Green season on barren land

Driven by a passion for organic farming, many people in Ea Wer commune have persistently and creatively transformed barren, rocky land into bountiful fruit harvests, opening up a sustainable and safe path for the community and revitalizing the soil of this challenging region.

"Awakening" the impoverished land

Before settling in the sun-drenched Central Highlands, Luong Van Linh was an electrician, while his wife, Nguyen Thi Thoa, worked as an accountant and lived in Hai Phong City. In 2014, they began nurturing their dream of organic farming and traveled all the way to Dong Nai to learn farming techniques. In 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, causing significant difficulties, and they decided to make a major life-changing decision: leaving the bustling city and returning to the rural village of Ndrếch (Ea Wer commune) to embark on organic farming.

Drawing on their accumulated experience, the couple invested in planting 3.5 hectares of fruit trees, and also collaborated with local farmers to cultivate an additional 20 hectares. High-quality fruit varieties from Cho Lach (formerly Ben Tre province) such as pomelo, orange, tangerine, papaya, and guava have been carefully nurtured and have taken root and flourished in land that was previously thought incapable of producing sweet fruit.

Mr. Linh preserved the vegetation to prevent erosion and maintain the soil's looseness and fertility.

Mr. Linh recounted: “The most difficult challenge for farmers is domesticating the soil. In the beginning, the soil was very barren, with almost no nutrients because people regularly cultivated cassava and corn, and used a lot of pesticides. The soil in Ea Wer was mostly depleted and its structure was hardened. If we continued using the old methods, we would have failed.” Instead of relying on chemicals, he and his wife applied a comprehensive soil improvement process using nutrient-rich natural products such as fish fertilizer, cow manure, chicken manure, and bio-fertilizer. Importantly, they didn't remove the wild grass growing on the surface but transformed it into “workers” that retained moisture and a “nutrient bank” for the crops. Ms. Thoa explained: “The grass acts like a shield for the soil, preventing erosion and retaining moisture wonderfully. After regular mowing, the weeds are composted to fertilize the crops.”

Through diligent investment and meticulous care for each plant, the family's 3.5 hectares of oranges and pomelos now yield a stable harvest. The organic, chemical-free produce, with its sweet, refreshing taste and distinctive aroma, easily conquers demanding markets, generating an income of approximately 1 billion VND per year.

Personal success is not their ultimate goal. In September 2024, they and their colleagues launched the Luong Dinh Green Pomelo Agricultural Cooperative with 7 official members and 14 associate members. The greatest aspiration of those creating a green harvest on barren land is to encourage everyone to practice organic farming and ensure a stable market for their produce, so that clean products can reach consumers nationwide.

A multi-crop garden, full of sweet fruits.

In Hamlet 16, the persuasive power of organic farming has been demonstrated through the image of Mr. Luong Thanh Ha's family orchard, covering nearly 1.3 hectares and including various crops such as longan, durian, mango, green pomelo, coconut, star apple, and Thai jackfruit…

Visitors to the garden are always amazed and delighted by the fresh, cool air and the lush, year-round growth of the fruit trees. Organic farming has helped diversify the ecosystem, minimize natural pests and diseases, and preserve the soil extremely effectively. To achieve this success, the couple has persistently pursued natural farming for over 10 years. They understand better than anyone that farming is not just about making a living, but also about protecting the long-term source of livelihood.

Mr. Luong Thanh Ha (on the right) introduces his family's organic fruit orchard.

Mr. Ha shared that soil health is just as important as choosing the right seedlings. Therefore, to maintain the soil's looseness and fertility, his family uses microbial fertilizers and well-rotted cow manure to fertilize their crops organically. In addition, he also makes his own biological pesticides to control pests and diseases, completely avoiding the use of chemical pesticides.

For the past 10 years, Mr. Ha's family has not only spread the spirit of preserving the land and maintaining faith in building green agricultural products, but has also made a significant contribution to preserving the living environment. Thanks to their hard work and perseverance, the land is always fertile, the orchards are lush and green, producing beautiful fruit and yielding good productivity. The family has fruit to sell in every season of the year, averaging a profit of over 400 million VND per year.

To facilitate easier and more stable output, providing wholesale and retail clean produce to large traders in Hanoi , Da Nang, and Saigon, Mr. Luong Thanh Ha joined the Tan Hoa Agricultural - Service - Trade Cooperative. Mr. Ha confided: “We grow not only to create profit, but also to serve our family, relatives, and friends. Being able to eat sweet, clean fruits from our own garden is what makes us feel most confident and happy!”

Song Quynh

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202603/mua-xanh-tren-dat-kho-be92f08/