Panoramic view of the farming and livestock area of ​​Battalion 3, Brigade 575.

Major Dinh Duy Linh, Battalion Commander of Battalion 3, explained to us that the reason for the saying: “Growing vegetables on rocks, raising chickens on gravel” is because the fertile soil for growing vegetables is full of jagged rocks. Raising chickens on gravel is because the system of barns is mainly on gravel. To transform the barren, barren land into the fertile land it is today is a process of perseverance and diligence, demonstrating the will and determination to overcome difficulties and implement the viewpoint of “food sufficiency, strong army” of the cadres, soldiers, workers and employees of the entire unit!”

Soldiers of Squad 9, Platoon 22, Company 9, Battalion 3 actively increase and improve the quality of meals.

Previously, this entire vast area had no shade of trees. By the end of 2016, Battalion 3 received investment from the Military Region 5 Command to build a new, spacious barracks system. With the viewpoint of "food sufficiency, strong soldiers", the Battalion Command decided to organize soldiers to transport waste concrete in the area to form ponds and lakes to get fresh water for daily life, watering plants, and raising fish. After having water, soldiers went up the mountain to transport fertile soil to transform into gardens to grow water spinach, amaranth, sweet potato leaves, okra, squash, pumpkins, etc.; raise cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, etc.

The morning glory garden of Battalion 3 is lush and green.

Every day, from cadres, officers to private soldiers, they roll up their sleeves to pick up each brick, roll each block of concrete, and dig each furrow of soil. “People do not fail the soil, and the quality does not fail the people”, after a period of active production, the pond system provides enough water for irrigation and livestock farming. Herds of cows, pigs, chickens and ducks are growing more and more. Trees are lush and budding. The lives of cadres, soldiers, and workers have improved significantly. Thanks to that, everyone can work with peace of mind, contributing to building a strong and comprehensive unit…

Soldiers of Company 9, Battalion 3 actively work after training.

Late in the afternoon, we were led by Major Mai Truong Giang, Political Commissar of Battalion 3, to visit the unit's growing area. At that time, Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Hong Son, Captain of Company 9, was assigning the task to Sergeant Ho Duc Trong, Squad Leader of Squad 9, Platoon 22, to instruct new soldiers on how to take care of the vegetable garden. The water spinach and amaranth stalks seemed to be greener, with their branches spreading out.

Soldiers of Battalion 3 take care of the vegetable garden.

Sharing the unit's approach, Major Mai Truong Giang said that in order to make the most of the vacant land area; invest in building items such as automatic irrigation systems, protective fences, greenhouses to grow vegetable seeds, and greenhouses to grow vegetables in a safe and sustainable manner. Along with that, the unit proactively seeks sources of organic microbial fertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers; improves the soil by manual methods combined with new techniques; selects vegetable varieties suitable for climate and soil conditions; organizes crop rotation and intercropping to ensure stable and long-term vegetable yield and quality.

Young soldiers of Battalion 3 took advantage of their afternoon break to water vegetables.

Thanks to creative and drastic measures, up to now, the livestock farming area of ​​Battalion 3 has basically met all the criteria of "green, clean, beautiful"; the farming area has been expanded, productivity has increased by more than 30% compared to before. Now, the livestock farming area of ​​the unit has all kinds of vegetables, each season has its own food. There are 23 cows, 30 pigs, more than 1,000 chickens and ducks... On average, each month, the unit harvests more than 250kg of green vegetables, contributing to improving meals, improving soldiers' health, and significantly reducing logistics costs. Not only bringing economic efficiency, the movement also spreads a spirit of competition, arousing the awareness of saving, maintaining environmental hygiene, creating a regular, green - clean - beautiful barracks landscape.

After practice, soldiers of Company 9, Battalion 3 gathered in the vegetable garden.

Assessing the results of the implementation of the policy "Green, clean, beautiful vegetable gardens associated with the quality of meals and the health of soldiers" of Battalion 3, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Duc, Political Commissar of Brigade 575 affirmed: "In the past time, Brigade 575 has had many positive changes in promoting production and improving life, in which the livestock production model of Battalion 3 stands out. The policy "Green, clean, beautiful vegetable gardens associated with the quality of meals and the health of soldiers" has truly spread widely and has become an important driving force for units in the entire Brigade 575 to improve the efficiency of logistics work in general and production and production in particular, contributing to building a strong, comprehensive, "exemplary, typical" unit.

Thanks to the care of the officers and soldiers of Battalion 3, the okra garden grew quickly.

In the vast space, filled with green grass, flowers and leaves, herds of fat cows leisurely grazing, white storks fluttering in the direction of the acacia forest, an image representing peace and prosperity. That image is drawn with the love of the information soldier and the spirit of self-reliance, self-improvement, daring to think, daring to act as officers and soldiers of Battalion 3. Although in a place of "barren land and gravel", thanks to thoroughly understanding and implementing the viewpoint of "food sufficiency, strong soldiers", the soldiers on the line can meet their own needs for green vegetables and fresh food.

Article and photos: VINH LOC

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/tieu-doan-3-lu-doan-575-quan-khu-5-trong-rau-tren-da-nuoi-ga-tren-soi-824529