Making a fortune from 'weeds' in saline-acidic soil.

In the middle of a low-lying, saline-alkaline land, war veteran Vo Viet Lam (71 years old, residing in My Phu Dong hamlet, Chau Thoi commune, Ca Mau province) has risen to wealth from cultivating "weeds," earning the admiration of the local people.

A chance for a life-changing opportunity from "weeds"

After the reunification of the country, young soldier Vo Viet Lam left the army and returned to his hometown of Chau Thoi, bearing many wounds. At that time, his family was poor because the land was saline and acidic, overgrown with weeds, and both rice farming and fish farming were consistently unsuccessful. One day, while visiting the fields, Mr. Lam noticed patches of sedge grass growing naturally in the acidic water. Locals had previously considered them weeds , only used to feed buffalo and ducks, but Mr. Lam saw in them an opportunity to change his life.

Mr. Lam earns a considerable income from cultivating sedge, a plant once considered a weed.

PHOTO: TRAN THANH PHONG

In 2005, he began researching the growth characteristics of the sedge plant, learning how to propagate it, and then decided to convert 3 hectares of unproductive rice land to sedge cultivation. Initially, his neighbors laughed, thinking he was planting grass and planning to get rich. But after just one rainy season, the sedge grew lush and green, yielding high productivity and profits three times higher than growing rice.

Mr. Lam said that growing water spinach requires little labor, little fertilizer, and few pests and diseases, and is suitable for low-lying, saline-alkaline soil. Harvesting can begin year-round after only 50 days of planting. Initially, Mr. and Mrs. Lam harvested the water spinach themselves, peeled it, and sold it to wholesale markets and restaurants in the province. Over the years, the area expanded to over 5.4 hectares, and the yield increased significantly, so he hired four male laborers to improve the fields, plant water spinach, fertilize, weed, and harvest; he also hired four female laborers to pick and peel the water spinach. After being cleaned, the water spinach is bought directly from their home by traders.

Mr. Lam inspects the newly planted reed field.

PHOTO: TRAN THANH PHONG

According to Mr. Lam, his family sells 200-300 kg of fresh water spinach every day. Peeled water spinach sells for 50,000-70,000 VND/kg, while unpeeled water spinach sells for 7,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, he earns a profit of over 1 million VND per day. In addition to the main income from water spinach, Mr. Lam also earns a considerable income annually from various types of fish caught in the water spinach fields.

After years of accumulating profits from growing sedge, in 2014, Mr. Lam's family built a spacious brick house worth over 1 billion VND on the very land that was once barren and low-lying.

Mr. Lam stands beside his reed field, ready for harvest.

PHOTO: TRAN THANH PHONG

Creating jobs for hundreds of rural workers.

Based on the success of the water chestnut cultivation model , in 2023, Mr. Lam mobilized 50 households in the hamlet to establish the A Trung Dong Cooperative, with him as director. In addition to land dedicated to rice cultivation and fish farming, the cooperative has set aside 15 hectares for water chestnut cultivation. Currently, the cooperative supplies two main products to markets inside and outside the province: fresh water chestnuts and pickled water chestnuts. Thanks to the application of clean production processes, the fresh and pickled water chestnuts have been recognized as achieving OCOP 3-star standards.

Mr. Lam's effective sedge cultivation model has provided employment for hundreds of elderly people, ethnic minorities, and those in particularly difficult circumstances.

PHOTO: TRAN THANH PHONG

According to Mr. Lam, since its establishment, the cooperative has helped many members change their lives through the sedge cultivation model. In particular, it has provided stable employment for hundreds of Khmer people, the elderly, and disabled individuals in the locality.

Ms. Vo Truc Lam (30 years old, residing in My Phu Dong hamlet, Chau Thoi commune) recounts that when she was young, she was seriously ill and nearly died, causing her to grow up with uncontrollable tremors in her hands and feet, and developmental delays compared to her peers. However, for the past few years, she and her mother have been peeling and stripping sedge for the A Trung Dong Cooperative, and she feels much more confident. Each day, Lam and her mother peel 40-50 kg of fresh sedge, earning 1,500 VND/kg, and receiving free meals, thus having a stable income. With this income, Lam's family no longer needs to rely on government assistance or seek work far from home.

Mr. Lam stands in front of his spacious house, built thanks to his sedge cultivation model.

PHOTO: TRAN THANH PHONG

Mr. Tran Thanh Tuan, Chairman of Chau Thoi commune, shared that upon visiting the famous Vinh Hung ancient tower, everyone admires the spirit of overcoming difficulties and achieving wealth through the sedge cultivation model of war invalid Vo Viet Lam. The A Trung Dong Cooperative is currently an effective production model in the locality and is encouraged to be replicated.

"Along with many famous and long-standing products of Chau Thoi such as fermented fish sauce, the water chestnut plant, once considered a weed, is expected to improve and enhance the lives of people in the Ca Mau Peninsula," Mr. Tuan affirmed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lam-giau-tu-co-dai-o-vung-dat-phen-man-185260211095605877.htm