The "capital" of large-scale model rice fields in Tu Ky.

Mr. Le Quang Tri , from Thuong Hai village, Binh Lang commune, is reclaiming abandoned land to cultivate rice and grow flowers.

Turning abandoned fields into "gold mines"

Ten hectares of abandoned rice paddies in Thuong Hai village are now covered in a lush green carpet of rice and flowers. In early September, many laborers are harvesting white lilies in the fields of Mr. Le Quang Tri's family (46 years old).

In 2019, Mr. Tri went to each household in the village to collect and rent abandoned farmland for cultivation. Mr. Tri recalled: “On the day I received the land, seeing the entire field covered in nothing but reeds and sedges, many people advised me to stop. But I was determined to succeed. I hired plows and excavators to till the land, rebuild the irrigation canals... After 3 months, the barren land had become neatly arranged plots.”

Mr. Tri boldly borrowed 300 million VND from the bank to improve the land and buy additional sprayers, seeders, and harvesters to expand production. His perseverance in working the fields, coupled with the support of machinery, paid off. The large concentration of rice fields facilitated specialized rice cultivation, allowing for the cultivation of the same variety in the same area.

In the first season, Mr. Tri focused on cultivating the Q5 rice variety, yielding 1.9-2 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). He also proactively sought out markets and collaborated with local traders to sell his produce. He also renovated an additional 1 hectare of land to grow lilies and daffodils, which he harvests in August of the lunar calendar, coinciding with Tet (Vietnamese New Year). Thanks to this, Mr. Tri earns an average annual profit of 120-150 million VND from farming.

Having toiled and struggled in the fields for nearly half his life, Mr. Nguyen Tat Cong in Thuong Hai village once considered abandoning farming. However, seeing the fertile fields left fallow and overgrown with weeds, Mr. Cong couldn't bring himself to do it. Originally owning only a few plots of leased land, his family has now cultivated and covered 15 hectares of farmland throughout the commune.

Recalling the early days, Mr. Cong's family faced many difficulties. The low-lying tidal flats in the village had been abandoned for many years, making reclamation even more challenging. Starting to rebuild 15 hectares from scratch, Mr. Cong had to meticulously plan and choose a suitable production model, otherwise he would lose everything. Cultivating two crops a year, thanks to applying scientific and technical methods and selecting quality seeds, his family's rice yields consistently higher productivity than other small-scale intensive farming families. After deducting expenses, his family earns hundreds of millions of dong in profit from rice cultivation each year.

Economic development

The fields in Shanghai, formerly abandoned, are now covered in lush green.

From a locality with large areas of abandoned farmland, Binh Lang commune has now become the "capital" of large-scale model rice fields. More than 20 households in the commune participate in the land consolidation model, covering over 90 hectares. Previously, this entire area was either abandoned or low-lying and difficult to cultivate. Along with specialized rice cultivation, many households have also improved the land to grow vegetables, cassava, sugarcane, and combine rice cultivation with fish farming… bringing stable income to the people, ranging from 80-200 million VND per household per year.

According to Mr. Nguyen Khac Vien, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Binh Lang commune, with a spirit of daring to think and act, many households have boldly invested in machinery and technology, consolidating abandoned fields into large-scale model farms, and becoming wealthy on their own land. Some households have even invested in straw baling machines and drone-based pesticide spraying equipment, reducing labor and increasing production efficiency. Because the people are committed to their land, there is no longer any abandoned farmland in the area. The agricultural production value of Binh Lang commune in 2023 reached 34.8 billion VND, an increase of 11.53% compared to 2022.

Some households that have consolidated farmland in Binh Lang commune have invested in straw baling machines to expand production.

According to the People's Committee of Binh Lang commune, to achieve the above results, the commune has paid great attention to supporting and encouraging local people to participate in the land consolidation model. Every year, the People's Committee and the Agricultural Service Cooperative of the commune provide financial support to households for dredging canals, building internal irrigation systems, and guiding them on farming techniques and the application of science and technology in production. The locality also organizes meetings to commend households that have consolidated 2 hectares or more of land, listening to their concerns and aspirations, thereby helping them find solutions to overcome difficulties. The commune also creates all conditions within its authority to help households who wish to borrow or rent land for production.

Mr. Dao Van Soai, Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, assessed that farming on large-scale model fields helps people freely cultivate their land, changing the habit of fragmented and inefficient farming. For many years, Binh Lang commune has always been a leading locality in the land consolidation movement of the district. This bright spot needs to be replicated, contributing to the implementation of the "Development of concentrated, efficient and sustainable commodity-producing agriculture in the period 2021-2025" project of the Tu Ky District People's Committee.

NGUYEN THAO

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/thu-phu-canh-dong-mau-lon-o-tu-ky-392514.html