Circular agriculture - sustainable development direction

Circular agricultural model of raising ducks - black soldier flies - raising fish and growing fruit trees of farmers in Heo village, Chieng Sinh ward.

Micro.Bio Organic Agriculture Cooperative, Mai Son commune, was established at the end of 2024, with 8 members, in association with 15 households in Mai Son commune, Phieng Cam and Chieng Sinh ward to build a closed-loop agricultural model with a chain linking poultry farming - black soldier flies - fish farming - fruit tree planting. In which, black soldier flies are the key link, playing the role of both treating waste and providing a protein-rich food source for poultry, and after microbial composting, creating organic fertilizer for crops, helping to close and optimize the production cycle.

Ms. Pham Thi Khoa, Director of the Cooperative shared: Realizing that the black soldier fly farming model in the circular agricultural chain has brought about efficiency in many places, we have researched and developed this model. The Cooperative invested in a farming area of more than 2,000 m² to proactively produce calcium worms as feed for poultry of associated households and compost them into fertilizer for crops. This is the core solution to help complete the circular cycle and reduce production costs. Black soldier flies are insects available in nature, have a short growth cycle (35-45 days), and use abundant agricultural by-products such as mango peels, corn husks from the DOVECO Son La Center, cassava pulp from starch factories, and molasses from the Son La Sugarcane Joint Stock Company.

As one of the households participating in the circular agricultural chain with the Micro.Bio organic agricultural cooperative, Mr. Mua A Gia, Heo village, Chieng Sinh ward, shared: I currently manage nearly 4 hectares of production, including: 1 hectare of fish pond, a flock of 12,000 green-necked ducks/year, 1,000 m2 ^of seedless black summer grapes and 400 fruit trees. The model operates according to a closed-loop process, the cooperative provides calcium worms (raised from black soldier flies) as protein-rich food for ducks; duck manure is used to raise fish and swimming ducks to help increase dissolved oxygen in the pond. After composting, calcium worms also create organic fertilizer for grapes and fruit trees. Thanks to this regeneration cycle, input costs are reduced by about 30%, limiting waste and odors, protecting the environment. The green-necked duck flock alone is expected to bring in revenue of about 2.5 billion VND/year.

In reality, many households have switched from small-scale to concentrated farming, renovated closed barns to ensure warmth in winter and coolness in summer; built biogas pits to treat waste, create gas and fertilizer to serve production in the circular agricultural chain.

Ms. Pham Thi Hang, Cooperative 2, Chieng Mai Commune, shared: Her family raises 140 3B cows in a closed system on an area of 2 hectares, including barns, waste treatment areas and grass growing areas. The model is strictly managed from the stages of breed selection, care, vaccination to waste treatment, helping to improve efficiency, reduce risks, protect the environment and make use of local waste products. Each year, her family sells about 60 3B cows, earning a profit of about 400 million VND.

From the results, many circular agricultural models have been formed in the province, such as: Rice - mushrooms - organic fertilizer; grass growing combined with raising cows; cows - earthworms - grass, corn; fruit trees - cattle, poultry - fish; rice - fish... all models apply scientific and technical advances, use probiotics, biological products (Balasa Nol, EM, BioEM), raise black soldier flies, earthworms to process waste into animal feed, fertilizer for crops. These models bring double benefits by reducing environmental pollution, creating safe products, meeting market demand.

Circular agriculture is an effective direction in the context of rising prices of materials and animal feed and climate change. This model reduces input costs, protects the environment, and contributes to building a green economy and sustainable development.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep-tuan-hoan-huong-phat-trien-ben-vung-RNcV2WkvR.html