Previously, after each rice harvest, most of the farmland in Hamlet 5 was left fallow due to traditional farming conditions and practices. Yields were low, and income was unstable, only about 60 million VND/hectare/season, causing many difficulties for the people. Concerned about this situation, the Party Branch of Hamlet 5 proactively proposed the "Bringing Vegetables to the Rice Fields" model and chose pumpkin as the main crop. Growing vegetables after the rice harvest not only effectively utilizes the land but also offers many advantages such as: shorter cultivation time, fewer pests and diseases, easier care, and significantly increased income.

Since 2020, the model has been initiated with 31 participating households, covering an area of ​​over 47 hectares. To date, 95 households have participated, expanding the area to 147 hectares. As a pilot model, the movement quickly spread to neighboring hamlets such as Hamlet 3, Hamlet 4 (Tran Hoi commune) and Minh Ha hamlet (Khanh Binh Dong commune), forming an efficient and sustainable crop production network for the entire region.

By mastering new techniques and applying innovative methods, the people in Hamlet 5 are constantly innovating in production. Rice paddies are raised into high ridges interspersed with rice paddies, and the irrigation system is improved. The timing of planting other crops is carefully calculated, ensuring continuous planting after the rice harvest. The economic efficiency is outstanding: pumpkin yields reach 9-10 tons/ha, with stable selling prices of 8,000 VND/kg or more. After deducting costs, profits reach 70-100 million VND/ha, with some households earning over 120 million VND.

To achieve the success of this model, we must mention the pioneering farmers who successfully cultivated pumpkins in rice paddies, most notably Mr. Ngo Van Minh, one of the exemplary farmers who not only enriched himself but also inspired and encouraged his fellow villagers to develop their economy.

After 10 years of cultivating pumpkins on rice paddies, Mr. Ngo Van Minh's family (the man pointing) has acquired a spacious house and a comfortable life. After 10 years of cultivating pumpkins on rice paddies, Mr. Ngo Van Minh's family (the man pointing) has acquired a spacious house and a comfortable life.

Previously, after the rice harvest, Mr. Minh would simply plow the fields and leave them fallow, and cultivating over 2 hectares of land only provided enough income to cover expenses. Since boldly introducing the Trang Nong 151 pumpkin variety to his fields after the rice crop, his family's income has significantly improved, bringing in approximately 300 million VND annually, equivalent to 33-35 tons of pumpkins.

Mr. Minh shared: “When we started in 2010, no one in the village was growing pumpkins, so I learned as I went along. Thanks to my hard work, I accumulated experience and techniques on how to grow pumpkins so that they produce beautiful, high-quality fruit. Thanks to pumpkins, I was able to provide for my children's education, renovate my house, and my life became less burdensome. Seeing my success, other villagers followed suit, and the government also supported and encouraged me. I am proud to be a pioneer, contributing to building an effective 'People's Mobilization' model in the locality.”

Each year, Mr. Minh's pumpkin field (on the left) generates several hundred million dong in income, double the income from rice cultivation. (Photo provided by the local authorities). Each year, Mr. Minh's pumpkin field (on the left) generates several hundred million dong in income, double the income from rice cultivation. (Photo provided by the local authorities).

Unlike Mr. Minh, Ms. Cao Tuyet Hang flexibly intercrops yellow swallowtail squash and watermelon. Although the income is not as high as growing high-yield squash varieties, it provides her family with a significant additional source of income during the off-season. Ms. Hang said: “I started growing vegetables on my rice paddies in 2018, with a total area of ​​3 hectares. Because the land is low-lying and I couldn't grow large squash varieties like others, I chose watermelon as my main crop because of its low investment cost and high profit. Last season, I harvested 30 tons of watermelon, selling it at 6,000 VND/kg. Seeing the clear success from neighboring households, this year I raised the embankments and improved the soil to experiment with the high-yield Trang Nong squash variety. Thanks to the government's 'effective community mobilization' model, initially only a few households followed suit, but now the whole village is responding. Some households have even built new houses thanks to combining two rice crops and one vegetable crop, creating a collective of farmers working together and prospering together.”

Besides pumpkin cultivation, Hamlet 5 has also developed diverse models such as: pineapple cultivation (1.5 hectares, generating over 50 million VND/household/year), mango cultivation (15.4 hectares, generating over 70 million VND/household/year), and more than 25 other vegetable farming models such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and winter squash... All of these contribute to increasing income and creating local jobs for the people. The movement not only focuses on economic development but also transforms production thinking, fostering a spirit of solidarity and consensus among the people. The collective learns, works together, and strives to achieve legitimate wealth. The model has been visited and highly appreciated by various levels and sectors, and is considered a typical example of "effective people mobilization" in the province.

Despite some difficulties due to the impact of climate change, drought and salinity, and limited irrigation systems, thanks to the close guidance of the District Party Committee and the Commune Party Committee, along with the dynamism of the Party Branch of Hamlet 5 and the unity of the people, the "Effective People's Mobilization" model of bringing crops to the fields has shown outstanding effectiveness and lasting vitality. This is a vivid testament to President Ho Chi Minh's teaching: "Effective people's mobilization leads to success in everything."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thom, Secretary of the Party Branch of Hamlet 5, happily stated: “The successful models of mass mobilization have deeply permeated every cadre, Party member, and citizen. Thanks to studying and following Uncle Ho's teachings, we have achieved high levels of consensus, with the number of households participating in the models increasing each year. Average income reaches over 100 million VND per harvest, with some households earning more than 500 million VND. In particular, Hamlet 5 currently has no poor households, which is a proud achievement.”

Huu Nghia

Source: https://baocamau.vn/mau-xuong-ruong-dan-doi-doi-a39513.html