Nghe An province supports Xieng Khouang (Laos) in agricultural development.

(Baonghean) - With its relatively strong agricultural sector, Nghe An province has recently implemented and completed several programs to support and transfer science and technology to Xieng Khouang province.

In 2016, implementing the cooperation agreement between Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a document agreeing in principle to support agricultural models for Xieng Khouang province, assigning the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to research and submit two support models in the fields of crop cultivation and livestock farming.

Initially, Nghe An province intended to support Xieng Khouang province with one model of corn cultivation and one model of chicken farming. However, during subsequent discussions and specific work between the agricultural sectors of the two provinces, based on the climate, soil conditions, and the wishes of the neighboring province, the leaders of Nghe An province approved a program to build a model of safe vegetable cultivation and breeding of dairy cows in Xieng Khouang.

The Nghe An delegation inspects a model of safe vegetable cultivation in a greenhouse in Xieng Khouang province (Laos). Photo: Phu Binh.

Ms. Vo Thi Nhung, Director of the Nghe An Plant Seed Center, the unit directly assigned to support the neighboring province in implementing the cultivation model, said: "Although there was no model of growing vegetables in greenhouses, having visited and learned about this model in Nghe An, Xieng Khouang felt it was suitable for the local rainy weather conditions and would contribute to improving farming efficiency and reducing pests and diseases. Therefore, they expressed their desire to the Nghe An delegation to change from the initial intention of supporting a corn cultivation model."

In response to and in accordance with the wishes of the neighboring country, on April 25, 2016, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Official Letter No. 2618/UBND-NN agreeing in principle to the construction of greenhouses to serve the "development of a safe vegetable farming model" in Xieng Khouang province.

The Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development immediately sent a delegation of officials to survey the location for the greenhouse, and both sides agreed to place it at the Xieng Khouang Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Extension Station as a model, gradually implementing it effectively before planning to transfer it to farmers.

With a dedicated approach to helping customers, providing hands-on guidance from the initial stages to the point where the model becomes effective, Nghe An province has mobilized manpower to the site to install greenhouses, rented machinery to level the land, and constructed net houses to serve the safe vegetable farming model on a scale of 960 m2.

In addition, the Nghe An Plant Breeding Center also sent two technical staff members to help Xieng Khouang install a semi-automatic irrigation system to provide comprehensive irrigation for the greenhouses and organized training courses to guide Xieng Khouang provincial officials in quickly and fully grasping the techniques of growing safe vegetables with a variety of types such as cabbage, kale, chrysanthemum greens, beans, coriander, etc.

Regularly, once a month for four months after the greenhouse is completed, the Nghe An side conducts inspection visits to the model in the neighboring province, providing timely support, resolving any issues, monitoring and controlling pest and disease outbreaks, and ensuring that vegetables are harvested on time and achieve high yields.

In mid-January 2017, after the overall completion and acceptance of all program contents as approved, representatives from Nghe An province handed over the entire "construction of a safe vegetable farming model" project to the Department of Agriculture of Xieng Khouang province for management and utilization. They requested that the Xieng Khouang side manage and use the project effectively, and continue to implement safe vegetable farming models in subsequent seasons.

To date, the model is gradually proving its effectiveness and is highly appreciated by the staff and officials of the Xieng Khouang Department of Agriculture. Ms. Khamphau, Deputy Head of the Crop Production Department of the Xieng Khouang Department of Agriculture, shared: “The officials and experts from Nghe An not only showed dedication during the transfer of the greenhouse model for safe vegetable cultivation, but also maintained contact between the two sides after completion, readily answering any difficulties or questions we didn't understand over the phone.”

Receiving equally positive responses, the model of breeding dairy cows that Nghe An province has supported for farmers in Xieng Khouang over the past period has truly brought joy to many households, while further strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Since the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued a support policy, the province's Livestock Breeding Center has quickly coordinated with the Xieng Khouang Department of Agriculture to finalize the model's content, implementation activities, implementation time, support levels, and required achievements, as well as criteria for selecting implementation sites and participating households.

In parallel with selecting 12 households in Noọng Hen village, Pẹc district, Xiêng Khoảng province that met the criteria for receiving cattle support, Nghệ An agricultural officials also organized training courses on livestock farming techniques for the households, introducing different cattle breeds; breeding, housing, feed, grass cultivation techniques, care and nurturing, detecting estrus and breeding, veterinary work, disease prevention and control, and how to record and monitor livestock accounting...

Nghe An province sent officials to personally survey the area before implementing a model to support cattle farming for the people of Xieng Khouang (Laos). Photo: Phu Binh

Subsequently, on September 8, 2016, the Nghe An Provincial Livestock Breeding Center handed over cattle to 12 households in Noong Hen village participating in the model project. The average weight of the cows was 213 kg/animal for females and 300 kg/animal for males. The delivered cattle were healthy, agile, vaccinated, quarantined, and had blood samples taken for testing. The center also provided additional support such as salt licks, mixed feed, and grass seeds to the households.

To date, through inspection and monitoring, it can be seen that the program has achieved initial successes, including the selection of households and the provision of feed... meeting requirements; households caring for and raising cattle according to technical requirements; the herds of cattle are healthy and adapt well to the natural climate conditions; and the grass, after 4 months of planting, is suitable for breeding cows...

According to the assessment of the Nghe An Provincial Livestock Breeding Center, the cooperation and support project has contributed to changing the livestock farming practices of farmers in Xieng Khouang, from scattered and fragmented farming to farming with the application of technical processes and intensive, efficient investment. This is the foundation for forming a sustainable profession, making good use of the local strengths, contributing to socio-economic development, and enhancing community spirit.

The success of the pioneering agricultural support models that Nghe An has provided to Xieng Khouang will be a solid foundation for broader cooperation and support activities between the two sides in the future. This is also the most concrete evidence of the affection that the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An have for the Party Committee, government, and people of Xieng Khouang across the border, contributing to fostering the special friendship between the two brotherly countries, Vietnam and Laos.

Phu Binh