Nghe An is the province with the largest natural area in the country (1,648,650ha), of which agricultural land area is 1,485,456ha, accounting for 90.1% of natural land area, which is quite favorable condition for agricultural development; the production of organic microbial fertilizers from agricultural waste and by-products to serve agricultural production in an organic and sustainable direction is very suitable.
In the province, every year there are about 1 million tons of agricultural waste and by-products with diverse types and reserves to be used as raw materials for the production of microbial fertilizers such as: Peat; sugarcane and sugar waste, corn, peanut and vegetable waste; pig, buffalo, cow and chicken manure; sludge from aquaculture ponds. Turning by-products and waste into organic fertilizer is a method that has been implemented by farmers in all regions of Nghe An for many years. Composting organic waste into fertilizer not only helps reduce the amount of household waste discharged into the environment every day, but also helps farmers save on fertilizer costs, while helping crops increase productivity and quality, thereby increasing income.
In Hung Nguyen district, the model of composting organic waste into fertilizer has been implemented with practical results and has been gradually expanded in the area. The family of Mr. Hoang Duc Lenh - Head of the Farmers' Association of Hamlet 9A, Hung Trung Commune, grows 8 sao of rice and 1 sao of garden growing various types of vegetables to serve the market. Mr. Lenh shared: "Previously, the amount of household waste in the family was quite large, organic waste such as vegetables, leaves; inorganic waste such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc. were all put together in one place. Meanwhile, the waste was not collected daily but only 3 times a month, causing bad odors and affecting the environment. After being propagandized and trained, the family classified and composted waste into organic fertilizer for plants, so the amount of waste was significantly reduced, reducing pollution a lot. Not only using fertilizer to fertilize fruit trees, but also fertilizing the vegetable garden, the plants grew and developed well, creating a safe source of vegetables to serve the family's needs."
Ms. Hoang Thi Huong's family in Bui Thuong hamlet, Hung Trung commune also composts garbage to make fertilizer for oranges. Ms. Huong said: “My family grows 3 sao of Xa Doai oranges with more than 100 trees; on average, each crop requires an investment of nearly 10 kg of phosphate and potassium per tree, then fertilizes with organic fertilizer at a rate of 10 kg per tree. Before organic fertilizer was available, we mainly used inorganic fertilizers at high costs (each fertilization cost 150,000 VND/tree); since composting and fertilizing with organic fertilizers, the amount of inorganic fertilizer has been limited, reducing pests and diseases, loosening the soil, and especially saving costs while improving the environment. We also use this type of fertilizer to fertilize 3 sao of green-skinned grapefruit. This year, input costs for production have all increased, from land preparation, labor to seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Of which, the price of fertilizer has increased too much, roughly estimated to be double that of last year. Fortunately, the family has composted the fertilizer to fertilize the oranges, significantly reducing the cost of buying fertilizers.”
Ms. Dinh Thi Kien - President of the Farmers' Association of Hung Trung Commune shared: The composting process is very simple, following the instructed techniques; the family digs a compost pit, then lines the bottom with a tarpaulin; each layer of organic waste is watered with a layer of biological products and then covered to compost the waste. Starting in 2022, currently the whole commune has 15 households implementing it effectively. We are planning to expand it to a larger area, planning to choose hamlet 9A for implementation.
Speaking more about the benefits of composting waste into organic fertilizer, Mr. Pham Hong Tien - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hung Nguyen district said: From the process of collecting, classifying and processing organic waste into microbial fertilizer for cultivation, up to now, Hung Nguyen has 18 communes, towns and 4 households with 990 farmer members participating. The quantity after the finished product is 35 tons of microbial organic fertilizer worth 140.8 million VND. The most important thing of the model is to gradually contribute to reducing rural environmental pollution, which has long been a concern for people and authorities at all levels.
Currently, in the province, to solve the problem of environmental pollution and high fertilizer prices, in many localities, farmers have found good ways to adapt. Farmers in Tan Ky district have mass produced organic microbial fertilizers from manure, green trees, molasses with biological products. It is known that on average, each year, farmers in Tan Ky produce about 3,000 tons of organic microbial fertilizers for crops; about 80% of households produce and use organic microbial fertilizers. Every year, the Farmers' Association of Tan Ky district coordinates with relevant agencies to organize training courses on the production of organic microbial fertilizers from agricultural by-products for farmers in communes in the district.
