This is a new way of farming and raising livestock in Bac Lieu, and people who have successfully switched to it are earning significantly more money.

A model combining multiple plants and multiple animals.

After switching from monoculture rice farming to a rice-shrimp farming model, the life of Mr. Danh Ía's family (Ngo Kim hamlet, Ninh Thanh Loi commune, Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province) has gradually improved, with increased income and savings.

With nearly 4 hectares of land for production, during the dry season he raises tiger prawns and crabs; during the rainy season he grows rice combined with raising freshwater prawns and various types of fish. In addition, he also develops a rabbit and goat farming model to supplement his family's income.

Mr. Danh Ía shared: "Thanks to diligently researching, learning, and participating in training courses on livestock farming and crop cultivation, my family's production has been highly effective over the years, yielding profits of several hundred million dong each year."

Besides focusing on developing his family's economy , Mr. Danh Ía also enthusiastically shares his effective production experience with his neighbors.

In particular, he spearheaded the effort to mobilize many farmers to form a production cooperative covering over 300 hectares. Thanks to this, members of the cooperative were able to purchase shrimp fry, rice seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc., at lower prices than buying them individually, thus reducing production costs. As a result, Mr. Danh Ía has been recognized as an outstanding farmer at various levels for many consecutive years.

Determined to break away from monoculture in production, members of the Quyet Tien Cooperative (Phuoc Long district) have adopted a method of rotating rice with various other crops.

Depending on the season, cooperative members invest in planting rice, gourds, corn, and watermelons. Thanks to crop diversification on the same land, cooperative members have relatively high incomes, with each hectare potentially yielding 300-500 million VND per year. According to the functional departments of Phuoc Long district, the model of bringing vegetables to the rice paddies yields profits 3-5 times higher than growing rice.

Bringing color to the rice fields in Vinh Phu Dong commune (Phuoc Long district, Bac Lieu province). Photo: M.D.

Bring the vegetables down to the field.

In an effort to break the monoculture of rice cultivation, farmers in the province have adopted many models of bringing other crops to the fields, yielding high economic efficiency.

The models of bringing vegetables to the fields yield profits many times higher than rice cultivation, thereby contributing to increasing the income of rural people. Phuoc Long district is the most prominent example of this movement.

While farmers in Vinh Thanh commune (Phuoc Long district) previously switched from rice cultivation to growing water spinach, many households are now planting watercress in their fields. Currently, Vinh Thanh commune has over 70 hectares with more than 450 households growing watercress, yielding an estimated annual production of over 6,500 tons.

According to many farmers, the income from the model of growing water spinach in rice fields reaches 100-200 million VND/hectare/year. Compared to rice cultivation, this model yields 5-10 times higher profits. This is also considered a groundbreaking model and a highlight of Vinh Thanh commune today...

Mr. Tran Van Liem, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuoc Long district, said: "In the near future, the district will expand the model of bringing vegetables to rice fields and planting them in a rotational manner. At the same time, we will encourage people to utilize vacant land around their houses and rice field edges to grow vegetables, increasing their family income."

Like other localities, Vinh Loi district also has many effective production models. Some models that have been and are being replicated locally include: growing chives, raising goats, raising eels, growing apples, growing safe rice, fattening cattle, raising snakes, a combined model of raising turtles - mud crabs - black snails, and growing sedges combined with fish farming…

In particular, the model of growing water spinach in rice fields has recently become popular and is developing very strongly in two communes (Vinh Hung and Vinh Hung A) with more than 30 hectares. Water spinach is harvested once a month with a yield of about 1-1.5 tons per hectare, and after deducting expenses, farmers earn a profit of 10-15 million VND per hectare per month...

Mr. To Thanh Hai, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Vinh Loi District, Bac Lieu Province, said: “Currently, there are many effective production models in the district, but the main concern is the market for the products. Therefore, the district will re-plan the raw material areas and promote linkages and product procurement to ensure long-term market access for farmers.”

To ensure sustainable production models, localities need to guide farmers in producing and applying advanced and water-saving irrigation systems, ensuring food safety. This will help agricultural products, especially vegetables, meet VietGAP standards for distribution to supermarkets, thereby increasing their value and improving farmers' income.

Source: https://danviet.vn/day-la-kieu-trong-cay-nuoi-con-moi-o-bac-lieu-dan-chuyen-doi-thanh-cong-thu-tien-nhieu-hon-han-20240713003904414.htm