Towards sustainable agriculture

BPO - While many farmers are struggling to find solutions to the problem of output, unstable prices and uneven farming techniques, in Nha Bich commune, Chon Thanh town, there is a cooperative (HTX) that is choosing a different path, quietly, persistently and with courage. That is Nha Bich Agricultural, Trade and Service Cooperative (HTX Nha Bich), where the thin-skinned, sweet and beautiful melons are pollinated by bees. The cooperative is the place to sow the seeds of a sustainable biological agriculture, associated with digital transformation, OCOP and the aspiration to reach out to the world.

START SMALL, THINK BIG

Established in 2023 with only 11 members, Nha Bich Cooperative has now increased to 16 members, including 3 ethnic minorities. Although the scale is still modest, the production mindset is not small. Nha Bich Cooperative quickly built a closed production model with 5 greenhouses, cultivating 3 crops per year, supplying the market with about 45 tons of high-quality melons.

Mr. Than Quang Sang (left cover), Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Nha Bich Cooperative and Mr. Lam Tip were excited when the pilot planting of DIVA 16 melon variety initially gave unexpected results.

Not only creating jobs and increasing income for members, the cooperative model also contributes to helping the locality complete the criteria for organizing production in building new rural areas and advanced new rural areas. According to Mr. Do Viet Hai, Vice Chairman of Nha Bich Commune People's Committee, the stability in organization, efficiency in production and the ability to create sustainable income of the cooperative have played a very important role in improving the rural area of ​​Nha Bich.

The most outstanding highlight at Nha Bich Cooperative is the application of bee pollination techniques using Israeli biotechnology. Instead of hiring workers for manual pollination, each greenhouse only needs 2 bee boxes, saving up to 2/3 of labor costs, while bringing about clear efficiency in quality, even melons, thin skin, thick mesh, natural sweetness, less dents compared to hand pollination.

“The bees pollinate evenly and simultaneously. Thanks to that, we can easily select good fruit, eliminate bad fruit, and improve the quality evenly throughout the season,” said Mr. Lam Tip, Deputy Director of Nha Bich Cooperative.

Not only stopping at techniques, the cooperative also actively tested new melon varieties such as DIVA 16 and DEVA 18, in which DIVA 16 initially gave results beyond expectations, short growing time, large fruit, high yield and uniform development.

With a biological and modern production orientation, the cooperative is gradually approaching the 4-star OCOP standards and the goal of bringing products to the supermarket system, aiming at the export market. In the upcoming plan, the cooperative will expand 2 more greenhouses, increasing the total area to 7,000m² and apply a smart irrigation system controlled weekly instead of manual control as before.

Mr. Than Quang Sang, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Cooperative said: “We not only want to do clean agriculture but also do it professionally and systematically. From seeds, techniques, production processes to marketing, we are all aiming for long-term solutions.”

INSPIRING THE SPIRIT OF INNOVATION

Although the cooperative has achieved many initial successes, difficulties still exist, especially the lack of capital to expand production. Most of the current capital comes from the members themselves, while there is almost no common property to mortgage for bank loans. This is also a major barrier preventing the cooperative from accelerating as expected. Mr. Sang shared: "We are considering legalizing common property such as greenhouses, so that we can use them as collateral, and at the same time propose to receive support from the provincial cooperative development fund."

Vice Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union Vo Anh Kiet said that if cooperatives have a growing area code, a clear business plan and OCOP products, they have the opportunity to access capital from the provincial support fund if they meet specific appraisal conditions.

Not only is it an effective production model, Nha Bich Cooperative also aims to start a green agricultural business, arousing the spirit of innovation, learning and creativity of rural people. Local authorities also expect the Cooperative to continue to develop, recruit more members, create jobs and increase the value of Binh Phuoc melon products in the market.

Although the journey ahead is full of challenges, today’s sweet melons are a clear testament to the tireless efforts of a group of farmers who dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate. Not only growing melons, Nha Bich Cooperative is sowing faith in the future of sustainable organic agriculture in the peaceful countryside.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/4/173378/huong-den-nong-nghiep-ben-vung