From rice paddies to high-tech flower farms:

Having previously worked with rice in purely agricultural areas, Mr. Bui Van Kha (Dan Phuong commune, Hanoi) boldly shifted his focus to growing gerbera daisies using high technology. Not only did he enrich his family, but he also became a key figure in connecting farmers and establishing the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative, a model example of sustainable poverty reduction and urban agricultural development in the capital city.

Invest wisely to escape poverty.

With quick, nimble steps amidst the vibrant rows of marigolds, Mr. Bui Van Kha, Director of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative, gently bends down, picking each flower stem and breaking it at an angle close to the base. His movements are decisive and skillful. The freshly picked flowers are immediately placed in a bucket of clean water to absorb moisture, preserving their freshness and firmness before being bundled into bunches of 20 stems, ready for traders to collect.

According to Mr. Kha, harvesting and preserving are particularly important steps that determine the quality and economic value of gerbera flowers. "The flowers must be cut early in the morning, when the stems still contain a lot of water, so that they can stay fresh longer. Working in the flower business requires meticulousness; you can't be careless," he shared.

The high-tech gerbera cultivation model of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a model of efficient agriculture in Dong Thap commune. Photo: Thu Ha

Born into a farming family with generations involved in rice cultivation, Kha understood early on the hardships of farmers who toiled under the sun and rain for meager incomes. Concerned about finding a new path, in 2000, after marrying his wife from the famous Tay Tuu flower village, he realized that flower farming offered significantly higher economic value.

He boldly brought flowers to cultivate on the rice paddies of Dong Thap commune. Initially, he planted various types of flowers such as chrysanthemums, roses, and marigolds… Through experimentation, he realized that marigolds were particularly well-suited to the local soil, were popular in the market, and had a stable selling price. From 2003, he decided to specialize in cultivating this flower variety.

The early days of starting the business were not easy. Lacking capital and experience, he grew flowers outdoors, completely dependent on the weather. Prolonged rain, storms, and flooding easily killed the flowers and caused root rot. "There were nights of heavy rain when my wife and I braved the rain to bail out water from the fields to save the flowers," Mr. Kha recalled.

The high-tech gerbera cultivation model of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a model of efficient agriculture in Dong Thap commune. Photo: Thu Ha

After nearly 10 years of perseverance, accumulating capital and experience, in 2010, Mr. Kha became the first person in the former Dong Thap commune to invest in a sturdy greenhouse system covered with nylon to grow gerbera daisies. This turning point helped his production model "transform": higher yields, uniformly beautiful flowers, and reduced risks due to weather.

From just a few plots of land initially, Mr. Kha has now developed 1.5 hectares of gerbera daisies grown in greenhouses using crop rotation, yielding harvests year-round. On average, each plot requires an investment of 58-62 million VND, but harvesting begins after only 3-3.5 months, and the harvesting period lasts 4-5 years.

"To grow marigolds effectively, you can't skimp on the wrong things. You have to invest in greenhouses, drip irrigation systems, organic fertilizers, and systematic pest and disease control," Mr. Kha said, likening the flower to a "fussy princess."

During the prolonged heavy rains and flooding in 2025, Bui Van Kha's flower farm, like many other farmers, suffered heavy losses. Many greenhouses were affected, flower growth was poor, and some areas had to be cut down, posing a significant risk of total crop failure. For those involved in agriculture, especially high-tech agriculture, this was a major challenge, not only economically but also a test of resilience and willpower.

However, instead of giving up, Mr. Kha viewed the natural disaster as a "harsh test" to review the entire production process. Drawing on his experience accumulated over more than two decades of cultivating marigolds, he proactively adjusted the drainage system, increased ventilation in the greenhouse, controlled humidity, and promptly removed diseased plants to prevent spread. During heavy rains, he practically "lived and breathed" at the farm, closely monitoring each flower bed and every small change in the weather.

“Farming requires not only capital and technology, but more importantly, perseverance and adaptability. Natural disasters may take away our achievements, but they cannot take away our experience and willpower,” Mr. Kha shared. It is this unwavering spirit in the face of difficulties that has helped him and the members of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative gradually restore production after the storms.

