Hai Phong will conduct a 'general soil health check' from 2026

HAI PHONG From 2026, Hai Phong will implement a periodic 'soil health check' program throughout the area.

After the merger, Hai Phong is one of the localities with the largest agricultural production area in the North, each crop sowing nearly 90,000 hectares of rice and more than 40,000 hectares of vegetables. Onion and garlic in the winter crop alone reach about 7,000 hectares, belonging to the group of largest onion and garlic production areas in the country. However, for many years, Hai Phong agricultural products have been mainly consumed domestically, not making a breakthrough in export due to "bottlenecks" in quality.

Ms. Luong Thi Kiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hai Phong City. Photo: Quang Dung.

According to Ms. Luong Thi Kiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hai Phong City (DARD), the cause starts from the problem of soil health. “In the early stages, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides help increase productivity and are very convenient to use. But after decades, soil quality declines, the microorganism system in the soil is disrupted, pests and diseases increase, and farmers are forced to use more chemicals,” Ms. Kiem analyzed.

According to Ms. Kiem, if we continue to cultivate according to the practice of “increasing fertilizer – increasing chemicals”, the quality of agricultural products will hardly meet food hygiene and safety standards and even more difficult to meet the criteria of demanding markets. Therefore, Hai Phong determined that if it wants to change, it must “treat from the root”, that is, improve soil health, balance nutrition, gradually reduce chemicals and increase organic fertilizers.

For many years, Hai Phong has applied integrated plant health management (IPHM) models. This year, Nam An Phu commune was chosen as a pilot model for soil health restoration associated with winter onion crop. This is a crop with high economic value in the locality.

“Here, farmers have a habit of fertilizing root crops with a lot of phosphate. The soil has excess phosphate, but farmers still use the old formula. This is a typical example of fertilizing based on habit, not based on soil quality analysis,” said Ms. Kiem.

Based on the results of soil testing, the model is designed to balance fertilizers, increase organic content, prioritize environmentally friendly products, and gradually reduce chemical fertilizers. When the soil is healthy, the plants are healthier, there will be fewer pests and diseases, and the quality of agricultural products will also be improved.

Hai Phong will issue a policy to support mechanization, helping farmers buy tillage machines, irrigation systems, planting machines, etc. to reduce costs and improve labor productivity. Photo: Quang Dung.

According to Ms. Kiem, the City’s goal is not just to stop at a few models but to create a comprehensive transformation for agriculture. Currently, Hai Phong is building many specific mechanisms to support clean production, especially in vegetable and winter crop areas.

For production areas like Nam An Phu, if farmers organize cultivation according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP or standards like Halal, the City will support certification costs, training and technical advice. “We really hope that Hai Phong onions and garlic will be exported to markets like Halal - where the demand for spices is very high,” Ms. Kiem shared.

In addition, Hai Phong is preparing to issue a policy to support mechanization, helping farmers buy tillage machines, irrigation systems, planting machines, etc. to reduce costs and increase labor productivity. Cold storage systems, preliminary processing, and post-harvest processing are also included in the priority plan to avoid price pressure during good harvests.

Ms. Kiem added that another important highlight is the land improvement policy. The city has issued a support mechanism of 10 million VND/ha for difficult areas such as saline water, degraded land, etc. This support helps farmers improve their fields, increase the soil's ability to absorb nutrients, creating a foundation for sustainable production.

From 2026, Hai Phong will implement a regular “soil health check” program throughout the area. Soil samples from all growing areas will be analyzed to determine the suitability for each type of crop, warn of early degradation risks, and propose adjustment plans. “This is the first time we have conducted a ‘general check’ of soil health on such a large scale. By understanding their soil, farmers and localities will make better decisions,” Ms. Kiem emphasized.

All efforts, from pilot models to macro policies, are aimed at the common goal of improving the quality of Hai Phong agricultural products, helping onions, garlic and many other crops not only stand firm in the domestic market but also meet international standards.

“For agricultural products to enter supermarkets or high-value consumption channels, farmers and businesses must change their thinking. Hai Phong City will accompany with specific mechanisms so that this change takes place more quickly and systematically,” said Ms. Kiem.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hai-phong-se-tong-kiem-tra-suc-khoe-dat-tu-2026-d787522.html