These self-taught "engineers"

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Despite not having received formal training, many dynamic farmers in the province have successfully learned, built, and operated numerous modern agricultural models through self-study. In the process of development, they have accumulated experience and knowledge to effectively implement various stages of production.

The model of shrimp farming in mobile tents implemented by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Giap in Son Trang village, Hoang Yen commune (Hoang Hoa district) has been successful thanks to accumulated experience.

For 25 years, Mr. Nguyen Tien Phuong in Hamlet 10, Bai Tranh Commune (Nhu Xuan District), has been bidding on and reclaiming barren hillsides to cultivate fruit trees, building a prosperous production area for himself. Many passersby are impressed by the development of this integrated, organic farm producing clean, safe products. Of the 28 hectares, including rubber forests, fish ponds, and various fruit trees, he has dedicated a flat, fertile plot of land next to his house to growing pomelos. The 4 hectares of pomelos are considered the main crop in his production area.

“Since 2007, seeing everyone planting Dien pomelos, I knew there would be a surplus crisis someday, so I sought my own path. I went all the way to the Southwestern region to buy green-skinned pomelo seedlings, becoming one of the first people in Thanh Hoa to successfully cultivate this promising variety on a large scale. To spread out the pomelo harvest over several months, I continued my research and learned that Nghia Dan district ( Nghe An ) has a special variety of pomelo called Hong Quang Tien, and I was determined to import it.”

To date, both grapefruit varieties in Mr. Phuong's orchard have yielded delicious fruit, well-suited to the fertile red soil of the area. Remarkably, for nearly 10 years, he has independently installed a system of pipes, attaching nozzles to the ends of galvanized pipes erected above the trees. Large electric pumps are operated, and with just a flick of a switch, the entire forest is watered with a sprinkler system.

Over 1,100 grapefruit trees thrive year-round thanks to sufficient fertilizer, water, and care using both experience and science , resulting in abundant fruit. In good years, his family can harvest 120,000 grapefruits. While other farms usually plant grapefruit trees at the recommended density of 5 meters between trees, he has developed his own method. “I plant them at a density of 6 x 6 meters, further than recommended. Because the soil here is very good, after a few years, the branches and leaves will become so dense and the canopy will shade, reducing productivity. Planting sparsely takes up more land, but it gives the trees space to grow, resulting in much higher yields later on. In the long run, it's still more profitable than the land-saving method,” Mr. Phuong shared.

Many other pomelo farmers typically buy manure from large farms, whether pig or cattle farms, as fertilizer. But for him, "I only use cow manure and say no to manure from pig farms. Because from experience, I've learned that since pigs eat industrial feed, if the manure isn't properly composted and used to fertilize the trees, it will not only slow down the trees' growth but also affect the quality of the fruit."

One of the key factors contributing to his success in commercial pomelo cultivation is the use of fertilizers and technical measures to produce off-season pomelos with varying ripening periods, thus reducing pressure on harvesting and market demand.

Located right next to the Ho Chi Minh Highway, he has even more opportunities to promote and distribute his agricultural products far and wide. Many traders from other provinces often use passenger buses and trucks to pick up pomelos to supply Hanoi and many southern provinces. On average, each pomelo tree in his orchard yields a profit of 1 million VND, so he earns more than 1 billion VND annually.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Phuong from Bai Tranh commune introduced off-season pomelos and shared his experiences in the production process.

Along the alluvial plain of the Lạch Trường River in Hoằng Yến commune (Hoằng Hóa district), the industrial shrimp farming model in covered ponds of Mr. Nguyễn Đình Giáp in Sơn Trang village has proven far more effective than other models in the region. After decades of extensive aquaculture with many risks and uncertain yields, in 2014 he invested in infrastructure to switch to industrial farming in ponds lined with tarpaulin. By 2018, having accumulated more knowledge, he built a 1-hectare covered pond system for indoor shrimp farming. He experienced some setbacks and failures over the years, but these were the "learning experiences" that helped him gradually master the techniques and achieve the success he enjoys today.

According to him, starting from 10 traditional deep ponds, he researched and found that the method lacked sunlight and had poor water aeration, so he decided to dismantle them and build 10 above-ground ponds. With a good water pumping system, he laid specialized tarpaulins and built embankments for the ponds. As a result, productivity increased and shrimp were less susceptible to disease. He also improved the tarpaulin covering system to be movable, allowing him to adjust the light and temperature to suit each season, creating a stable environment for shrimp growth.

To provide more oxygen to the shrimp ponds, he installed an aeration system to supply oxygen at the corners of the ponds, combined with water-stirring propellers similar to other models. To detect and eliminate shrimp diseases early, he studied modern models and purchased equipment to measure water environmental parameters such as alkalinity, pH, and toxins, in order to take preventative measures. According to his conclusion, "it's not advisable to use all the ponds for farming; some ponds should be reserved for settling and filtering water to eliminate pathogens for water changes. If you 'gamble' with the environment by directly using river water, the risk of pathogens or toxins in the wastewater discharge process will kill the shrimp. This is also the 'key,' a crucial factor for the success of industrial shrimp farming."

Experience and scientific advancements have resulted in many bumper shrimp harvests. On average, one hectare of intensive shrimp farming yields up to 30 tons of commercial shrimp per crop, with an average of three crops per year. For many years, revenue from this 1-hectare model has generated total income of 5-7 billion VND per year, with a profit of 2-3 billion VND.

Hundreds of successful agricultural business owners across the province have demonstrated their expertise and best practices through experience. These include model farms, orchards, and family farms, all operating in a modern production style. According to the Thanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province currently has over 24,000 farms, orchards, family farms, and model gardens. Increasingly, more business owners are adopting technological advancements and drawing on their own experience to develop efficient production.

Text and photos: Linh Truong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-ky-su-chan-dat-250053.htm