Circular agriculture has 'taken root' in Da Nang

Many benefits from circular agriculture model

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung's family in Van Duong 1 village, Hoa Lien commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city is one of the farming households investing in developing calcium worms. Calcium worms are the larvae of black soldier flies. When the worms reach adulthood or molt, the cocoons left by the worms contain a lot of calcium. The mature worms can be fed directly to poultry, or the cocoons can be used to feed livestock and poultry to supplement nutrients, especially calcium for the development of livestock.

Mr. Hung said that in June 2023, during a training session at the Commune People's Committee organized by the City Farmers' Association, he was introduced to the calcium worm farming model. Realizing the dual benefits of calcium worm farming, which is both utilizing agricultural waste, limiting environmental pollution and being a nutritious food source for livestock and poultry, he pursued this model.

Raising calcium worms helps Mr. Hung reduce about 80% of the cost of buying poultry feed. Photo: Lan Anh

Currently, with an area of ​​about 50 square meters for raising calcium worms, Mr. Hung's calcium worm breeding and black soldier fly repopulation area is carried out in a closed manner. According to Mr. Hung, investing in calcium worms does not require much in terms of facilities, small investment capital, does not require much land area but needs to ensure adequate food sources for the worms.

On average, 10 grams of eggs will yield 30 kg of calcium worms with a rearing time of about 12 days; each year, raising about 1 kg of eggs will yield 2.5-3 tons of calcium worms. The selling price for 10 grams of eggs is 40,000 VND, 1 kg of calcium worms is 25,000 VND; thereby bringing him a stable income of about 10 million VND/month.

“My family raises chickens and ducks in large quantities. Previously, we spent a lot of money on feed, but since raising calcium worms, I have seen that the animals grow faster, have fewer diseases, and the meat is more fragrant and delicious, especially helping to reduce 80% of the cost of animal feed. This is a model that can be produced in large quantities in a small space. I am also supporting farming techniques for farmer members in communes in the district and Quang Nam,” said Mr. Hung.

Calcium worms are the main food source for Mr. Hung's family's flock of more than 100 chickens. Photo: Lan Anh.

For the livestock model on biological bedding, with the support of the Farmers' Association of Hoa Lien commune, Mr. Nguyen Van Bich, Hien Phuoc village, Hoa Lien commune, boldly renovated the barn, raised the floor, made a ventilated roof and used rice husks to create bedding. Thanks to that, the farm is always clean, reduces odors, saves cleaning work and limits diseases. His flock of more than 100 chickens grows well, sells two batches each year, priced from 90,000 - 110,000 VND/kg.

Towards green agriculture, sustainable development

According to the Da Nang City Farmers' Association, these are two selected agricultural production support models, part of the project program "Propaganda and mobilization of farmers to treat waste in Vietnam, contributing to the international community's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions" implemented by the Central Vietnam Farmers' Association in coordination with the Organization for Supporting Regional Solutions for Communities and Ecosystems (BRACE Foundation) in 15 provinces and cities across the country, in the period of 2021-2024.

The Association has implemented a training program for more than 100 farmer members from 5 communes in Hoa Vang district, including Hoa Tien, Hoa Son, Hoa Chau, Hoa Khuong and Hoa Lien. Most of the members are very interested in the effectiveness of the model.

After 2 years of implementation, hundreds of models have been built and replicated such as "Model of fermenting crop by-products for animal feed"; "Model of raising chickens on thick biological bedding", "Model of composting organic fertilizer from crop by-products"; "Model of raising calcium worms and earthworms".

Through implementation, the Project has created a foundation, knowledge and practical skills on ecological environment protection for farmers. At the same time, when applying the project's techniques, farmers have reduced about 40% of input costs (animal feed, fertilizer, medicine) compared to before. The productivity of crops and livestock has also increased, contributing to improving people's income.

Circular agricultural economy is one of the solutions for sustainable agricultural development. In the photo: Instructing farmers in Hoa Lien commune to raise earthworms. Photo: Lan Anh

Mr. Nguyen Kim Dung, Permanent Vice President of the Da Nang Farmers' Association, said that although still new, circular agricultural models are gradually being accepted and effectively implemented by farmers, bringing economic value. Through the closed-cycle production process, applying scientific, technical and biotechnological advances, etc., waste and by-products are recycled, and can directly or indirectly become input materials for other agricultural production models; thereby, reducing input materials, increasing production value, and creating safe and quality products.

“This model not only increases production value, saves input costs, but also protects the environment. In the coming time, we will continue to replicate circular agricultural models in the remaining communes of Hoa Vang district, contributing to bringing Da Nang closer to the goal of green growth,” Mr. Dung affirmed.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/nong-nghiep-tuan-hoan-da-ben-re-o-da-nang-d746563.html