Enhancing the value of agricultural production

(Baonghean) - Recognizing agriculture and rural areas as the foundation and important driving force for socio-economic development, the Party Committee and government of Hung Nguyen district have implemented many solutions to promote the shift in agricultural structure towards commodity production. This is the direction that creates momentum for the district's economy to make solid progress.

Mr. Hoang Duc An, Acting Head of the District's Agriculture Department, led us on a tour of the large-scale model rice fields in Hung Tay commune and proudly introduced: "For many years, Hung Tay has been considered the rice granary of the district. Rice is truly the main crop that helps people improve their lives." For the past 5 years, commercial rice production has helped the people of Hung Tay become wealthy. On agricultural product stalls in traditional markets or large and small supermarkets, you often see the AC5 Hung Tay rice brand prominently displayed alongside Thai rice, Northern rice, etc. Currently, out of 800 hectares of double-cropping rice land in the commune, 85% is commercial rice, with an annual production of over 5,600 tons.

This is the eel farming model of Mr. Bui Van Hieu in Hamlet 2, Hung Khanh Commune.

Meanwhile, the communes of Hung Tan, Hung Thang, Hung Xa, and Hung Long all have contiguous fields yielding abundant harvests. Hung Thang commune implements commercial rice production on large-scale model fields with 80 hectares out of 254 hectares, accounting for 60% of the double-cropping rice land area. Mr. Phan Van Hien, Head of the Agriculture Department of Hung Thang commune, said: “Implementing the thematic resolution on prioritizing the development of commercial rice, we have tested and selected short-day purebred varieties with high yields. In addition, the commune has coordinated with Vinh Hoa Company to guarantee the purchase of products from farmers, creating a sustainable market outlet so that farmers can confidently commit to rice cultivation.” To date, rice in Hung Nguyen accounts for over 60% of the total agricultural production value of the district. And in the future, rice will remain the main crop. Therefore, in addition to actively converting to high-quality rice varieties, the district encourages farmers to cultivate short-day pure rice varieties with high yields such as AC5, Nang Xuan, Bac Thom No. 7, DT 52, etc., with the aim of maximizing value per unit area. In 2014, the average rice yield throughout the district reached nearly 65.74 quintals/62 quintals/hectare, equivalent to 106% of the plan, which is also the highest yield ever achieved. Currently, the entire district has over 40 high-income, efficient rice fields. Based on the results of the model fields, localities have expanded the area of ​​high-quality rice cultivation on a large scale. Annually, the entire district has 1,700 - 2,000 hectares of high-quality rice, bringing the commercial rice production to exceed the targets set by the Party Congress.

For many years, winter-spring vegetable crops have been considered a strength of Hung Nguyen district's agriculture, with 90% of the area planted with corn and 50% with beans using new varieties, and many areas dedicated to vegetables, chili peppers, watermelons, and green squash. In particular, the district successfully implemented a carrot cultivation model under the crop restructuring program on the riverside alluvial land along the Lam River in Hung Khanh commune during the spring of 2014, covering a total area of ​​6 hectares. This model, supported by Asia Company in terms of seeds, techniques, and product purchase, is being actively cultivated on a large scale by farmers in the coastal communes of Hung Xa, Hung Long, etc.

Simultaneously, the transformation of livestock herds and the development of family-run farms are considered significant breakthroughs by the Party Committee, government, and people of Hung Nguyen district. Localities such as Hung Long, Hung Tan, and Hung Khanh have made strong breakthroughs in the development of large-scale livestock farming. In 2014, the district had 6,725 buffaloes; 15,383 cattle; 22,542 pigs; and 803,000 poultry. Although the herd growth rate was not high, the output of live meat for slaughter increased steadily by 15-20% over the years, thanks to the application of new scientific advancements in livestock farming, leading to a faster turnover rate. The trend in livestock farming is gradually shifting towards family-run and large-scale farms. Several farms combining crop cultivation with raising Sind crossbred cattle have been established on the riverside alluvial plains of the Lam River, creating exemplary models.

Currently, the district has over 400 integrated farms and family farms (21 of which meet the criteria set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) operating quite stably. Among them are farms and family farms combining vegetable and crop cultivation with livestock farming, generating an average income of over 500 million VND/hectare in the communes of Hung Yen Bac, Hung Yen Nam, Hung Nhan, Hung Phuc, Hung Thinh, Hung Long, Hung Phu, and Hung Khanh. A prime example is the eel farm of Mr. Bui Van Hieu – Hamlet 2 – Hung Khanh commune, with a yield of 4 quintals/m2. Using techniques he learned in An Giang, after 4 months of rearing, he has now sold his first batch at a price of 200,000 VND/kg. He plans to expand the model to over 2 hectares of surface water to increase productivity per unit area. This model is being promoted by the commune Party committee to create a specialty eel farming area in Nghe An, improving the lives and incomes of the people. Speaking of high-income farm models, we must also mention the super-laying chicken and duck farms that generate billions of dong, such as Mr. Tran Minh Duong's farm in Hamlet 4, Hung Dao; or the biotechnology-based chicken farming model of Mr. Nguyen Huy Tien in Hamlet 5, Hung Tien commune. After 9 years of implementation, his farm currently has a total flock of over 13,000 chickens. The average annual income of the farm is over 3 billion dong.

Thanks to the efforts of local authorities at all levels and the proactive efforts of farmers who are determined to prosper in their homeland, the value of agricultural production has grown at an average rate of 3.41% from 2010 to 2015, an increase of 1.11 times compared to the previous term. The application of science and technology and mechanization has been prioritized, and many policies and mechanisms have proven effective, contributing to the restructuring of crop and livestock production and increasing the value of agricultural production.

Thanh Nga