What kind of hydroponic vegetable growing method connects to the Internet of Things in Ha Tinh that has surprisingly high productivity?

Smart agricultural applications, productivity increases dozens of times on land

Faced with concerns about food safety and hygiene, affecting the health of his family and people, Mr. Vo Thanh Tam - Director of An Tam Farm Cooperative in Xuan Hai Commune, Nghi Xuan District (Ha Tinh Province) has researched safe vegetable production models with high economic value for the market.

After visiting and learning about hydroponic vegetable growing models in Da Lat, Vinh Phuc... Mr. Vo Thanh Tam and the members of the cooperative decided to invest more than 1.5 billion VND to build a hydroponic vegetable growing model on an area of ​​more than 1,000 ^m2 .

Mr. Vo Thanh Tam - Director of An Tam Farm Cooperative in Xuan Hai Commune, Nghi Xuan District (Ha Tinh Province), has been successful in applying smart agriculture in producing high-quality vegetables on the Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Photo: PV

Two separate greenhouses, each 500m2, are produced using two methods: recirculating hydroponics and Israeli drip irrigation technology. The greenhouses are used by the cooperative to produce many different types of vegetables and fruits such as: mustard greens, spinach, bok choy, rainbow chard, green curly lettuce, purple lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and Korean melons... The facilities, greenhouses, support systems, troughs, and seeds of vegetables and fruits are all ordered from sources that ensure quality.

Mr. Vo Thanh Tam - Director of An Tam Farm Cooperative, shared: "Compared to growing vegetables on land, the hydroponic model gives higher productivity. A 500 m2 garden, if grown on land, the productivity is only 15 kg/day, but hydroponically grown, it reaches 50 kg/day.

Employees are cultivating vegetable seeds at An Tam Farm Cooperative, Truong Lam village, Xuan Hai, Nghi Xuan (Ha Tinh) using the Internet of Things (IoT) platform. Photo: PV

Using soil will be subject to adverse effects of nature such as: humidity, growth of microorganisms in the soil... Too high humidity, vegetables are flooded, microorganisms and fungi grow in the soil causing diseases for vegetables".

"The greenhouse system, nutrients provided by the hydroponic system, overcomes the disadvantages compared to growing on soil. The living environment of vegetables is optimized, helping plants grow well," said Mr. Vo Thanh Tam.

According to Mr. Vo Thanh Tam, production must take quality as the top priority, which the cooperative has achieved. However, to maintain and develop in the long term, it is necessary to find solutions to reduce production costs and find stable product output.

The system of vegetable growing platforms on the Internet of Things (IoT) platform with an area of ​​over 1,000 m2. An Tam Farm Cooperative, Truong Lam village, Xuan Hai, Nghi Xuan (Ha Tinh). Photo: PV

In 2020, An Tam Farm Cooperative received support from the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh. The Cooperative boldly invested in applying the IoT system, a smart agricultural method deployed on the Internet of Things platform, helping to monitor and adjust nutrients, pH, and humidity remotely. Thereby reducing labor costs, increasing productivity and product quality.

Growing vegetables with "smartphone"

Mr. Vo Thanh Tam said: "This model, all smart technology systems such as: hydroponic system, Israeli technology drip irrigation, air convection fan, indoor misting, roof irrigation, temperature and humidity sensors...

All are connected to a central controller, which receives parameters from pre-programmed sensors to automatically adjust irrigation, fertilization, ventilation, and misting according to the requirements of each type of plant, ensuring an ideal environment and nutrients for plant growth. Roof irrigation systems, air convection fans, and sunshade nets are pre-programmed.

An Tam Farm Cooperative, Truong Lam village, Xuan Hai, Nghi Xuan, uses the Internet of Things (IoT) platform to grow leafy vegetables in hot weather conditions, helping to proactively plan planting and care. Photo: PV

"In hot weather, the irrigation pump automatically operates to reduce the temperature and the amount of sunlight shining down from the roof. The fan mixes the air in the greenhouse, helping the temperature zones in the house to be even and then pushes the hot air out through the roof opening.

