Those who "sow" aspirations on the land of Thuan An

From abandoned land to high-value agricultural models, many farmers in Thuan An (Hanoi) are boldly innovating their production mindset, turning their aspirations for wealth into reality in their own hometown.

Transform abandoned land into organic agricultural production areas.

The lush green asparagus fields stretching across Binh Tru village (Thuan An commune) are the result of the determined entrepreneurial journey of Mr. Dinh Tien Manh and Ms. Nguyen Thi Dan, the founders of Bach Viet Organic Agricultural Products Cooperative since 2023.

Mr. Manh recounted that his entrepreneurial idea stemmed from the local reality. At that time, many agricultural lands were left fallow, causing waste, while people still mainly cultivated traditional crops such as vegetables, corn, beans, and peanuts, which yielded low economic returns and lacked stable markets. Mr. and Mrs. Manh decided to find a new direction. Leveraging their family's farming experience, they boldly switched to an organic farming model with high-value crops.

Mr. Dinh Tien Manh (on the left) introduces the agricultural products of the cooperative. Photo: Van Thu.

Currently, the cooperative's main product is green asparagus. In addition, the unit is also developing fruit tomatoes, sweet peppers, bell peppers, and gradually expanding into medicinal and spice plants. Among these, asparagus is considered a "cash cow," with prices ranging from 180,000 to 250,000 VND/kg depending on quality and customer requirements.

According to Ms. Dan, asparagus plants are harvested daily, with an average yield of 2-3 kg per sao (approximately 1000 square meters), and up to 5-7 kg per sao during peak seasons. However, it is also a rather "fussy" crop, very sensitive to weather conditions. A sudden drop in temperature or unusual weather patterns can reduce yields by half. Therefore, growers must constantly monitor, care for, and adjust cultivation techniques accordingly.

To achieve their current success, Ms. Dan and her husband overcame numerous difficulties. Lack of investment capital and experience in organic farming were the initial obstacles. Without readily available formulas, they had to research organic composting methods themselves, learn about safe pest control techniques, and ensure both the quality of their produce and suitability to local soil conditions.

“The challenge came during the rainy season of 2025. The historic flood after Typhoon No. 5 submerged the entire asparagus garden in water for four days and nights. Many thought that all their hard work and investment had been lost. However, thanks to a systematic care process, the plants recovered strongly after the water receded, while many surrounding production areas suffered heavy damage,” Ms. Dan recounted.

Not only has the cooperative been successful in production, but it has also gradually built a stable market for its products. Initially, the products were sold through a seed supplier. Currently, market demand is growing, and there are even orders for export. However, current production is still insufficient to meet demand, so the cooperative mainly focuses on supplying supermarkets and retail channels.

The desire to get rich knows no age limits.

Mr. Duong Thanh Cong (on the right) introduces the peony grape variety. Photo: Van Thu.

While the story of Ms. Dan and her husband reflects the innovative spirit of the younger generation of farmers, Mr. Duong Thanh Cong's grape cultivation model in Binh Tru village is proof that the aspiration to get rich is not dependent on age.

At 71, when many people have chosen to retire, Mr. Cong still spends most of his day tending to each grapevine in his family's 1,200m² vineyard. For him, it's never too late to start a business.

Mr. Cong began planting and implementing his grape cultivation model in March 2024 after many years of research and study. To date, he has 480 grapevines, including peony grapes (Korean milk grapes) and black grapes.

“The choice of grapevines stemmed from a desire to create something different. This is a crop that not many people successfully cultivate, requiring producers to master the techniques. At the same time, the product faces less competitive pressure compared to many other common crops. However, it is a perennial crop, requiring significant investment and a long period of care,” Mr. Cong shared.

Currently, Mr. Duong Thanh Cong's vineyard has 480 grapevines. Photo: Van Thu.

In the early days of implementing the model, the biggest difficulty was funding. After pouring all his efforts into completing the frame system, roofing, and facilities for production, a natural disaster struck unexpectedly. Typhoon No. 9 destroyed the entire structure, causing him nearly 200 million VND in losses, almost wiping out his initial investment.

Refusing to accept defeat, he continued to rebuild from scratch. This perseverance helped the model gradually stabilize and show many positive prospects. In particular, during the implementation process, Mr. Cong received support from the government. This provided him with additional motivation to continue pursuing his chosen path.

Currently, Mr. Cong's greatest wish is to receive support in completing the procedures for his grape products to obtain OCOP certification, thereby enhancing brand value and expanding the consumer market. He also hopes for more practical support policies to help farmers confidently invest in and develop new agricultural models.

From organic asparagus farms to lush green grapevines, new production models are contributing to changing the face of agriculture in Thuan An. The People's Committee of the commune has built and implemented many models of restructuring crop and livestock production that bring high economic efficiency, with an average value of 200-500 million VND/hectare/year, such as pomelo, longan, grapes, asparagus, medicinal chrysanthemums, lotus flowers, winter potatoes, gladiolus, lilies... These results demonstrate the dynamism, creativity, and aspiration of farmers to become wealthy in the new era.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhung-nguoi-gieo-khat-vong-tren-dong-dat-thuan-an-1122725.html