The farmers’ scientist

Nguyen Van Dan shares about his water hyacinth collection and pressing machine
“Made in Tay Ninh" Water Hyacinth Collection and Pressing Machine

In Tay Ninh, waterways have been overrun with water hyacinths, causing traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and water shortages for daily use and agricultural production. Residents have repeatedly urged local authorities to take action to address the problem during voter meetings. However, removal efforts have relied solely on manual labor, making it impossible to resolve the problem completely.

Seeing how people struggled to travel as waterways were blocked by water hyacinths and how traders pressured farmers to sell their crops at low prices during each harvest, Mr. Dan began researching and inventing a machine to collect and press water hyacinths. “Having worked in various jobs, I’ve gained some experience in manufacturing and mechanics,” he said. “At first, I studied each component separately—the cutter, grinder, and conveyor belt—then assembled them. Whenever something didn’t work well, I took it apart and reworked it. After eight months, I completed the prototype, which operates at a capacity of 3–4 tonnes per hour, with a total investment of about 1.2 billion VND. However, the initial version of the water hyacinth skimmer could not fully dry the plants, resulting in costly transportation and limited economic efficiency. Therefore, I continued refining the design, and the new version—which both collects and compresses water hyacinths—has reduced production costs by over 40%.” Mr Dan shared.

To fund his research, Dan used his savings, family support, and loans from friends. Although his decision initially met with opposition from family members, he remained determined to pursue his passion. Today, his water hyacinth collection and pressing machine has proven its worth: local canals are now free from the invasive plants, waterways are easier to navigate, and water storage for farming during the dry season has improved. Recognising its effectiveness, the provincial Department of Science and Technology has ordered five machines to expand the model to other localities.

Most notably, this invention has earned Nguyen Van Dan a place among the 32 “Farmers’ Scientists of 2025”, an honour awarded by the Vietnam Farmers’ Union to celebrate innovation in agriculture.

Water hyacinth-based growing medium

Water hyacinth-based growing medium contributes to environmental protection and sustainable agriculture

In addition to successfully inventing a water hyacinth collection and pressing machine, Nguyen Van Dan has also explored how to turn the aquatic plant into a growing medium. He visited organic fertilizer models using agricultural by-products and sought technical guidance from specialized agencies. After numerous failures, he finally developed a systematic process for producing a growing medium from water hyacinths. Specifically, the plants are first chopped and pressed dry, then finely ground and mixed with rice husks, decomposed manure, and microbial additives. The mixture is composted at around 40°C. On average, Mr. Dan now produces over 100 tonnes of water hyacinth growing medium each month for the market.

As the main materials are natural, the product’s price remains affordable and suitable for various crops. Mr. Bui Dien Thanh, a farmer in Tan Long Commune, said: “My family grows over 1 ha of vegetables and regularly uses the growing medium made from water hyacinths produced by Mr. Dan. Water hyacinth retains moisture well, helping save irrigation water during the dry season. With the hyacinth-based medium, we only need to water every two days, yet the vegetables still grow well without any impact on yield or quality.”

Looking back on his journey of creating the water hyacinth machine and growing medium, Nguyen Van Dan takes pride in not only solving the local water hyacinth problem but also producing an affordable, eco-friendly growing medium and creating jobs for idle workers in the area. Ms. Pham Mai Huong, Chairman of the Tan Long Commune Farmers’ Association, said, “Mr. Dan is an exemplary local farmer — creative and always willing to share his experience with others. His water hyacinth collection and pressing machine helps clear waterways, making waterway travel easier. Meanwhile, the successful production of a growing medium from water hyacinths reduces the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, protects the environment, and contributes to building a green, sustainable agriculture.”./.

By Kim Ngoc—Translated by Tuong Vinh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/nha-khoa-hoc-cua-nha-nong-a203859.html