Son Vi "receives blessings" at the beginning of Spring.

In the early days of the new year, when visiting the fields of Nha Ro and Di Tri in Son Vi commune, Lam Thao district, one can feel the bustling atmosphere, mixed with the cheerful laughter and chatter of farmers busily harvesting potatoes in the fields.

During the winter of 2024, the People's Committee of Son Vi commune collaborated with Pepsico Vietnam Food Company Limited to implement a pilot project to cultivate 5.5 hectares of FL2215 American potatoes (American potatoes used for making snacks) in the Nha Ro and Di Tri fields. This is an important step in linking agricultural production and consumption in the locality.

Under this model, Pepsico Vietnam Food Company Limited will supply 100% of the seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and provide technical support for cultivation to farmers. After about 3 months since planting, the potato plants have now developed well, and the company guarantees the purchase of all the produce that meets the requirements.

People are busy harvesting potatoes in the early days of spring.

As one of the households with the largest potato cultivation area in the region, Ms. Bui Thi Kim Duc, from Zone 8, Son Vi commune, said: “My family harvested nearly 1 ton of potatoes from an area of ​​about 2 sao (approximately 2,000 square meters) of land, which the company bought at 7,700 VND/kg. To harvest all the potatoes in one day, I had to mobilize 4 family members to help. The American potato model yields an average income of 3 million VND/sao, and after deducting the costs of seeds and fertilizers, my family earned a profit of over 4.5 million VND from planting potatoes on 2 sao of land. The results from this year's winter crop have made my family very happy.”

The FL2215 potato variety, imported from PepsiCo Global, has been recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for production. This is a heat-tolerant potato variety that can be planted early in the winter season in northern provinces. The FL2215 variety has good resistance to pests and diseases, especially late blight, and high yields, averaging 20-35 tons/ha, and potentially reaching 45 tons/ha with good cultivation and care.

American FL2215 potatoes are purchased by Pepsico Vietnam Food Company Limited at a price of 7,700 VND/kg.

These round, beautiful potatoes are harvested manually by local farmers, ensuring they are not bruised or scratched, thus preserving them well during transportation.

Besides individual households, several residential areas in the commune have also implemented the potato cultivation model. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, head of residential area 18, Son Vi commune, shared: "We harvested more than 7 quintals of potatoes from an area of ​​about 1.5 acres of land with the participation of 6 members of the Women's Association and the Farmers' Association of residential area 18 in planting and caring for the crop."

Compared to other winter crops, American potatoes yield high productivity, helping people increase their income. We received seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, while the commune supported plowing and irrigation, requiring only 4-5 main sessions to work in the fields. Next year, if conditions allow for expansion of cultivated land, we will continue to participate."

The FL2215 potato variety has good resistance to pests and diseases, especially late blight.

Not only during the 2024 winter crop season, but in recent years, Son Vi commune has actively implemented solutions to promote agricultural economy , proactively linking with units to implement new high-yield crop models such as sweet potatoes, corn for grain, cucumbers, pumpkins, etc. The goal is to increase income for rural laborers, gradually change the mindset and awareness of people about agricultural production towards a commodity-based economy, and exploit the natural advantages of the locality.

Mr. Chu Duc Oanh, Chairman of the Son Vi Commune People's Committee, said: "This winter season, following the successful implementation of the sweet potato cultivation model, we have partnered with businesses to implement the American potato cultivation model. Through harvesting and evaluation, initial results show that the model brings high economic value, and the people are very enthusiastic. In the coming time, the commune will continue to promote the transformation of crop structure, aiming to form concentrated specialized production areas."

After deducting the costs of seeds and fertilizers, farmers earn a profit of approximately 2 million VND per sao (a unit of land measurement) from the potato farming model.

Filling vacant land during the winter season with suitable crops has become a positive trend in many localities. After harvesting potatoes, people in Son Vi commune will continue to plant rice for the spring crop. This not only helps optimize land use efficiency but also contributes to rural economic development.

In the coming period, Son Vi commune will continue to promote the transformation of crop structure, aiming to form concentrated specialized production areas.

The initial success of the American potato farming model in its first year of implementation in Son Vi commune opens up prospects for expanding the area and attracting more farmers to participate. At the same time, this model also contributes to promoting the linkage of the "six stakeholders" in agricultural production, including: farmers, the government, scientists, businesses, banks, and distributors, aiming to create a sustainable value chain for agricultural products.

The cooperation between Son Vi commune and businesses not only brings economic benefits to the people but also contributes to the sustainable development of the local agricultural sector. This is a typical model of effective cooperation between businesses and farmers, aiming towards the common goal of developing modern and sustainable agriculture.

Bao Thoa

Source: https://baophutho.vn/son-vi-don-loc-dau-xuan-227504.htm