Having been trained and practiced in the technical process of producing biological organic fertilizer from agricultural by-products on a household scale, many farmers in the province have been able to make organic fertilizer from waste for production. This method costs very little, the cost of buying the product, the bottom lining and the compost cover and can be used for many years afterwards. Depending on the amount of waste in the family, the compost pit can be divided into 2 compartments to add more waste during daily activities. By taking advantage of organic waste in the family, such as: vegetables, leftover rice, spoiled fruit, fish heads, straw, etc., put them in the landfill and cover tightly to avoid rainwater, organisms will come in to lay eggs, compost into fertilizer for plants.
Under the direction of the Party Committee, authorities at all levels, departments and branches in Nghe An have coordinated to promote propaganda, dissemination and mobilization activities for farmers to produce and use organic microbial fertilizers to serve agricultural production in an organic direction associated with environmental protection. In particular, training courses are opened to equip people with knowledge on the application of biological products in the production process of organic microbial fertilizers; launching and building pilot models of organic microbial fertilizer production in each group of farmers and households. Thanks to that, from 2017 to 2022, farmers in the whole province will produce 5,000 - 6,000 tons of organic fertilizers per year from waste.
Do Luong district has a fairly large area with 33 administrative units, including 32 communes and 1 town; natural area of more than 353km2with a population of over 223,000 people. In 2023, Do Luong district is gradually completing preparations to receive the Certificate of recognition as a new rural district. Together with all levels of sectors, associations, and unions, the Youth Union in Do Luong also contributes many practical ways to build a new rural district, including environmental protection, turning waste into useful things, into economic benefits. In the centers of communes, villages, and hamlets, the amount of household waste discharged every day is not small.
Specifically, for many years, Do Luong District Youth Union has spread the movement "Do Luong Youth join hands to build new countryside", "build urban civilization" widely throughout 33 communes and towns with many ways to turn waste into useful things, serving life such as the model "Rescue tires", "Warning sign tires", taking advantage of damaged car, motorbike, bicycle tires to make warning signs, buoys to prevent traffic collisions... Or like the model "People's market reduces plastic waste", with the pioneering of youth union members in using cloth bags, natural materials such as banana leaves, bamboo and rattan baskets when going to the market, limiting the use of plastic bags.
In addition, the youth of Do Luong district have also persistently implemented the model of "Exchanging scrap for gifts" to raise charity funds. In 2022 alone, grassroots youth organizations in Do Luong district collected 39,600 beer cans of all kinds; 72.6 tons of waste paper and cardboard to sell, using the money to buy 231 gifts worth 115 million VND to give to people in difficult circumstances, unfortunate circumstances and poor but excellent students in the area.
Youth pioneering environmental protection is also the content that Nghe An Provincial Youth Union has been implementing regularly for many years. Therefore, in all 21 districts, cities and towns of the province, the Youth Union bases all have ways to spread useful green lifestyles.
In Tan Ky district, for many years, the youth union has maintained the model of "People's market - residential area says no to plastic waste", "Exchanging plastic waste for gifts". Every month, in residential areas and markets, the youth union members organize gift exchanges. Each gift exchange point for waste like in Ky Son commune, each time collects 50kg of waste paper, 30kg of plastic, 2000 cans and bottles of all kinds. This amount of waste is sold for about 2 million VND, used to "cycle" to buy gifts to exchange for waste for the next time. Plastic waste is exchanged for gifts: Glass water bottles, green trees, cloth shopping bags, biodegradable garbage bags, flower seeds, necessities, etc. Each year, Tan Ky youth generate about 20 million VND in revenue from this activity.
Mr. Chu Quang Huy - Provincial Youth Union's Propaganda Department said that, fully aware of the negative impacts of waste on nature and people, especially plastic waste, for many years now, the Provincial Youth Union has guided city and town youth unions to launch and maintain many environmental protection movements.
