Vegetable garden in Tho Chau

Located more than 200km from the mainland, Tho Chau Special Zone is a forward outpost in the Southwest of the Fatherland. Amidst the turbulent seas, alongside other armed units, in addition to the sacred duty of protecting the sovereignty of the maritime borders and islands, the soldiers of Tho Chau Border Guard Post also diligently engage in agricultural production. The lush green vegetable gardens not only improve meals and enhance the health of the soldiers but also symbolize the indomitable spirit and unwavering determination of the soldiers in green uniforms.

Soldiers at Tho Chau Border Guard Post tend to the unit's vegetable garden in the late afternoon. Photo: GIANG TRAN

Although Tho Chau Island is beautiful, its terrain is mainly rocky and mountainous, the land is barren, and the air is always filled with seawater. Especially during the dry season, the scorching sun and salty sea breeze make farming difficult, while the island's freshwater supply mainly depends on rainwater and wells, which are used relatively sparingly.

Undeterred by nature, and embodying the spirit of "with human effort, even stones can be turned into food" as in Hoang Trung Thong's poem "The Song of Breaking New Ground," the Party Committee and Command of the unit launched a production increase campaign. The soldiers of Tho Chau Border Guard Post, undeterred by difficulties, transformed the rocky, gravelly areas around the barracks into lush green vegetable plots.

The unit flexibly utilized the hillside terrain to design an efficient model. To avoid sea winds and harsh afternoon sun, the soldiers used nets to shield areas exposed to the wind; immediately next to these, they planted fruit-bearing and leafy vines such as gourds, loofahs, and spinach… and on the ground were rows of cabbage, amaranth, water spinach, and chili peppers… This combination maximized the use of space and created soil moisture. To solve the water shortage problem, the unit built water tanks and used treated wastewater to irrigate the vegetables. Watering was usually done in the early morning and late afternoon to minimize evaporation… Thanks to creativity, the application of appropriate techniques, and meticulous care, the unit has built an efficient production system, harvesting an average of 0.5 - 10 kg of vegetables and fruits daily. With seasonal produce, the unit's vegetable garden is always lush and green, providing a basic supply of clean vegetables for the daily meals of the officers and soldiers.

Not only serving within the unit, especially during stormy seas and unpredictable weather when supplies from the mainland are unreliable, the Tho Chau Border Guard Post also shares a portion of its hard work to help alleviate the shortage of clean vegetables for the island's residents.

The image of soldiers gathered around a vegetable garden is clear evidence of our army's tradition of both fighting and producing. The lush green vegetable beds on the frontline islands are a firm commitment from the officers and soldiers of Tho Chau Border Guard Post: No matter how difficult or arduous the circumstances, they will always hold their weapons firmly and stand firm to maintain peace in our homeland's islands, ensuring that the vibrant green of life will forever flourish amidst the southwestern sea and sky of our nation.

Together with other armed units in the Tho Chau special zone, the soldiers of the Tho Chau Border Guard Post, through their simple yet heartfelt actions, have further strengthened the bond between the military and the people, embodying the spirit of "the military and the people are like fish and water," as President Ho Chi Minh taught.

GIANG TRAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/vuon-rau-o-tho-chau-a473002.html