Ca To Cooperative paves the way for sustainable agriculture

Applying science and technology in production, Ca To Cooperative of Ms. Le Thi Hong Duyen in Thanh Hoa has turned wasteland into green farms, bringing economic efficiency.

From wasteland to high-tech agricultural model

The small road leading to the once abandoned fields is now a brilliant green in Nguyet Vien ward ( Thanh Hoa province). On the once barren land, a series of pristine white greenhouses appear, reflecting the shimmering afternoon sunlight. Inside are rows of bright red tomatoes, purple grapes laden with fruit, and gardens of succulent yellow melons. All bring a new look, full of vitality.

Few people expected that the person who started this business was a girl born in 1991, Ms. Le Thi Hong Duyen. After studying abroad, instead of starting a career in the city, she chose to return to her hometown and join her father in renovating 4 hectares of abandoned land. That decision surprised many people, even made them skeptical. Some people said "it's very hard for a girl to do farming", others asserted that the land "is hard to make into porridge". But Ms. Duyen thought differently: "If you don't try, the land will remain abandoned. If you do it, even if you fail, you will learn a lesson".

Ms. Le Thi Hong Duyen, Director of Ca To Cooperative, said that the cooperative's agricultural products do not use pesticides, but instead apply biological measures and environmentally friendly products. Photo: Thu Thuy.

The journey of building a farm began with days of leveling the ground, digging ditches, and erecting steel frames. The first greenhouses, though small, were filled with sweat and hope. Then the first ripe, sweet melons were not only the result of labor but also proof that knowledge can change the fields.

From the first harvests, the locals gradually changed their perspective. They were curious to learn about drip irrigation systems and how to grow vegetables without pesticides. The land that had been abandoned became “land of hope”, opening up a new direction for clean agriculture.

At Ca To Cooperative, high technology is applied synchronously to all stages of production. The greenhouse and net house system helps control temperature, light and humidity, protecting crops from weather and pests. Israeli drip irrigation technology is installed on the entire area, saving up to 40% of water while providing precise nutrition to each tree. The Cooperative also uses environmental sensors and farming management software, allowing monitoring of soil, water and nutrient status on smartphones, thereby promptly adjusting the production process.

Not only that, all fertilizers at the Cooperative are organic and microbial; chemical pesticides are replaced by safe biological products. Thanks to that, the products are both guaranteed in quality and meet the strict requirements of the market. Agricultural products are uniform in appearance, have traceability, and can easily participate in modern supply chains. In particular, thanks to high technology, the Cooperative significantly reduces labor costs, increasing productivity by 20-30% compared to traditional farming methods.

Crystallizing knowledge, spreading belief

In 2016, Ms. Duyen and 7 other members founded the Ca To Agricultural Service Cooperative. This is not only a production site but also a learning environment, where knowledge and technology become the foundation. The Cooperative boldly invested in a closed greenhouse system, water-saving drip irrigation, and organic fertilizers instead of chemicals. Thanks to that, the products are both safe and well received by the market.

Up to now, Ca To branded cantaloupes, grapes, and tomatoes have been available at many clean agricultural stores, bringing in a stable revenue of about 800 million VND/year, creating jobs for many local workers. Initially, the cooperative also experienced many difficulties: lack of capital, unsynchronized techniques, and failed crops. However, thanks to perseverance in learning from advanced models, members have accumulated more and more experience, improving production efficiency.

Closed greenhouse system, water-saving drip irrigation brings high economic efficiency. Photo: Thu Thuy.

After nearly a decade, the Cooperative has accumulated 2 more hectares of land, investing more than 6 billion VND to complete the closed high-tech agricultural model. In addition to 10,000 m² of greenhouses, the Cooperative has also built a "river in a pond" system to raise fish, diversifying products and increasing revenue. Annual revenue has exceeded 1 billion VND, and the lives of Cooperative members and local workers are more stable.

Not only production, the Cooperative also experiments with Korean grape varieties, strawberries and expands into experiential tourism. Students and tourists can directly pick fruit, visit green models, and learn about clean farming. From agricultural products, the Group also brings joy, knowledge and experience to the community.

Ms. Duyen confided: “What I want to prove is that agriculture, if we know how to apply science and technology and exploit the advantages of land, can completely become a sustainable way to get rich. The most important thing is to keep the love for the fields and the homeland.”

Nowadays, Ca To Cooperative is not only a supplier of clean agricultural products but also a destination for studying and visiting many groups inside and outside the province. The laughter of children echoing in the greenhouse, the small hands picking ripe red fruits are proof of a modern, sustainable and community-connected agricultural future.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hop-tac-xa-ca-to-mo-loi-cho-nong-nghiep-ben-vung-d774323.html