"Greenery nursery": A small undertaking

Việt Nam•20/09/2023

After more than 3 months of launching the Green Nursery model, the branches of the Women's Union of Thuan Hung commune, Long My district, have so far nurtured nearly 4,000 flowering plants to be planted to create beautiful landscapes along rural roads.

The nursery of the Women's Association in Hamlet 10 has successfully propagated over 1,000 cotton plants.

The Green Nursery model was first launched in Hamlet 8, with 20 members. To implement the model, the Women's Association of the hamlet, in coordination with the local government, mass organizations, and exemplary members, worked together to obtain flower seedlings and establish the nursery.

After more than 3 months of implementation, approximately 1,000 ixora and bougainvillea seedlings have been propagated; 50% of the seedlings have been planted along the Xeo Can road in the hamlet.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien, Vice President of the Women's Union of Thuan Hung commune, said: "Following the direction of the commune Party Committee, the Union registered to implement the Green Tree Nursery model to help the locality reduce the cost of purchasing trees for planting along roads to create beautiful roads in the hamlets. Under this model, each hamlet receives 1 million VND from the commune to purchase materials for tree nursery, and women members contribute their labor in nursery, planting, and caring for the trees."

According to the Women's Union of Thuan Hung commune, currently 3 out of 5 hamlets in the commune have launched the Green Tree Nursery model. Each model has the active participation of 10-20 members, with women's union members making up the majority. To date, the entire commune has propagated approximately 4,000 bougainvillea and ixora plants.

As one of the active members of the Green Nursery model in Hamlet 10, Ms. Le Thi Chinh said: “Beautifying the environment in front of our houses is something my sisters and I really enjoy. Before the Association launched the nursery model, we had already asked for flowering plants to plant in front of our houses to beautify them. Now that the Association has launched the project to plant trees along the entire road, we like it even more. Therefore, when invited to participate in the seedling nursery model, I readily agreed.”

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kha Ly, Head of the Women's Association in Hamlet 10 and Director of the Hamlet's Green Nursery Model, the members in the hamlet enthusiastically supported the initiative after its launch. Not only did the women actively participate, but they also encouraged their husbands and children to assist.

“Everyone has a task, from adding soil and fertilizer to pruning, cuttings, watering, and spraying with nutrients… After nearly two months of work, the hamlet’s nursery has now propagated 1,140 pots of ixora and bougainvillea. The plants have now rooted well and are ready to be planted along the approximately 2km long Aquaculture road in the hamlet,” Ms. Ly added.

Currently, the Women's Union of Thuan Hung commune is continuing to direct the remaining hamlets to replicate the model to create more abundant tree resources for the commune in building beautiful roads, contributing to the locality's successful implementation of environmental criteria in improving the quality of the new rural commune, and moving towards building a model new rural commune.

Compared to buying seedlings, growing plants from scratch significantly reduces costs for the local area. While a potted flowering plant costs an average of 10,000-15,000 VND at market prices, each nursery established by the association only costs 1 million VND to grow 1,000 potted plants.

“Not only do we promote the role of our members and women in seedling cultivation, but after the trees are planted along the roads, we also encourage and mobilize women to take care of them, prune them to beautify the landscape, regularly clear weeds, and maintain cleanliness along the entire road. Through this, we help the women realize that this work not only beautifies their families but also their villages, creating an increasingly beautiful rural landscape thanks to the hands of women,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien, Vice President of the Women's Union of Thuan Hung commune.

The women's tree nursery project has received high levels of support from officials, members, and women in Thuan Hung commune. Through this model, women have better utilized their roles in participating in movements launched by the Women's Union and the local authorities. Although the work may not be monumental, the beautiful flower-lined roads in the commune have been created thanks to the hard work and meticulous, dedicated care of these women.

Text and photos: QUYNH LAM

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