High-tech rice farming in Hai Phong produces products that achieve 3-star OCOP certification.

Clip: Ms. Hoang Thi Gai, Director of the An Hoa Commune Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative, shares about the Cooperative's "Technology-Based Field". Filmed by: Thu Thuy

Formerly an Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer

Ms. Hoang Thi Gai, Chairwoman and Director of the An Hoa Commune Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative, was awarded the title of "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer" in 2021 by the "Proud Vietnamese Farmers" Program. She also received the title of "Excellent Farmer in Production and Business" at the central level, and a Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievements in the farmers' emulation movement for excellent production and business.

An Hoa Cooperative has invested in various types of integrated mechanized machinery to support production. Photo: Thu Thuy

Through relentless efforts, starting from a rice purchasing, milling, and distribution agency throughout the South and North (in 1992), the Director of the Cooperative, Hoang Thi Gai, rolled up her sleeves to cultivate rice, consolidate land, and build large-scale model rice fields right in her hometown. She then distilled the rice from Man village into liquor under the brand name Hoang Quan Liquor. The product has achieved OCOP 3-star standard and is distributed in many provinces and cities nationwide.

Starting from a small, fragmented production and service group, in 2017, Ms. Gai spearheaded the establishment of the An Hoa Commune Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative (An Hoa Cooperative), comprising 9 members with an initial capital of 1 billion VND contributed by the cooperative members themselves.

Workers at An Hoa Cooperative are operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) for spraying pesticides. Photo: Thu Thuy

To address the problem of farmers abandoning their fields due to weed growth, the cooperative boldly and pioneered investment in agricultural mechanization, implementing production on concentrated, large-scale model fields. They established product consumption linkages on over 100 hectares, successfully producing high-quality, organic rice with a yield of 8 tons/ha and a total output of 800 tons/season. Production efficiency reached 70 million VND/ha/year, 3-5 times higher than conventional rice cultivation. The cooperative's total revenue reached 7.6 billion VND/year, with a net profit of over 700 million VND/year after deducting all expenses.

Ms. Hoang Thi Gai shares about the "Technology Field" of An Hoa Cooperative. Photo: Thu Thuy

Sharing with a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, Ms. Hoang Thi Gai said that in 2014, she mobilized the establishment of a joint service group to implement comprehensive mechanization in building large-scale model fields with 364 members. They invested in 6 types of combined mechanized equipment – ​​plows, transplanters, harvesters, etc. – with a total investment of over 1.8 billion VND, and the entire production process, from land preparation to harvesting, is fully mechanized.

Recently, the cooperative has moved towards using several automated agricultural machines such as rice transplanters, harvesters, self-driving tillage machines, fertilizer spreaders, and drone-based pesticide sprayers… saving time, labor, and many other costs.

Spraying pesticides and fertilizers using drones will save time, labor, and many other costs. Photo: Thu Thuy

On the high-lying rice paddies, the cooperative applies crop rotation to increase the number of harvests of vegetable soybeans, with a linked product consumption system and export to the Japanese and UK markets.

"The vegetable soybean plant adapts quite well to the local soil and doesn't require much fertilizer. The roots of the vegetable soybean plant are very effective in improving the soil, making it more porous and reducing pests and diseases when converted to rice cultivation."

"The harvested soybeans always have a stable market. On average, 1kg of soybeans costs 10-15 thousand dong, and after deducting all costs, the profit is 25-35 million dong/hectare/season, which is 2-3 times more efficient than rice cultivation," said Ms. Hoang Thi Gai excitedly.

A close-up view of a drone working in the fields of An Hoa Cooperative (Vinh Bao district, Hai Phong city). Photo: Thu Thuy

To date, the cooperative has accumulated 70-100 hectares of land, yielding a value of 65-85 million VND/hectare/crop, with a net profit of 25-35 million VND/hectare/crop after deducting costs. The vegetable soybeans are cultivated using safe and environmentally friendly practices.

The essence of Hoang Quan OCOP 3-star glutinous rice wine.

The main ingredient is glutinous rice grown in the fields of Man village in Kenh Huu hamlet, An Hoa commune (Vinh Bao district, Hai Phong city) - this area has been the most famous in Vinh Bao district since ancient times. The locals specialize in cultivating the "golden flower" glutinous rice variety, which produces plump, sticky, and fragrant rice grains.

Video: A close-up look at the production process of Hoang Quan brand rice wine by An Hoa Cooperative. Filmed by: Thu Thuy

Mân glutinous rice is cooked into rice, then fermented with traditional Chinese medicine yeast, and distilled twice. After distillation, the liquor is buried underground using traditional methods. After 8 months to 1 year, it is processed through a detoxification machine before bottling.

Annually, the cooperative produces 30,000 liters of Hoang Quan glutinous rice wine, which is distributed in Hai Phong, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, and through supermarket chains, restaurants, and e-commerce platforms such as Postmart, Tiki, and Lazada, bringing significant economic benefits to the cooperative.

The image shows glutinous rice from Man village being cooked, mixed with traditional Chinese medicine yeast, fermented, and then distilled into rice wine. Photo: Thu Thuy

Currently, there are 3 products – glutinous rice grown underground, glutinous rice soaked in Centella asiatica root, and glutinous rice soaked in Morinda officinalis root – that were recognized as 3-star OCOP products in the first round of 2019 and the second round in 2022.

Hoang Quan glutinous rice wine is the first wine product to be recognized as a 3-star OCOP product by Hai Phong city, receiving standard certification and registering an exclusive trademark.

The image shows the liquor after the first and second distillations, before being buried underground. Photo: Thu Thuy

The cooperative's production and business activities also create regular jobs for 9 workers and over 50 seasonal workers in the locality, with an income of 6.5 - 7.5 million VND/person/month, and social insurance contributions. Annually, the cooperative compiles the business results and distributes profits to members based on their percentage of capital invested in the cooperative.

Speaking with a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, Mr. Tran Quang Tuong, Chairman of the Hai Phong City Farmers' Association, said that the An Hoa Commune Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative is one of the cooperatives in Hai Phong City that produces both typical industrial and agricultural products.

Distilled liquor is then infused with Cynomorium and Rhinacanthus roots. Photo: Thu Thuy

The concentrated production and mechanization of farmland using modern machinery by the An Hoa Cooperative, headed by Ms. Hoang Thi Gai, has made a significant contribution to changing the mindset of agricultural production throughout the city. It has promoted the restructuring of the agricultural sector, contributed to reducing input costs, and led to stable agricultural production. It has created high-quality, safe agricultural products in a modern direction.

An Hoa Cooperative produces and supplies 30,000 liters per year to the market. Photo: Thu Thuy

It is known that An Hoa Cooperative has received commendations from central and local authorities for many consecutive years for its outstanding achievements in cooperative development. It actively participates in social activities, helping poor households, policy beneficiaries, and those facing difficult circumstances in the locality to overcome poverty and improve their lives. Every year, it contributes 10-20 million VND to local humanitarian and charitable activities.

Source: https://danviet.vn/htx-tieu-bieu-2024-trong-lua-cong-nghe-cao-o-hai-phong-lam-loai-gao-dat-ocop-3-sao-ai-cung-muon-an-20240928153659002.htm