On Binh Thuy islet, it's easy to spot lush green vegetable fields stretching as far as the eye can see. The people of Binh Thuy, known for their simple and gentle nature, have been closely associated with vegetable farming for over 30 years. As a veteran farmer in Binh Thuy, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nen can't forget the time when the people here switched to growing vegetables. "Previously, farmers in Binh Thuy also grew rice to have something to eat. However, because of limited land and a large population, rice farming was unsuitable. Meanwhile, vegetable production doesn't require a large area, but if prices are good, the profit is much higher. Therefore, the people of Binh Thuy also switched to growing vegetables to suit the natural conditions," Mr. Nen recalled.
In this elderly farmer's memory, Binh Thuy has been identified as a specialized vegetable farming area since the 2000s. Initially, the An Giang provincial agricultural sector planned for farmers to grow two rice crops and one vegetable crop. In subsequent years, Binh Thuy shifted to "two vegetables and one rice crop" and progressed to forming a specialized vegetable farming area that continues to this day.
Following Mr. Nen's pointing finger, I saw stretches of green extending as far as the eye could see, filled with various vegetables: mustard greens, onions, chives, okra, cucumbers, edamame, and especially white radishes. Due to its unique alluvial terrain, the Bình Thủy area has an abundant water supply for farmers, and the fertile soil year-round is a key feature of this region. Furthermore, the farmers in Bình Thủy are quite professional in their crop cultivation, resulting in a plentiful supply for the market.
Farmers on Binh Thuy islet have been involved in growing cash crops for nearly 30 years.
“Traders from Cho Moi, Phu Tan, Long Xuyen, and Chau Doc also come here to collect vegetables to sell in various places inside and outside An Giang province, even as far as Ho Chi Minh City. We farmers often joke with each other, saying, ‘One hectare of upland field is worth seven hectares of rice,’ because the income from vegetable crops is really good if the price is right. Many families have improved their lives thanks to vegetable crops, even though their land area is not very large. Moreover, the total cultivated land area on this island is only a few hundred hectares, and growing rice doesn't bring much economic value,” Mr. Nen explained.
For many years, farmers in Binh Thuy have actively participated in learning farming techniques to improve the productivity and quality of their crops. Some farmers have joined cooperatives to enhance the economic efficiency of their crop cultivation. Mr. Nguyen Trung Tao, Director of Loi Phat Agricultural Cooperative, said that the cooperative currently has 35 members who share techniques, experiences in cultivating various vegetables, and information on prices and markets. The cooperative plans to act as a central point for purchasing vegetables from its members and distributing them to the market.
"Farmers also face many difficulties, especially regarding the market for their agricultural products. Technically, we can meet market demands, but we still lack a stable outlet. Meanwhile, vegetables are a type of produce that needs to be consumed quickly and cannot be stored for long periods," Mr. Tao shared.
Currently, some farmers in Binh Thuy are collaborating with companies to cultivate crops on a "contract basis," but the quantity is small and lacks sustainability. Therefore, Mr. Tao, like other farmers, hopes that the relevant departments and local authorities will provide support in terms of market access, helping them to produce with peace of mind. Farmers relying solely on traders suffer many disadvantages because their produce goes through many intermediaries before reaching consumers.
Regarding the direction to overcome difficulties for vegetable farming in Binh Thuy, Vice Chairman of Binh My Commune People's Committee Huynh Tan Hung informed that Binh Thuy was once planned as a specialized vegetable farming area, with an area of over 500 hectares. The goal was to form a safe vegetable production area to meet the consumption linkage needs of businesses. Due to many factors, this work has not achieved the desired results. “The current administrative reorganization has opened up a new direction for the development of vegetables in Binh Thuy. We will redevelop the concentrated safe vegetable production area in the island region, aiming to affirm the brand of Binh Thuy vegetables. After the merger of An Giang and Kien Giang provinces, the consumption of vegetables will be more convenient, because the new administrative boundaries of An Giang province include coastal and island areas. At that time, connecting the consumption of vegetables within the province will be easier than before, helping Binh Thuy farmers have a stable market outlet, through support from the local authorities and specialized agencies in the future,” emphasized Vice Chairman Huynh Tan Hung.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/vung-chuyen-canh-rau-mau-binh-thuy-a423672.html
