In this place of Ninh Thuan, people grow "royal vegetable", rich in protein, no cholesterol, and sells well.

One day at the end of September, Dan Viet reporters visited the Cham village of Tuan Tu hamlet, An Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district (Ninh Thuan province), 6km from the center of Phan Rang - Thap Cham city. This is the locality with the largest green asparagus field in Ninh Thuan province.

Here, the role of the cooperative in managing and organizing production is clearly demonstrated. The most typical example is Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative, which is the focal point and also the fulcrum to help asparagus farmers escape poverty sustainably.

After nearly 10 years of operation, Tuan Tu Cooperative is one of the most effective and typical cooperatives in Ninh Thuan.

A fulcrum for farmers growing "emperor vegetables"

Members of Tuan Tu Cooperative, Tuan Tu village, An Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district (Ninh Thuan province) bring green asparagus to sell to the cooperative every day. Photo: Duc Cuong.

Receiving us at the "gathering point" of the cooperative's green asparagus, Mr. Hung Ky (55 years old), Director of Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative, said that green asparagus is no longer a poverty-reducing plant but a plant that enriches the Cham people of Tuan Tu village.

Taking us on a tour of his family's 5,000 square meter asparagus field, Mr. Hung Ky said that more than ten years ago, people here were only familiar with growing vegetables and peanuts, but had not yet learned about asparagus.

Around 2010, thanks to the attention of the agricultural sector of Ninh Thuan province, asparagus began to take root and spread in Tuan Tu Cham village.

"At that time, my family was one of the first households to grow green asparagus. After 8 months of care, 1 sao (1,000 square meters) of asparagus yielded 8-10kg/day. The selling price at that time was 60,000-70,000 VND/kg, so everyone was excited...", said Mr. Hung Ky.

However, although the price is high, the output is unstable, the selling price of asparagus depends too much on the market and traders. Many times, the harvest is good but the price is low, the price is good but the harvest is bad.

Green asparagus field grown on sandy soil of Tuan Tu Cooperative, Tuan Tu village, An Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district (Ninh Thuan province). Photo: Duc Cuong.

"In 2016, with the encouragement of the Ninh Thuan Farmers' Association, I and many asparagus growers in Tuan Tu village established Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative. At that time, the cooperative only had 13 members, and the asparagus growing area was nearly 5 hectares...", said Mr. Hung Ky.

In the first year of operation, the cooperative not only purchased asparagus for its members but also acted as a link with a number of local businesses to sell the products for the cooperative. The green asparagus products had a stable output, so everyone was very excited.

"Regardless of whether the market price is high or low, the cooperative will buy asparagus from members at a stable price of 45,000 VND/kg.

After that, the cooperative will supply the product to the affiliated enterprise at a price of 50,000 VND/kg. The difference will be used by the cooperative for its operations or divided equally among its members, and used to support production capital for members in difficulty...", said Mr. Hung Ky.

Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative growing green asparagus is a typical cooperative in Ninh Thuan. Reported by Duc Cuong

Help farmers get rich

Taking us on a tour of the green asparagus purchasing process right at the cooperative, Mr. Tu Van Hay, currently Deputy Director of Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative, said that since its inception, the cooperative has created conditions for dozens of members to escape poverty sustainably.

Mr. Tu Van Hay, Deputy Director of Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative, grows green asparagus in An Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province. Photo: Duc Cuong.

The most typical case is that of member Thi So (Cham person of Tuan Tu village). Ms. So said that due to difficult circumstances, her family did not have capital for production.

In 2020, through poverty reduction channels from Tuan Tu Cooperative, she was supported with seeds and fertilizers to grow 1 sao of green asparagus.

After more than 3 years of growing asparagus, Ms. So's family has now escaped poverty and become a well-off household in the locality.

"Currently, the family has expanded the area to more than 2 sao (2,000 square meters), cutting and selling 18 - 20 kg of green asparagus every day. The income brings in 750,000 - 900,000 VND/day...", Ms. So said excitedly.

According to Ms. So, green asparagus in Tuan Tu is grown on sand so water is absorbed quickly, the asparagus grows very well. Green asparagus products in Tuan Tu are also softer and sweeter than many other places, have high nutritional value so the market is very fond of them.

Mr. Tu Van Hay, Deputy Director of Tuan Tu Cooperative, said that in the past, most of the members of Tuan Tu Cooperative were poor households, but now the cooperative has increased to 85 members. Among all the cooperative members, there are no members who are poor or near-poor households in the locality. On average, the cooperative purchases 150-200kg per day, and during the harvest season, it purchases more than 300kg of green asparagus from its members per day.

Contribute to building new rural areas in Ninh Thuan

Mr. Hung Ky, Director of Tuan Tu Cooperative, said that the top and most important task of the management staff and member households is to focus on investing in production and linking product consumption, helping green asparagus grow quickly and sustainably.

Over the past 8 years, Tuan Tu Cooperative has developed its cultivation area from 5 hectares of 13 initial member households to more than 55 hectares with 85 Cham member households.

All members cultivate green asparagus according to VietGap and organic standards and apply water-saving sprinkler irrigation models.

"The output and revenue from asparagus of Tuan Tu Cooperative have increased gradually over the years. In 2022, the output reached 62 tons, with revenue of 3.1 billion VND. In 2023, the output was 71 tons, with revenue of 3.6 billion VND. In 2024 alone, it is estimated to reach 75 tons, with revenue of about more than 4 billion VND...", said Mr. Hung Ky.

According to the People's Committee of An Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district (Ninh Thuan), a safe vegetable growing area of 300 hectares has been formed in the area.

Of which, 100 hectares of green asparagus were developed. Tuan Tu Cooperative alone has 40 hectares that have been granted a growing area code, creating conditions for farmers to feel secure in production.

Green asparagus is now a source of wealth for farmers at Tuan Tu Cooperative, An Hai Commune, Ninh Phuoc District (Ninh Thuan Province). Photo: Duc Cuong.

Mr. Ho Thanh Phong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Hai Commune, Ninh Phuoc District (Ninh Thuan) said that green asparagus is the main crop in the locality. In Tuan Tu village alone, there are 539 households with 2,445 people, mainly Cham ethnic people, growing green asparagus on sand.

This crop brings high economic efficiency, on average in Tuan Tu village about 55 - 60 million/person/year, contributing to building the locality to meet the criteria of an advanced new rural commune.

Mr. Le Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Ninh Thuan province, said that Tuan Tu Cooperative is a typical cooperative established by the Farmers’ Association of the province. Thanks to its effective operations, the cooperative has helped many members and farmers develop their economy to sustainably reduce poverty.

"As for Tuan Tu Cooperative, from 2019 to now, it has continuously been commended and rewarded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee for its outstanding achievements...", Mr. Hung said.

Source: https://danviet.vn/o-noi-nay-cua-ninh-thuan-dan-trong-rau-hoang-de-giau-protein-cha-co-cholesterol-ban-hut-hang-20240926212941197.htm