Harvesting vegetables in the poly-greenhouse of Nguyen Dac Khanh in Noi Tho village, Bac Ly commune (Hiep Hoa).

Changing production mindset

These days, the family of Nguyen Dac Khanh in Noi Tho village, Bac Ly commune is focusing on harvesting Dutch lettuce in an over 2,000sq.m poly-greenhouse. In this area, in previous years, he planted vegetables by conventional methods. This is the first crop Khanh has been involved in producing VietGAP vegetables in the poly-greenhouse. 

Accordingly, he invested about 600 million VND (26,000 USD) and hired workers to grow vegetables with high technology to ensure product quality. Currently, the Hanoi-based Get Vietnam Company buys his vegetables at 9,300 VND per kg. After deducting expenses, his family earns a profit of about 13 million VND per sao (360sq.m) per crop.

It was reported that the poly-greenhouse club officially made debut in early August this year on the basis of the poly-greenhouse group, which became operation at the end of last year. There are nine members with a total area of over 2.2 hectares under the VietGAP process. 

Nguyen Van Nghiep, chairman of the club, said: "All members are individuals of cooperatives specializing in growing vegetables and fruits for processing. Here, people meet each other once a week to share experience in farming techniques, seedlings and materials. The club also invites local scientists and Japanese experts to teach advanced cultivation techniques to increase productivity, reduce costs and set up links for selling products. At present, the members have moved to hi-tech production. All products are contracted for consumption. People's income is estimated to increase by 15 – 30 percent compared to the previous time". 

For the Hiep Hoa pomelo growing area, over the past year, dozens of households in Luong Phong, Doan Bai, Hung Son, Ngoc Son and Danh Thang communes who grow this fruit tree have gathered in a club to support each other in terms of seedlings and share experience in production. 

According to Nguyen Van De, Chairman of the Association of Grapefruit Production and Consumption of Luong Phong commune, when participating in the club, the households changed the ways of thinking and doing in cultivation. More than 20 households in the club apply VietGAP standards in production towards safe products in order to expand the consumption market. The club has signed contracts to supply products for supermarkets in the upcoming pomelo crop.

Multiplying good models

VietGAP water dropwort growing area in Hoang Luong commune (Hiep Hoa).

Pham Van Thinh, Chairman of the Hiep Hoa district People's Committee shared the poly-greenhouse club has just debuted in the district. This month, the Hoang Luong water dropwort club will be launched. This is a new production linkage model but initially brings about practical effects.

For such clubs to operate effectively, the district People's Committee has assigned specialized departments, associations and organizations to prioritize capital sources and support projects for this model in order to encourage its multiplication, thus helping farmers increase production scale and support each other in the capital, seedlings and techniques. 

The district has also directed specialized departments to thoroughly study knowledge on linkage and cooperation for goods consumption in support of the clubs, and sign contracts with enterprises to purchase their products, avoiding damage to farmers.

In the coming time, Hiep Hoa district will send a delegation to study the organization and operation of a club in Dong Thap province. Local authorities have directed the formation of clubs and support for the development of this model, contributing to promoting hi-tech farming in the locality.

Hoang Phuong