By this time, the flower fields have stabilized and are growing uniformly. Mr. Kha said that thanks to proactive care, seasonal adjustment, and the application of appropriate techniques, this year's Tet flower crop promises to supply the market with high-quality gerbera flowers with beautiful colors, meeting the strong demand at the end of the year. Not only does it partially compensate for the damage caused by natural disasters, but the Tet flower crop also instills confidence in the cooperative members regarding the direction of high-tech agriculture.

The right direction for urban agriculture.

The story of Bui Van Kha's perseverance is a prime example of the resilience of Hanoi's farmers during a period of rapid climate change and urbanization. Daring to think big, taking action, mastering their circumstances, and constantly striving for improvement, farmers like him are proving that Hanoi's agriculture is not just a livelihood, but also a sector with immense potential for sustainable development and long-term poverty reduction.

The high-tech gerbera cultivation model of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a model of efficient agriculture in Dong Thap commune. Photo: Thu Ha

Seeing the high efficiency of growing gerbera daisies, many households in the commune have learned from and followed suit. To professionalize production, in 2020, Mr. Kha took the initiative to link up farmers to establish the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative with a cultivated area of ​​over 20 hectares.

Currently, the cooperative is one of the largest gerbera flower cultivation areas in the capital, successfully growing more than a dozen varieties in a range of colors that are popular in the market. In 2023, the cooperative's gerbera flower products received OCOP 3-star certification, and all products are purchased by traders, giving members peace of mind in production.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the model, Chairman of the Dan Phuong Commune Farmers' Association Nguyen Dang Thuc affirmed: The Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a clear example of the right direction in developing commercial agriculture, applying high technology associated with the goal of sustainable poverty reduction. From small-scale, fragmented production, farmers have been linked in a collective economic organization, sharing techniques, experiences, and markets, thereby gradually increasing income and stabilizing their lives.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Thuc, on average, each hectare of gerbera flowers grown using high technology at the cooperative yields a value of approximately 500 million VND per year, 2-3 times higher than traditional flower cultivation methods. More importantly, the model has created regular jobs for many rural workers, helping member households feel secure in investing in production and avoiding the vicious cycle of "bumper harvest - low prices".

The high-tech gerbera cultivation model of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a model of efficient agriculture in Dong Thap commune. Photo: Thu Ha

Besides its economic benefits, the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative also plays a key role in transferring advanced technologies. The cooperative's director and core members are always ready to share their experience and guide farmers in and outside the locality on the processes of planting, caring for, harvesting, and preserving gerbera flowers. As a result, the model has attracted a large number of farmers from provinces and cities across the country to visit, learn, and exchange production experiences.

"It is noteworthy that the cooperative not only helps households escape poverty and rise to legitimate wealth, but also contributes to the formation of a modern, sustainable agricultural production mindset, in line with the urbanization trend of the capital," Mr. Nguyen Dang Thuc emphasized. This also serves as a basis for the locality to continue replicating high-tech agricultural models, creating stable and long-term livelihoods for farmers.

Commenting on this model, Ms. Luu Thi Thu, Head of the Farmers' Affairs Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in Hanoi, said that the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a vivid example of the right direction in developing urban agriculture associated with sustainable poverty reduction in the capital city.

According to Ms. Thu, in the context of Hanoi's rapid urbanization and shrinking agricultural land, the development of high-tech, high-value-added agricultural models such as flower and ornamental plant cultivation is an inevitable trend. More importantly, Mr. Bui Van Kha's model not only enriches an individual but also creates stable livelihoods for many farming households through the cooperative, in line with the spirit of supporting each other to get rich and sustainably reduce poverty.

According to Pham Hai Hoa, Chairman of the Hanoi City Farmers' Association, the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative model initiated by Bui Van Kha is a vivid example of the urban agriculture development orientation and high-tech application that Hanoi is promoting to achieve sustainable poverty reduction and improve the lives of farmers in the context of rapid urbanization. Urban agriculture is no longer confined to the traditional small-scale production framework but is transforming towards a modern, professional direction, applying science, technology, and high technology to create products with high added value. The high-tech gerbera flower cultivation model at the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative is a prime example of a new production mindset, suitable for the increasingly diverse and high-quality consumer market of modern society. This is the direction that Hanoi's agriculture needs to replicate.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tu-ruong-lua-den-vung-hoa-cong-nghe-cao-tiem-nang-phat-trien-ben-vung-giam-ngheo-lau-dai-727956.html