Earn hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields.

May 21, 2024 | 18:18

TPO - Instead of letting straw be discarded in the fields, many people have invested hundreds of millions of dong in machines to collect straw and sell it, earning hundreds of millions of dong each year.

Video shows people collecting straw from the fields to sell, earning hundreds of millions of dong each year.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 1)

In late May, farmers across the districts and towns of Nghe An province are busy harvesting their winter-spring rice crop, yielding high production. This is also the time when straw collectors are bustling with activity, raking in the money. Nghe An province has one of the largest agricultural land areas. Each year, the province cultivates over 170,000 hectares of rice, producing over 1 million tons annually. Therefore, the amount of straw by-product after each harvest is also substantial.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 2)

Most of the rice fields are harvested by farmers using combine harvesters. After harvesting, the straw is left in the fields instead of being collected.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 3)

The straw is spread in rows on the rice stalks by the combine harvester. After a day of sun drying, the straw is dry and collected by locals to sell.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (photo 4)

Ms. Huong (residing in Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province ) said that during each rice harvest season, she and her family members go to the fields to collect straw to sell to livestock farms. "Very few families take the straw home after harvesting, so we go and collect it. If we don't collect it in time, they will burn it. It's wasteful and pollutes the environment. For each plot of land, we earn 120-150 thousand dong collecting and selling it to them. If we're healthy, the whole family can earn millions of dong a day," Ms. Huong shared.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 5)

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 6)

To harvest as much straw as possible, people carry large tarpaulins across the fields to collect the straw, then load it onto trucks for transport.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 7)

The rice harvest only lasts a few weeks, so many families have to mobilize all family members to collect straw.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 8)

Manual straw collection requires no investment but is labor-intensive and yields a small amount of straw. Therefore, some people have boldly invested in large machines to collect straw for sale.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 9)

Mr. Hoang Van Quan (residing in Nam Dinh province) shared that many years ago he invested in a combine harvester to harvest rice for hire. Later, as more people invested in combine harvesters, the workload decreased. He noticed that the combine harvesters left straw in the fields after harvesting, but farmers simply threw it away. Meanwhile, large livestock farms had a high demand for straw, so Mr. Quan invested nearly 400 million VND to buy a straw baling machine.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 10)

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 11)

According to Mr. Quân, the straw baling machine can collect straw from 15-20 hectares of rice fields per day. Each hectare of rice can yield 120-150 bales of straw. Each bale weighs 20kg and sells for 15,000 to 20,000 VND at the field. However, operating the machine requires 7-10 people. This includes 2 people to operate the machine and 5-7 people to load and transport the straw to customers.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 12)

"I work two seasons a year, each lasting about five months. I travel from Thanh Hoa all the way to Thua Thien Hue. Wherever the rice harvest is complete, I go there to collect the straw. The daily income is quite high, but the expenses are also considerable. Each worker is paid 800,000 to 1 million VND per day," said Hoang Van Quan, adding that after deducting expenses, he earns over 200 million VND annually from collecting straw bales.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 13)

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 14)

After being wrapped, the bales of dry straw are piled up in the field.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 15)

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 16)

The workers then load the mushrooms onto trucks for delivery to livestock farms or mushroom production businesses.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (photo 17)

Each bale of straw weighs only about 20kg, but for the workers, working in the hot sun in the fields with such a large quantity, it's quite a strenuous job.

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (image 18)

Earning hundreds of millions from collecting straw in the fields (photo 19)

Although many people collect straw, some villagers still go down to the fields to burn the leftover straw after harvesting the rice, causing smoke to cover a large area and pollute the environment.