"Barefoot engineers" and smart agricultural models

We met Ms. Dinh Thi Thai, Group 2, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Ward ( Bac Kan City), when she was taking care of her family's French rose garden that was over 2 years old. To have a large, beautiful flower garden that is no less than Da Lat roses, Ms. Thai was bold enough to think and dare to do.

Ms. Thai shared: “My family has been growing and selling flowers such as roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas for more than 20 years... Roses grown in Bac Kan are usually not big and beautiful. In the past, to have big and beautiful roses to sell, most of them had to be imported from other places, mainly from Da Lat. In recent years, seeing many gardeners in Hanoi growing beautiful French roses, I went to Me Linh (Hanoi) to learn about growing methods and the initial results were a garden of large and beautiful French roses, no less than roses grown in Da Lat.”

Her family grows other types of flowers in the garden in Duong Quang commune, and the French rose garden covers an area of over 1,000 square meters in Huyen Tung ward. The French rose garden generates an income of over 100 million VND per year, much higher than growing two rice crops. Currently, Ms. Thai's family is one of the main suppliers of many types of flowers, including French roses, in the Bac Kan market.

Ms. Thai's French rose garden is now harvested and continues to expand.

Talking about her experience, Ms. Thai said: Growing French roses requires adjusting fertilizer and watering based on the weather. Don't just follow the book, but choose according to the weather and climate at each time. Regularly monitor pests and diseases, understand the time to prune, the time to fertilize and the right type of fertilizer...

Also in Bac Kan City, Mr. Nong Thanh Nha, Na Oi village, currently the Director of Duong Quang Cooperative, is also a successful person in bringing technology into production.

Recalling the process when the cooperative was still "taking its first steps", Mr. Nha shared: "As the "driver", I do not allow my mind to be idle. It is not just about what to plant, but the core is how to make it sustainable? Therefore, whenever I hear about a good and effective model or method, I will find a place to learn. While working, I learn, and gain experience, actively visit and learn to apply in practice. In 2020, seeing that there were not many models of growing melons in greenhouses in the province, I spent a lot of time researching to start a business, then switched from greenhouses to greenhouses."

Growing in a net house or greenhouse system helps plants grow well, limits harmful pests and diseases, only needs to use biological drugs to create nutrients for plant growth, higher economic efficiency, clean products, safe for consumers. "Up to now, the cooperative's melon products have met VietGap standards as I expected" - Mr. Nha said.

Not stopping there, knowing that growing chrysanthemums in Hung Yen province is effective, Mr. Nha returned there to learn. In 2024, after harvesting 2 crops of melons, he rented more rice fields from the surrounding people to implement a chrysanthemum growing model. Growing chrysanthemums not only sells fresh flowers to Hung Yen, but also dries them to make tea, but also attracts a large number of tourists from inside and outside the province to visit and check-in, creating opportunities to promote the model and products. In 2024, Duong Quang Cooperative harvested 8 tons of melons grown according to VietGAP standards; 22 tons of chrysanthemums; more than 9 tons of OCOP products such as hanging pork, smoked sausages, etc.

By changing his mindset and mastering technology in production, Mr. Nha not only creates a stable source of income for his family, but also guides and transfers technology to cooperative members, and helps the village quickly reduce the number of poor and near-poor households. Holding the "secret" of technology, he is willing to transfer technology to those who are in need and love agriculture. Because he thinks, having another "clean" address means that more people can use clean food sources, helping people is also an opportunity for him to rise up.

Automatic watering system in greenhouses is being applied in growing VietGap melons.

Connecting production and consumers

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuan, Director of Que Thanh Cooperative, Yen Lac Town (Na Ri) is the one who brings technology into the agricultural product introduction and trading system, with the aim of connecting the product makers and customers. Mr. Thuan said: “I think digital utilities that help promote and bring products to all parts of the country are equally important, so that the consumer market and consumers will know where the product is and which facility produces it. Technology is the tool for customers to know the necessary information”.

Currently, the Que Thanh Cooperative's product display and sales facility gathers nearly 100 OCOP products, key agricultural products of Bac Kan province and some other provinces. All products have their origins traced and are introduced and promoted through Zalo, Facebook applications, e-commerce systems, and websites of production facilities. By applying technology to business, the number of customers and production facilities with the need to introduce products has increased. Helping local specialty products penetrate supermarket chains and clean food stores, promoting economic development and giving consumers more access to safe, clean food sources.

Mr. Thuan, the owner of the store introducing and selling OCOP products, guides employees in applying technology in order payment.

In Bac Kan province, there are many examples of farmers who are bold in thinking, daring to do and mastering technology in production and business. These stories are vivid proof that when farmers truly master technology, they not only enrich their families but also contribute significantly to the sustainable development of local agriculture./.

Tung Van

Source: https://baobackan.vn/ky-su-chan-dat-va-nhung-mo-hinh-nong-nghiep-thong-minh-post71039.html