When the "red buffalo" chases the "black buffalo"

The image of the buffalo leading the plow was once a familiar and deeply ingrained symbol of Vietnamese rural life. For generations, the buffalo was not only the "foundation of livelihood" but also an indispensable companion for farmers. However, with the pace of modern life and the development of technology, that image is gradually fading into the past. Today, instead of the rhythmic clatter of the plow dragging across the furrows, one only hears the roaring engines of "red buffaloes"—modern plows and harrows. The story of the "red buffalo" chasing the "black buffalo" is no longer a metaphor but a reality unfolding throughout the countryside.

Mechanization has made tremendous progress.

It's undeniable that mechanization has revolutionized agriculture . Previously, plowing a field required farmers and their oxen toiling all day, sometimes even into the next day, to pull the plow. Now, with just a tractor, the job is completed efficiently in a single morning, and the operator can sit comfortably, with minimal effort.

Mr. Ha Van Son, a farmer in Nghia An commune, Nghia Lo town, shared: "Now, machines do everything; it only takes half a day. Before, every farming season was a time of backaches and shoulder pain from plowing. Now that we have machines, farmers are spared so much hardship."

Mechanization not only brings high labor efficiency but also creates conditions for people to rotate crops and increase the number of harvests. Previously, preparing the land for the winter crop after harvesting the summer rice crop was a race against time. If it wasn't done in time, the corn wouldn't be harvested before the land had to be prepared for the spring planting.

Mrs. Son said: "We need a plow to keep up with the planting schedule for winter corn on land used for two rice crops! Before we had machines, my family worked tirelessly day and night, truly racing against time to get the winter crop ready. And even then, some years we had to harvest the corn before the kernels were even ready to prepare the land for rice planting."

Mechanization also brings many social benefits. Children no longer have to skip school or leave the playground to herd buffaloes, and there is no longer the need to cut grass in the midday sun or in the freezing cold, dry winds of winter.

A farmer from Nam Muoi commune, Van Chan district, expressed: "Now that the children are getting an education, we don't have to herd buffaloes like before. It's easier during the grass season, but in winter, especially with the drizzle and northerly winds, it's extremely difficult! The grazing land is also gone. The number of buffaloes dying from cold and starvation has decreased. We don't have to... 'mourn for our buffaloes' like in the old days."

The dark side of "red buffalo"

However, everything has its downsides, and agricultural mechanization has also left behind significant consequences. When farmers no longer raise buffaloes, the source of animal manure – a type of organic fertilizer that is very good for the soil – gradually disappears from the fields. Animal manure not only supplements nutrients to the soil but also helps improve soil structure, retain water and nutrients, and nourish beneficial microorganisms.

While completely replacing traditional fertilizers with chemical fertilizers may yield immediate results, in the long run, it will deplete the soil of nutrients, leading to a gradual decrease in yield with each harvest. This is a tangible consequence that many localities are currently facing. In reality, many rural areas now show signs of soil degradation, with poor crop growth and an increase in pests and diseases.

Farmers are forced to use more pesticides, which not only increases production costs but also negatively impacts the environment and public health. Once fertile fields are now barren and cracked during the dry season, and muddy and waterlogged during heavy rains because the soil is no longer loose and its ability to absorb and drain water has significantly decreased.

Solutions for sustainable agricultural development

The story of the "red buffalo" chasing the "black buffalo" symbolizes the changing times. We cannot return to the era of manual labor, nor can we force farmers back to the worn-out plow and buffaloes in the fields. Mechanization is an inevitable trend, a manifestation of progress, but it must be accompanied by a sustainable development mindset.

Given the current situation of soil degradation, farmers need to make the most of available organic fertilizers. If manure is unavailable, they can increase the use of microbial fertilizers and industrial organic fertilizers; at the same time, they should revive the movement of making green manure from legumes, duckweed, water hyacinth, and decomposed straw. Limiting the excessive use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers is also necessary, because although nitrogen fertilizers help plants grow quickly, they will destroy the soil structure in the long run.

In addition, local authorities and the agricultural sector need to strengthen propaganda and guidance for people to use machinery scientifically and in an environmentally friendly manner. Increased investment in research and application of sustainable farming techniques, such as intercropping, crop rotation, and the use of drought- and pest-resistant plant varieties, should be implemented to minimize pressure on agricultural land.

We need to develop a circular agriculture model where livestock waste is reused for crop cultivation and vice versa, contributing to ecological balance. In particular, the combination of traditional and modern methods, machinery and organic farming, and technological advancements with a commitment to protecting land resources is key to ensuring food security and sustainable development.

The image of "red buffaloes" chasing "black buffaloes" is not only a nostalgic reminder of rural life, but also a vivid testament to the transformation of our country's agriculture. While in the past, the buffalo represented diligence and hard work, today, modern agricultural machinery represents efficiency, speed, and productivity.

However, in this process of modernization, we also need to listen to the "voice" of the land and the environment. Although the land cannot speak, it always provides the most honest feedback to the ecological environment through crop yields and the fertility or barrenness of each plot of land. The decline of the agricultural ecosystem, if not stopped in time, will turn the "mechanization revolution" into a "double-edged sword."

Therefore, alongside promoting mechanization, it is essential to combine it with ecological thinking and a sustainable agricultural development strategy. This is not only the responsibility of farmers but also of the entire system – from the government, scientists, businesses to individual consumers. Only then will the picture of modern agriculture truly harmonize productivity and the environment.

Le Phien

Source: https://baoyenbai.com.vn/12/351298/Khi-trau-do-duoi-trau-den.aspx