Growing water spinach on rice paddies helps young people in their 20s increase their income.

Thanks to the application of science and technology, Mr. Le Thanh Phong grows water spinach with high yields, providing a stable income for his family.

Recognizing that water spinach is easy to grow, yields high productivity, has a stable selling price, and is popular in the market, 10 years ago, Mr. Phong experimented with planting 0.5 hectares. Thanks to his keen sense of observation, quick learning ability, and the support of experienced growers, Mr. Phong achieved high yields in water spinach cultivation. From there, he expanded the area and implemented a model of growing water spinach on land previously used for rice and lemon cultivation.

Mr. Phong shared: In the first year, he planted 10,000 ^{square meters} and invested nearly 250 million VND to plow, prepare the land, sow seeds, and install an automatic irrigation system. In the second year, he gradually expanded to 15,000 ^square meters. Currently, he grows 20,000 ^{square meters of} water spinach. With the motto "For the health of the community," he always focuses on quality and food safety in the process of growing water spinach.

To ensure the success of his water spinach crop, Mr. Phong meticulously invests in every step, from soil preparation and bed setting to sowing, watering, fertilizing, spraying pesticides, transportation, and harvesting. Water spinach is susceptible to several common diseases such as root rot, aphids, yellow spot, rust, and leaf blight. Therefore, in each cropping season, he disinfects, prevents diseases, and practices intercropping with two vegetable crops and one rice crop (rice grown for its roots to improve soil). The growing time is 3.5 months per crop. He is self-sufficient in seeds, allowing him to control everything from planting to harvesting. Thanks to the gradual application of technology in water spinach cultivation, he saves water and reduces labor costs compared to traditional production methods.

With an average yield of 8 tons/ ^10,000m² /season, selling at prices ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 VND/kg, after deducting expenses, he earns 80-100 million VND/ ^10,000m² /season. His model also contributes to creating jobs for local laborers.

Le Thanh Phong's model of growing water spinach on rice and lemon land provides employment for local people.

Over the past period, he has guided technical procedures, provided seeds, and established output distribution links, supporting many youth union members and local people in switching from low-yield rice and lemon crops to higher-yield water spinach.

Currently, Mr. Phong is linked with traders who purchase directly from the farm and distribute the produce to wholesale agricultural markets. He plans to cultivate the vegetables according to VietGAP standards and expand his partnerships with companies that purchase and produce pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to create a stable market for the Centella asiatica; at the same time, he plans to create a website and social media channels to make the product more accessible to customers.

“I am currently implementing a private-scale model. Now I am planning to implement a community-based model, expanding the links between businesses, local people, and other communes in the district. In addition, I aim to build a tourist destination where visitors can explore, take photos, experience a clean, quiet environment close to nature, and relax on weekends,” Mr. Phong shared.

Netherlands

Source: https://baolongan.vn/trong-rau-ma-tren-dat-lua-giup-9x-tang-thu-nhap-a164505.html