brought stable economic value to the people. However, in previous years, the area of sugarcane cultivation has been decreasing because manual production requires a lot of effort and causes capital loss. To promote the traditional profession, some localities are making efforts to support people with policies on investment in science and technology and production linkages.
Mr. Ha Van Luu, Binh Hai village, Huong Binh commune said: "In the past, making molasses was very hard work, requiring a lot of manpower. In particular, the sugarcane pressing stage had to use the pulling power of buffaloes and cows, so the progress was slow, and many families had to give up the job. After listening to the campaign and witnessing modern models in other localities, I and some people were determined to develop the traditional profession of our ancestors. At the end of 2023, we established a molasses production cooperative with 15 members, and the people trusted me and elected me as the team leader."
Accordingly, Mr. Luu and his colleagues invested in a modern pressing system at a cost of more than 30 million VND. The common production area has 2 furnaces, a suitable location, convenient for processing molasses, reducing labor. The molasses extraction work that used to take all day is now shortened to just 1 session. Therefore, in the spring crop of 2024, members of the cooperative are expanding the sugarcane growing area.
The molasses production cooperative in Binh Hai village, Huong Binh commune invested more than 30 million VND to buy machinery and equipment to restore the traditional profession.
As a member of the cooperative, in the 2023 crop season, Mr. Nguyen Huu Tinh's family planted nearly 1 sao of sugarcane, pressed nearly 20 pans of molasses, equivalent to 260 liters, worth about 13 million VND.
Mr. Tinh shared that, unlike other localities in Huong Khe district, the land in Huong Binh is quite picky about crops. Sugarcane is one of the rare plants suitable for the climate and soil here. Mature sugarcane is less susceptible to pests and has a high sweetness. In addition, with experience passed down from many generations, traditional molasses in Huong Binh is famous for its smooth, thick, and fragrant quality. Since joining the cooperative, there are machines to support the processing stage, so production efficiency has increased. In fact, sugarcane is a plant that brings in more profit than other crops, 5 times more than rice. This is also the confidence for the family to continue expanding the acreage.
1 sao of sugarcane that is invested in and well cared for can be processed into 250 - 300 liters of molasses, worth nearly 15 million VND.
Also aiming at production linkage, in early January 2024, the Farmers' Association of Phu Gia commune mobilized to launch the Cuong - Thuy molasses production cooperative in Trung Ha village.
Mr. Le Phan Cuong - the group leader shared: "To expand the scale and create large-scale products, we must cooperate in production. Thanks to that, the village used to have only about 3.5 hectares of sugarcane, but now people have expanded to 6 hectares. In addition to the cooperative members, we also cooperate with other households to expand the area and scale of production. In particular, the cooperative is ready to supply seeds, fertilizers and purchase products with a minimum price of 5 million VND/sao.
Cuong - Thuy molasses production cooperative was established with the expectation of creating OCOP products for the locality.
In reality, the application of modern techniques, machinery and production linkages has helped farmers regain their confidence in sugarcane. However, in general, production linkage models are in the formation stage; the application of new machinery and techniques is only applied in some stages.
In particular, the spontaneous production process, based on the experience of each household, food safety issues have not been paid attention to, products do not have brands or labels... Therefore, to promote traditional craft villages, to make Huong Khe molasses become a typical commodity product, support policies for farmers are still needed.
Mr. Dinh Cong Tiu - Chairman of Huong Khe District Farmers' Association said: "Through assessment, sugarcane and molasses products in Huong Khe District have great potential for development, becoming typical local products. In the coming time, the District Association will continue to promote, mobilize and be ready to support low-interest loans for cooperatives to expand sugarcane growing areas and increase annual molasses output."
At the same time, review sugarcane growing areas in other localities, continue to support the establishment of production linkage cooperatives; integrate agricultural and industrial extension policies to support farmer members in synchronous production from seed selection, applying mechanization from sugarcane growing to molasses production; create products with consistent quality, brand, label, and meeting OCOP standards.
Video: Molasses production in Binh Hai village
Duong Chien
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