Farmers in Hai Phong are busy preparing for the Tet vegetable harvest.

Agricultural cooperatives in Hai Phong are entering their peak production season to supply an abundant and high-quality supply of vegetables to meet consumer demand during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse).

In Nguyen Luong Bang commune, vegetable growers are busily preparing for the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse).

Wishing for a bountiful harvest.

In mid-November, the atmosphere in the fields of Duoi village, Gia Phuc commune, is much more bustling with activity. On each row of green cabbage, kohlrabi, and young cabbage plants that have just taken root, the villagers are busy watering, weeding, and applying organic fertilizer to ensure a successful harvest for Tet (Lunar New Year).

Ms. Vu Thi Hue from Duoi village said: “The current weather is very favorable for growing vegetables for Tet. This year, my family planted more than one acre of cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is early-harvested, but some varieties take over 100 days to harvest. The vegetables are bought directly from the farm by traders in the village.”

In the fields of Nguyen Luong Bang, Dai Son, Tan Hung communes, and others, farmers are also busily preparing for the Tet vegetable crop. After many years of restructuring crop patterns, many areas have formed concentrated vegetable production zones, supplying thousands of tons of agricultural products annually to the city and neighboring provinces.

Mr. Pham Gia Vu, Director of Le Loi Agricultural Service Cooperative (Yet Kieu commune), said that with nearly 300 hectares dedicated to vegetable cultivation, cooperative members proactively start planting winter vegetables from August. “Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important season of the year, so cooperative members carefully plan to ensure productivity and quality. If the weather remains favorable like it is now, the supply of vegetables will be abundant, not only for Tet but also for the winter crop, which will last until the end of February next year,” Mr. Vu said.

One of the major advantages for cooperatives is that Hai Phong city has promoted the urban agriculture and clean agriculture development program. Many "four-party" linkage models have been formed, helping farmers have stable markets and reduce risks when prices fluctuate. Many cooperatives are guided to produce according to VietGAP standards, have electronic logs for traceability, and use QR code labels affixed to each bundle of vegetables.

Strengthening connections and ensuring safety.

Vegetable farmers hope for a bountiful harvest.

A positive aspect of current agricultural production is the increased linkages among cooperative members and the application of digital technology . Many cooperatives have established Zalo groups and are using electronic logging software to update information on crop growth, weather forecasts, and market prices. This has led to more flexible production management and more accurate information exchange between members and management.

Mr. Vu Viet Le in Do Ha village (Nguyen Luong Bang commune) currently cultivates 5 sao (approximately 0.5 hectares) of kohlrabi, cauliflower, cabbage, etc., rotating the crops to ensure a year-round supply of vegetables. Mr. Le shared: “Nowadays, with modern technology, people regularly exchange production experiences on Zalo groups. Anyone lacking vegetable seeds can get them immediately. If we can't sell everything after harvesting, we can advertise on the group and there will surely be buyers.”

According to forecasts, the demand for vegetables and fruits during the upcoming Lunar New Year will increase by 20-25% compared to normal days. Recognizing this trend, agricultural cooperatives in Hai Phong have set a dual goal: ensuring both production volume and improving quality and food safety.

Mr. Hoang Anh Thu, Deputy Director of Tan Minh Duc Cooperative (Truong Tan commune), said: “We have been working with several private businesses distributing vegetables since mid-October to sign supply contracts. Vegetables will be harvested in rotation, packaged, labeled, and stored in cool warehouses before being delivered to clean agricultural product stores. In particular, the cooperative requires its members to strictly adhere to technical procedures and absolutely not use pesticides outside the approved list.”

The lush green vegetable fields are preparing for Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

Several safe vegetable farming models in the An Duong, Kien Thuy, and An Lao areas have successfully reduced herbicide use by 50 to 70% compared to before. Farmers have learned to use them correctly, in the right dosage, and at the right time. In addition, management agencies have intensified inspections of residue levels, assigning responsibility to cooperatives and consuming businesses to ensure the quality of agricultural products supplied to the market.

Compared to previous years, this year the weather has been more stable, making production easier for the people. However, output still largely depends on the consumer market. Producing vegetables for Tet (Lunar New Year) not only serves short-term consumer needs but also prepares for a more sustainable commercial agriculture. The bold investment, application of technological advancements, and expansion of consumption linkages by cooperatives are creating new momentum for Hai Phong's rural economy.

According to the Hai Phong City Cooperative Union, there are currently more than 500 cooperatives operating in the agricultural sector throughout the city. Although there are no specific statistics on the number of vegetable-growing cooperatives, the western part of the city has a stronger potential.

MINH NGUYEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nong-dan-hai-phong-tat-bat-vao-vu-rau-tet-526644.html