This process helps eliminate hot air and avoid thermal shock for plants in the hot season. In the cold season, the heating lamp in the greenhouse helps keep plants warm, completely controlling the planting schedule without being affected by weather factors on the crop season," Mr. Tam revealed.

Thanks to the application on the Internet of Things platform (abbreviated as IoT), vegetables at An Tam Farm Cooperative, Truong Lam village, Xuan Hai, Nghi Xuan, have a yield dozens of times higher than that of vegetables grown on land. Photo: PV

According to Mr. Vo Thanh Tam, thanks to IoT, all data is transmitted to the agricultural automation system, ensuring good control during the production process. The most outstanding feature of this application is the centralized monitoring to promptly balance many factors related to the plant growth process.

Therefore, IoT becomes a core tool in ensuring safe automated production, ensuring the most optimal economic efficiency. Automation in production will significantly reduce labor, reduce fertilizer consumption and promptly regulate air, water and nutrition.

An Tam Farm Cooperative uses smart technology in hydroponic vegetable production without using soil, the living environment is controlled by a computer system. Photo: PV

"Compared to the manual method of growing hydroponic vegetables, it takes a lot of manpower because workers have to directly mix and water the nutrients. When applying IoT technology, everything is automated via smartphone or tablet, we can adjust and monitor the amount of fertilizer, water, and monitor each stage of plant growth remotely via the internet.

From needing 4-5 workers, now only 1-2 workers are needed to operate and harvest. Besides, the cost of electricity and irrigation water is controlled, so it saves a lot." Mr. Tam shared more.

Obvious results, hundreds of millions in profit

Thanks to the application of IoT technology, hydroponic vegetable cultivation yields 14-16 tons/ ^1,000m2 /year (30% higher than traditional vegetable productivity). Tomato cultivation yields 9.5 - 11.5 tons/ ^1,000m2 /year. Cucumber and Korean melon cultivation yields 10 - 12 tons/ ^1,000m2 /year (20% higher than field cultivation).

Growing vegetables using the Internet of Things (IoT) platform reduces operating costs and improves efficiency and productivity. Photo: PV

The vegetables and fruits of An Tam Farm Cooperative are not only delicious but also ensure food hygiene and safety, and are well received by the market and sold at quite high prices. Currently, all vegetable and fruit products are connected for consumption at kindergartens in Nghi Xuan district, Vinh city market (Nghe An province) and Hanoi.

An Tam Farm Cooperative is continuing to cultivate vegetable varieties and grow melons to increase economic value. It is known that specialized agencies have inspected and highly appreciated the hydroponic vegetable growing model of An Tam Farm Cooperative, which has been granted a certificate on safe vegetable growing process according to VietGAP standards.

Hydroponic vegetable growing model based on the Internet of Things (IoT) platform, using a two-way pump for recirculation, so nutrients are fully supplied to the plants. Photo: PV

Talking to PV Dan Viet, Mr. Tran Van Hien - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Xuan district, said: "The high-tech vegetable and fruit production model and the application of smart agriculture of An Tam Farm Cooperative is a typical large-scale collective economic model in the district. The eagerness to learn, the daring to think, the daring to do of the leader, Mr. Vo Thanh Tam, helps the Cooperative keep up with the agriculture of the 4.0 technology era and bring high efficiency".

"The application of IoT technology in production is a direction in line with the policy of developing agricultural production towards modernization and high technology. At the same time, it opens up a new direction of production, helping people approach sustainable production development, ensuring food hygiene and safety for consumers," Mr. Tran Van Hien - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Xuan district, emphasized.

Source: https://danviet.vn/trong-rau-thuy-canh-ket-noi-internet-van-vat-o-ha-tinh-la-trong-kieu-gi-ma-nang-suat-tang-bat-ngo-20240919090635177.htm