Mechanization is 'changing' the mindset of farming.

LAI CHAU - Thanks to the support of machinery, farmers in Khun Ha commune have changed their farming methods, increased productivity, and thereby significantly increased the economic value of their fields.

Enhance economic value

Recognizing agricultural development as the main direction for economic development, Khun Ha commune (Lai Chau province) has benefited from many practical policies under the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas over the years. Along with production support, the commune has particularly focused on implementing poverty reduction activities through information dissemination, helping people access timely knowledge, technical guidance, and market information, thereby improving the efficiency of mechanization and promoting sustainable production.

The provision of machinery for production is considered a significant breakthrough, contributing to changing long-standing farming practices, improving crop productivity and quality, and helping people gradually access modern agricultural production. Alongside this, people are guided on how to search for technical information on their phones and update market prices through official channels, making the use of machinery and production operations more proactive.

Mr. A Chinh increases tea harvesting productivity thanks to modern cutting machines. Photo: Duc Binh.

On the green-covered hillsides of the tea plantations in the villages of Sang Phang Cao, Hon, and Nam Puc, the rhythmic sound of tea-cutting machines, blending with the forest breeze, replaces the familiar sounds of manual labor from years past. The clacking of the plows and the lively conversations of the tea-harvesting season have now given way to the rhythmic operation of the machines. Since receiving tea-cutting machines under the National Target Program, the people of Khun Ha have gained a valuable "assistant." Harvesting is not only easier but productivity has also increased significantly.

Previously, a worker harvesting fresh tea leaves manually could only harvest about 40-50 kg per day. Now, with the use of cutting machines, productivity can double or even triple. Importantly, the quality of the tea leaves is not affected because the cutting blades are designed to prevent crushing the leaves, ensuring clean raw materials for processing plants.

Mr. Cu A Chinh, a resident of Sang Phang Cao village, said that in the past, his family had to mobilize several family members to harvest the tea in time for each harvest. The work was entirely manual, physically demanding, especially during hot weather. Since receiving machinery from the commune, the work has become much easier. “The commune has provided machinery for tea harvesting. In addition, we've been guided on how to check weather forecasts, tea prices, and tea cultivation techniques on our phones. This helps us choose the right time to harvest, avoiding prolonged rain that could affect quality. Now we use machines to cut grass and harvest tea, significantly reducing the time needed, allowing us to do other things,” Mr. Chinh said.

Mr. Chinh also believes that mechanization helps him and many other households here to be more proactive in terms of production time. The timing of tea harvesting usually depends on the weather; if there is prolonged rain, manual harvesting becomes very difficult. Since the advent of smartphones, people regularly monitor weather information to take advantage of the rare sunny days to harvest quickly.

Durable machines - sustainable production

Young men earn extra income by buying, selling, and repairing cutting machines. Photo: Duc Binh.

Along with being equipped with the machinery, people in the villages of Khun Ha commune quickly became familiar with its use and proactively learned how to maintain and preserve it. Immediately after distribution, the commune coordinated with technical forces to organize training courses on operation, component replacement, parts cleaning, and identifying basic faults. Simultaneously, the commune opened training courses on poverty reduction through information: guiding people on how to recognize official information, how to look up agricultural techniques, and how to use mobile phones to watch instructional videos on tea cultivation and pest control…

Thanks to proper guidance, the villagers gradually developed the habit of using the machinery correctly, minimizing breakdowns. Each village established small groups responsible for machine maintenance. They take turns inspecting and cleaning the equipment after each harvest. Some households even proactively purchased additional oil, lubricants, and spare parts to share within the village. This helps the machinery operate stably, extends its lifespan, and significantly reduces repair costs, which are considerable for people in the highlands.

Mr. Lo Van Seng, Head of Hon village, said: “As the village head, I regularly remind the villagers to maintain and service the machines after use. I also received training to guide the villagers in using the smart public address system and the village's Zalo group to receive market information. Regular maintenance ensures the machines last longer and are more durable. Thanks to this, the machines are noticeably more effective and don't break down frequently.”

Currently, Khun Ha commune has hundreds of hectares of cultivated land, with tea, passion fruit, and rice being the main crops. In recent years, recognizing the important role of mechanization, the commune government has actively mobilized and integrated various resources to support the provision of machinery to the people. The focus is on the "Vocational Transition Support Project" under the National Target Program for the Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. This is a particularly important resource that helps people reduce initial investment costs and confidently adopt modern production methods.

Mr. Do Trong Thi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Khun Ha commune, said that in addition to support from various programs, many households have also proactively invested in machinery using their own funds. "Currently, there are more than 1,000 agricultural machines in the area. Of these, the National Target Program has supported over 400 machines for poor and near-poor households," he said.

Mechanization has helped many households reduce labor costs and save time, allowing them to pursue other income-generating activities. Photo: Duc Binh.

Thanks to mechanization, the production process for farmers is becoming increasingly standardized and scientific. From land preparation and weeding to harvesting and transporting raw materials, machinery is used to assist in all stages. Many households report that previously, harvesting each tea crop took nearly a month, but now it only takes about half that time. This shortened production time allows farmers to dedicate more time to caring for other crops such as passion fruit and plums, or raising livestock, thus increasing their total annual income.

Mechanization has also opened up opportunities for many young households to start businesses in the agricultural service sector. Some young people in the commune have invested in tillage machines, lawn mowers, small transport vehicles, and offer services on demand to other households.

Mr. Thi added: Currently, the commune is continuing to review the needs of each village to propose support for suitable machinery. Priority will be given to tillage machines, pruning machines, and harvesting equipment to reduce labor pressure and increase economic efficiency for the people. In addition, the commune encourages people to invest in machinery themselves or form groups to jointly purchase and use equipment to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/co-gioi-hoa-thay-doi-tu-duy-lam-nong-d788905.html