Replicating green agricultural models

Benefiting from this project, the environmental quality and economic efficiency of livestock farming of farmers in the West of Gia Lai have clearly improved.

Application of science in agriculture

The project “Propaganda and mobilization of farmers to treat waste in Vietnam, contributing to the international community’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” was implemented in Gia Lai province (old), focusing on 5 waste treatment techniques, including: Fermenting crop by-products into animal feed; raising chickens on thick biological bedding; composting organic fertilizer from crop by-products in the fields and treating stubble with biological products; raising calcium worms and earthworms. The project was implemented in 9 communes with 1,956 households receiving direct and indirect support.

At the end of the project, through evaluation, localities have replicated more than 600 models from households that learned indirectly. According to the survey, 99% of farmers support the application of these waste treatment methods; nearly 80% are willing to change their production behavior when they see the effectiveness of environmental protection and the health of the farmers themselves.

Model of raising chickens on biological bedding in Ayun Pa ward. **Photo: Minh Ly**

Farmer Cao Huu Nghia in Nhing village, Bien Ho commune has been involved in the model of raising earthworms using livestock waste for several years now, since he became a member of the project, and has continued to maintain it regularly, even when the project no longer supports him. Initially, he only had a few square meters of trial farming, but now he has more than 32 square meters, enough to basically process the amount of waste from his family's livestock as fertilizer for plants, and can provide earthworm seeds for other households.

Mr. Nghia shared: “Previously, cow manure had to be left for a long time before being used as fertilizer for plants, but now I process it by raising earthworms. Fertilizer processed from earthworms is of good quality, has no bad smell, so it does not affect people's living environment, and can be used directly for plants. Now the barn does not smell, the living environment of my family and residential area is guaranteed, which is what I am most satisfied with.”

Similarly, from training sessions by farmers' association officials in recent years, farmer RCom Huy in Soma Ron village, Ia Hiao commune learned about the technique of fermenting feed for cows from dry straw into a nutritious source of food that can be stored for a long time. From the available straw source of his family, he used microorganisms, molasses and salt, mixed in a certain ratio, then compressed and sealed. After a while, the preparations fermented, becoming nutritious food for the cows. With this method, the cows are guaranteed nutrition every day when the family does not have the conditions to graze, the grassland area is narrowed in the dry season.

Actively replicate models

Mr. Hoang Thanh Van, in Ayun Pa ward - a farmer who perseveres with the calcium worm farming model, said: “The food is leftover vegetables and fruits from daily life. After 30 days, the flies are raised to reproduce and get eggs, and the worms are raised to feed the chickens. At first, it was a bit difficult because I didn’t know how to do it. After being trained, I found it very simple and didn’t take any time. The product is effective, the chickens lay very well and ensure that organic waste does not pollute the environment.”

Calcium worm farming model of Mr. Hoang Thanh Van's household, Ayun Pa ward. **Photo: Minh Ly**

Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyet, a successful farmer raising chickens on bio-bedding in Ayun Pa ward, shared: “Since accessing the bio-bedding model from the Farmers’ Association, my model has improved more and more, the chickens have less diseases, grow quickly, their droppings are odorless and very clean. In particular, raising chickens in residential areas does not cause environmental pollution.”

Through propaganda activities, Gia Lai Farmers' Associations at all levels encourage farmers to actively replicate the models, contributing to reducing emissions from crop and livestock waste, as soon as the project ends. Mr. Y Kham, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, said: "This project is very suitable for farmers, the project's techniques are easy to apply. The Provincial Farmers' Association Standing Committee continues to direct grassroots associations to mobilize farmer members to apply the project's techniques to reduce waste to the environment. The model techniques will also be integrated into the association's propaganda activities to implement the Congress's targets on building environmental protection models and responding to climate change."

The methods of agricultural waste treatment are not only scientific and suitable for the production practices of the people, but also contribute to building a sustainable, cleaner, greener agriculture for the community. In addition, this is the beginning of a change in the awareness and actions of farmers, opening up opportunities for Gia Lai's agriculture to develop sustainably, contributing to the goal of protecting the environment and improving people's lives.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nhan-rong-cac-mo-hinh-nong-nghiep-xanh-post564979.html