Proactively adapt to weather and soil conditions.

In the 4th Military Region, 2025 was affected by five major typhoons, with typhoons No. 5 and No. 10 causing severe damage and impacting the agricultural production activities of the units. The outbreak of African swine fever in several provinces, along with the high prices of breeding stock, supplies, fertilizers, and animal feed, posed many challenges to agricultural production. However, thanks to proactive preparation and management, the units implemented many flexible measures suitable to the weather and soil conditions of each area. We visited the agricultural production area of ​​Battalion 2, Regiment 1, Division 324 just two weeks after typhoon No. 10. While traces of the storm's destruction were still visible, the unit's concentrated agricultural production area was covered in greenery again; the unit's agricultural production models were gradually recovering. Major Nguyen Anh Hai, Battalion Commander of Battalion 2, said: “From the beginning of the year, with the support of higher authorities, the Battalion focused on renovating the vegetable garden. Previously, even a light rain would cause flooding, and during the rainy season, the water level would exceed 1 meter and last for many days. We have invested in more than 500 cubic meters of land, built internal roads, and planned a scientifically organized farming area.”

Farming hours at Regiment 764, Nghe An Provincial Military Command.

Currently, the unit's vegetable garden area reaches 11,750 m², averaging 28 m²/person, achieving 140% of the planned target; ensuring 100% self-sufficiency in green vegetables. The livestock housing system is built rationally, ensuring the physiological requirements of the animals, facilitating care and disease prevention. The animal breeds are carefully selected, ensuring quality and clear origin. The products used in meals are clean food, ensuring hygiene and food safety, and are priced 12-25% lower than the market price, thus maintaining stable and progressively improving the quality of soldiers' meals.

The 283rd Air Defense Brigade is stationed in an area facing numerous difficulties in agricultural production due to its low-lying terrain, barren soil, scarce water resources, and proximity to residential areas, thus limiting livestock farming due to the risk of environmental pollution. Given these conditions, to effectively carry out regular agricultural production tasks and participate in the 2025 Battalion-level and equivalent-level Agricultural Production Unit Competition, the Brigade issued resolutions, directives, plans, and guidelines from the beginning of the year. Simultaneously, the Brigade's Party Committee and command assigned tasks to the battalions to prepare for the competition. To date, the unit has invested over 290 million VND from its fund and mobilized 3,440 man-days of soldiers to renovate and build agricultural production infrastructure. The Brigade's agricultural production system has been fundamentally planned and standardized, linked to the creation of a green, clean, and beautiful environment.

Visiting the concentrated farming and livestock area of ​​Regiment 764 (Nghe An Provincial Military Command), we observed that the system of barns, vegetable gardens, and fish ponds was built systematically and scientifically, yielding high economic efficiency. Battalion 41 alone invested over 448 million VND to expand 800m² of garden, renovate and reinforce 500m² of covered gardens, 500m² of trellises, expand 140m² of barns, and 400m² of fruit orchards. The unit also concreted 2,000m² of field and plot embankments; renovated 100m of internal roads, 10m² of fish cages, and built several improved technical models with high economic efficiency.

Lieutenant Colonel Dang Trong Tam, Head of the Military Supply Department, Logistics-Technical Division, Nghe An Provincial Military Command, shared: “To improve the quality of agricultural production, the agency has proactively proposed to the Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command many policies and solutions to promote agricultural production throughout the entire force, linking it with training, combat readiness, and building a regular army. For the “Excellent Agricultural Production Unit” competition in 2025, the Provincial Military Command has assigned Regiment 764, specifically Battalion 41, to participate. To date, the unit has completed the model of a model VAC (Garden-Pond-Livestock) system, ready to participate with high determination, striving to achieve good results and create a ripple effect throughout the provincial armed forces. At the same time, it will create an abundant supply of food to serve the daily needs of the troops and create reserves for the Lunar New Year 2026 and for receiving and training new recruits in 2026.”

From model to soldier's life

To promote the strong development of the self-sufficiency production movement, Military Region 4 has effectively implemented many practical measures. Specifically, the competition for outstanding self-sufficiency production units at the battalion and equivalent levels in 2025 is being held. The competition is considered not only a platform for competition but also an opportunity to replicate good and innovative practices. These models not only provide soldiers with fresh, high-quality food but also increase income from self-sufficiency production, contributing to improved meals and a higher standard of living. At the same time, the process of building and operating these models has enhanced the organizational capacity and management methods of logistics officers and enabled them to proactively direct self-sufficiency production.

In the first eight months of 2025, agricultural production activities at the units were implemented synchronously and effectively. The output of various food items for soldiers' meals reached a fairly good level compared to the annual plan: Vegetables and fruits reached 40,727 kg (an average of 109 kg/person), pork 13,048 kg (34.8 kg/person), poultry 10,548 kg (28.1 kg/person), and fresh fish 4,318 kg (11.5 kg/person). Some units with well-organized centralized kitchens achieved results exceeding targets such as: Vegetables reached 124%, chicken reached 102.2%, and fresh fish and eggs both exceeded 120% of the target.

Not only does it ensure a sufficient supply of clean and safe food for the unit, but the production costs of TGSX products are also 5-25% lower than the market price, helping to save budget and improve the efficiency of food expenditure. All profits are managed and used in accordance with regulations, openly and transparently, to support production expansion, improve living standards, and prevent risks.

Colonel Dinh Viet Lieu, Head of the Military Supply Department, Logistics and Technical Department of Military Region 4, said: “Building on the achievements, in the coming time, units in Military Region 4 will continue to promote agricultural production in a focused, fundamental, effective and sustainable direction. The focus will be on replicating suitable models, applying technical advancements, adjusting the structure of crops and livestock to suit local conditions; ensuring a source of clean, safe food at reasonable prices, meeting the requirements of training and combat readiness, especially during peak periods such as training deployments, Lunar New Year, and receiving new recruits.”

The results of the 2025 production and business plan show that Military Region 4 has "reaped" the rewards from difficulties, transforming challenges into momentum. Towards larger goals such as "focused, fundamental, effective, and sustainable," units will continue to invest in planning, replicate effective models, apply science and technology, and use production and business efficiency as a criterion for evaluating task completion. This is the solid foundation for soldiers to work with peace of mind, ensuring they are well-fed, well-clothed, and mentally strong, ready for combat.

Text and photos: LE ANH TAN

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/day-manh-tang-gia-san-xuat-nang-cao-doi-song-bo-doi-o-quan-khu-4-906576