Former international students plant 'green shoots' in their homeland

Returning to build a career in his homeland, Dr. Nguyen Duc Chinh is still grateful for his time studying abroad in Australia because it gave him valuable experiences for his life and current work.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Chinh at his farm. (Photo: NVCC)

The GenXanh farm of about 2 hectares of Mr. Chinh and his wife in Hiep Thuan commune, Phuc Tho district, Hanoi, is a typical model of green agriculture that many people in the country admire and learn from...

Memorable years

Studying in Australia 10 years ago, for Dr. Nguyen Duc Chinh, the memories of his time in the land of kangaroos are still as vivid as if it were yesterday. He shared: “I was born in a rural area of ​​Ha Tinh province. For people coming from the countryside like me, the Australian scholarship policy is really useful. Not only are we supported with English training and scholarships throughout our studies, we also get to know the culture of the people and the student community here, so we can quickly integrate into life in the host country and gradually reduce the confusion when entering the new learning environment”. For Mr. Chinh, studying abroad in Australia is a turning point in his life. “We live in Tasmania. This is a tourist paradise with a peaceful, quiet life and diverse culture. Living abroad, my perspective on the world and Vietnam has broadened a lot”. What makes him happier is that during his time studying in Australia, he always received warm feelings and help from lecturers, international students and people in the Vietnamese community. He said: "Until now, we still keep in touch and connect with each other. Teachers in Australia have visited Vietnam many times and met former international students." Having been exposed to the advancededucation system in the land of kangaroos, Mr. Chinh hopes to return to Vietnam one day to apply the knowledge he has learned and accumulated here.

Make your dream come true

The experience in applying science and technology in agriculture learned in Australia has inspired Mr. Nguyen Duc Chinh to develop organic vegetable growing technology - one of the agricultural strengths that has not yet been exploited in Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Chinh and his wife were both Vietnamese postgraduate students in Australia. (Photo: NVCC)

Therefore, after graduating with a master's degree, he returned to Vietnam with his colleagues to carry out an organic vegetable project from 2014-2016, but for many reasons it was not successful. From 2016-2019, he continued to study for a doctorate in agricultural biotechnology in Japan. Returning to Vietnam, Chinh and his wife continued to look for land, determined to grow organic vegetables. They found an abandoned land on the Day River bank, in Hiep Thuan commune, Phuc Tho district, Hanoi. After working and negotiating with 35 local households, they rented 2 hectares of land and, together with two young colleagues, established the GenXanh organic vegetable farm to realize their dream of growing clean vegetables. In 2021, the vegetables of the GenXanh farm were certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to meet organic standards. Having gone through many difficulties, but with the determination to pursue organic vegetable growing technology, from November 2021, the couple's work began to make a profit. Each month, the farm can supply the market with about 4-5 tons of organic vegetables at a price only half that of many other suppliers. In addition to the natural factor, Mr. Chinh also applies many agricultural technologies to cultivation such as microbiological technology (organic fertilizers are manually composted from eggs, banana juice, manure, composted plant residues and weeds), using automatic drip irrigation systems to increase water efficiency and reduce irrigation work. In particular, all GenXanh products are guaranteed to meet the 5 no criteria (no chemical pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no herbicides, no growth stimulants, no genetically modified seeds). His farm also creates jobs for people in the commune, especially disabled workers. Up to now, in its fourth year, the farm of Mr. Nguyen Duc Chinh and his wife has yielded many sweet fruits. Mr. Chinh was very happy: “So, I am on the right track and have the answer to my previous concerns. Currently, many people from provinces and cities such as Hai Duong, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Vung Tau… come to learn and study. From now on, I want to transfer technology to more people.”

Visitors to GenXanh farm. (Photo: NVCC)

In the coming time, Mr. Nguyen Duc Chinh wants to invest more in research and production to increase product productivity, improve production and distribution processes, and continue to provide free training for those interested in this model. In addition, he wants to expand farms as well as invest in building brands, combining production in many different regions to serve customers, and at the same time create more jobs for the community. He shared: "I really appreciate the scientific knowledge that I have accumulated during my years of studying in Australia and Japan, but I also often tell people that the more I go abroad, the more I find my homeland worth living."

Baoquocte.vn