Nghe An supports Xieng Khouang (Laos) in agricultural development

(Baonghean) - With relative strength in the agricultural sector, in recent times, Nghe An has completed a number of 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, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued an official dispatch agreeing to the policy of supporting agricultural models for Xieng Khouang province, assigning the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to study and present 2 support models in the fields of cultivation and livestock breeding.

According to the initial plan, Nghe An intended to support Xieng Khouang province with 1 corn growing model and 1 chicken raising model. However, in the process of discussion 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 the program to build a model of safe vegetable growing and breeding cows in Xieng Khouang.

Nghe An delegation inspects the model of growing safe vegetables in greenhouses in Xieng Khouang province (Laos). Photo: Phu Binh

Ms. Vo Thi Nhung - Director of Nghe An Plant Seed Center, the unit directly assigned to support the province with the crop growing model, said: "There is no model of growing vegetables in greenhouses, but having visited and learned about this model in Nghe An, Xieng Khoang felt that it is suitable for the local rainy weather conditions, and also contributes to improving farming efficiency, limiting pests and diseases, so we expressed our wish to the Nghe An delegation to change from the original intention of supporting the corn growing model."

Accepting and approving the wishes of the neighboring country, on April 25, 2016, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 2618/UBND-NN on agreeing to the policy of building a greenhouse to serve the "building of a safe vegetable growing model" in Xieng Khouang province.

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

With the view of wholeheartedly helping you, "holding your hand and showing you how to do it" from the initial steps until the model is effective, Nghe An has mobilized a workforce to the location to install the greenhouse, rented machinery to level the land, and built a net house to serve the safe vegetable growing model with a scale of 960 m2.

In addition, Nghe An Plant Breeding Center also sent 2 technical staff to help Xieng Khouang install a semi-automatic irrigation system to provide comprehensive irrigation water for the greenhouse and organize training courses to guide Xieng Khouang provincial staff to quickly and fully grasp safe vegetable growing techniques with a variety of vegetables such as cabbage, mustard greens, chrysanthemum greens, beans, coriander, etc.

Regularly once a month for 4 months after completing the greenhouse, Nghe An side visits the model in the neighboring province to promptly support, answer any questions, grasp and control the situation of pests and diseases, ensure vegetables are harvested on time and achieve high productivity.

In mid-January 2017, after the acceptance of the overall completion of the approved program contents, the representative of Nghe An province handed over the entire project of "building a safe vegetable growing model" to the Department of Agriculture of Xieng Khouang province for management, exploitation and use, requesting that the other side manage and use the project effectively, and continue to deploy the production of safe vegetable growing models in the following crops.

Up to now, the model has gradually proven its effectiveness and has been highly appreciated by the collective of officials and civil servants of Xieng Khouang Agriculture Department. Ms. Khamphau - Deputy Head of the Crop Production Department of Xieng Khouang Agriculture Department shared: "The officials and experts of Nghe An are not only dedicated in the process of transferring the model of safe vegetable growing net houses, but after completion, they still maintain the connection between the two sides, ready to answer by phone any difficulties or problems that we do not understand clearly".

Receiving an equally positive response, the model of breeding cows that Nghe An supported for Xieng Khouang farmers in recent times has truly brought joy to many households, while also strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

Since the support policy of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center has also quickly coordinated with Xieng Khouang Department of Agriculture to approve the model content, implementation activities, implementation time, support levels and requirements to be achieved when implementing the model, criteria for selecting implementation sites, selecting participating households...

Along with selecting 12 households in Noong Hen village, Pec district, Xieng Khouang province that meet all the criteria set out to support cows, Nghe An agricultural officials also organized additional training courses on livestock farming techniques for households, introducing cow breeds; breeding, barns, feed, grass growing techniques, care and feeding, estrus detection and mating, veterinary work, disease prevention, recording, monitoring and accounting for livestock farming...

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

Then, on September 8, 2016, Nghe An Province Livestock Breeding Center handed over cows to 12 households in Noong Hen village to participate in building the model, with an average weight of 213 kg/cow, 300 kg/cow, the cows were handed over healthy, agile, vaccinated, blood samples were taken for testing... and also supported with licking stones, mixed bran, grass seeds,... for the above households.

Up to now, through inspection and monitoring, it can be seen that the program has achieved initial achievements, that is, the work of selecting households, providing food... meets the requirements, households take care of and raise them according to technical requirements, the cows are healthy, adapt well to natural climate conditions, grass after 4 months of planting is good for breeding cows...

According to the assessment of Nghe An Province Livestock Breeding Center, the cooperation and support project has contributed to changing the farming practices of Xieng Khouang farmers, from widespread, fragmented farming to farming with the application of technical processes, and intensive and effective investment in farming. That is the foundation for forming a sustainable profession, exploiting the strengths of the locality, contributing to socio-economic development, and enhancing community spirit.

The success of the pioneering models of support in the agricultural sector that Nghe An has given to Xieng Khouang will be a solid foundation for more extensive cooperation and support activities in the future between the two sides. It is also the most concrete proof of the affection that the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An have for the Party Committee, government and people of Xieng Khouang on the other side of the border, contributing to fostering the special friendship between the two brotherly countries of Vietnam and Laos.

Phu Binh