Organic agriculture - An inevitable direction

Changing farming methods

Mr. Tran Van Hien (born in 1957, residing in Vinh Hoa hamlet, An Vinh Ngai commune, Tan An city) has been encouraged by An Vinh Ngai Cooperative to sign a contract to produce according to VietGAP standards for the past 3 years. With support from the cooperative and determination to improve the quality of agricultural products, he not only supplies clean dragon fruit but also contributes to protecting the environment.

Mr. Tran Van Hien (Vinh Hoa hamlet, An Vinh Ngai commune, Tan An city) uses compost mixed with biofertilizer to fertilize crops

Currently, Mr. Hien owns more than 0.5 hectare of dragon fruit with 750 pillars that are currently bearing fruit. Sharing about production according to VietGAP standards, Mr. Hien said: "Since producing according to VietGAP standards, every year, I have been supported by the Cooperative with 200kg of microbial fertilizer and 10kg of Trichoderma fungus. I often mix it with manure to fertilize, helping the soil to be loose and decompose better. Thanks to that, the dragon fruit garden grows well, has strong vines, few pests and diseases, helping me save on labor costs and limit pesticide spraying."

For him, this is not only an improvement in output but also a step forward in creating safer, higher-quality agricultural products for consumers. However, he also shared about the difficulties in the initial stage of transformation, especially the problem of agricultural product output.

"The difficulty is that although the quality of dragon fruit has improved, the market is not really stable. Many farmers in the commune are still confused about the requirements of production according to VietGAP standards, so they need more time to get used to it, such as using organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers" - Mr. Hien said.

Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of An Vinh Ngai Cooperative - Tran Van Lap said that the Cooperative currently has 10 hectares of dragon fruit certified as Organic Agriculture - The inevitable direction to meet VietGAP standards. The Cooperative is making efforts to raise awareness and improve farming techniques of farmers in the area; encourage households to switch to using organic fertilizers to completely replace chemical fertilizers and strictly comply with regulations on not using banned pesticides.

Mr. Tran Van Lap emphasized: “Applying high technology and converting to an organic model not only helps dragon fruit meet the strict standards of the domestic market but also has the potential to reach international markets”.

With that vision, An Vinh Ngai Cooperative is building a comprehensive development strategy, from improving cultivation methods to strengthening links with export enterprises. These are steps that not only improve farmers' income but also enhance the position of local agricultural products on the map of clean and sustainable agriculture.

Also applying high technology, Mr. Nguyen Xuan (born in 1960, residing in Hiep Thanh commune, Chau Thanh district) successfully implemented a model of growing organic melons in greenhouses.

Sharing about the cultivation process, Mr. Xuan said: “The preparation of the substrate is very important. I compost my own fertilizer, mix it with coconut fiber and vermicompost to create a good growing medium for melon. Coconut fiber needs to be thoroughly rinsed to avoid affecting the plants”. Using natural growing medium helps melons grow well without the need for pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Mr. Xuan's melon garden not only meets the 3-star OCOP standard but also brings high economic efficiency with an annual harvest of 100 tons. Thanks to this model, he not only increases his income but also contributes to the development of clean agriculture in the locality.

Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hiep Thanh Commune - Pham Thi Ngoc Thuy commented: “The organic melon growing model helps improve product quality, meeting market demand. This is an important direction, contributing to building new rural areas and developing a sustainable economy for Hiep Thanh Commune”.

Experimenting with a new model

On the land of Chau Thanh, where dragon fruit is considered a key crop, Mr. Phan Phu Thien (born in 1987, residing in Binh Son hamlet, Binh Quoi commune) pioneered the application of the organic dragon fruit growing model in greenhouses. With many years of experience in growing dragon fruit, he realized that the traditional growing method was no longer suitable, especially the white spot disease that seriously affected productivity.

Therefore, Mr. Thien decided to switch to an organic model despite initially facing many difficulties from stormy weather to lack of capital to build a greenhouse. However, with a spirit of perseverance and effort, constantly learning, after more than 1 year of implementation, his first batch of fruit reached 1.2 tons.

Mr. Phan Phu Thien (Binh Son Hamlet, Binh Quoi Commune, Chau Thanh District) uses organic fertilizers in the process of cultivating dragon fruit

When mentioning this new model, Mr. Thien expressed: “In the process of growing organic dragon fruit, the composting stage is very important. I use organic fertilizer mixed with pellets to spread around the base of the tree, providing natural nutrients. Microbial fertilizers are pre-composted and only added when the tree produces fruit, helping the tree grow without the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides”. He also applies an automatic irrigation system that both saves on labor costs and ensures that the dragon fruit tree grows strongly.

One of the important factors of this model is the greenhouse system, which not only protects the tree from the effects of the weather but also prevents pests, diseases and insects.

The greenhouse helps regulate temperature and humidity so that the tree can grow well without the need for pesticides or fungicides. Thanks to that, Mr. Thien minimized the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, protecting the health of consumers and the surrounding environment.

The model of growing dragon fruit in greenhouses initially brings high efficiency

Chairman of Binh Quoi Commune People's Committee - Le Phong said: "Mobilizing and encouraging people to apply the greenhouse organic farming model not only creates clean products, meeting the increasing demand of the market but also contributes to the sustainable development of local agricultural production. The commune will support farmers in implementing green, clean, and safe agricultural production models."

Natural farming methods will maintain and improve the quality of land, crops, and agricultural ecosystems, creating a sustainable production chain.

As food quality standards are increasingly improved, consumers are shifting their attention to organic agricultural products. Expanding and spreading organic agricultural production models not only meets the demand for safe products for domestic consumers but also builds trust in the international market. This is an inevitable trend that the agricultural sector and localities are promoting to build sustainable agriculture, bringing long-term value to the community and the economy./.

By Staffs - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/nong-nghiep-huu-co-huong-di-tat-yeu-a186350.html