Nghe An: How to produce winter crop and consume it?

Produce to where, consume to there

Potato plants on Trung Phuc Cuong beach in winter 2021. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Starting from the winter crop of 2021, Mr. Tran Van Thang rented 19 hectaresalluvial landin Trung Phuc Cuong commune (Nam Dan) to produce potatoes under a joint model with the enterprise ORION Food Limited Liability Company and the Institute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture. Accordingly, he received support from the enterprise for part of the seed money, seed loans, deferred payment for fertilizers and was guaranteed the purchase of all products at a committed price of 7,000 VND/kg. At the end of the 2021 winter crop, on an area of ​​19 hectares, the potato plant yielded 15 tons/ha.

“Compared to growing biomass corn or other crops, the economic value of potatoes is 2-2.5 times higher. The important thing is that the products are fully guaranteed, as soon as they are harvested, the business comes to buy them and pays cash immediately,” said Mr. Tran Van Thang.

For many years, potatoes have been the main crop of people in Dien Phong commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Thanh Phuc

For many years now,farmers of Dien Phong commune(Dien Chau) actively sticks to winter crop production. Instead of growing traditional crops, households consolidate land to grow potatoes according to the joint model. With a yield of 8 quintals/sao, sold at the price that the enterprise has signed a pre-order for at 7,000-7,500 VND/kg (depending on the year), each sao brings people an income of 3.5-4 million VND. It is worth mentioning that the amount produced is purchased by the enterprise, without worrying about unsold products or backlogs like before, so people are very assured.

For a long time, winter crop production has always been difficult for households in the "flood center" areas of Chau Nhan, Xuan Lam, Long Xa... in Hung Nguyen district, because natural disasters affect productivity, are difficult to grow, difficult to care for, and encounter a sluggish market with a lack of output, so for many years, the land has been left fallow.

In recent years, implementing the model of linking biomass corn cultivation, people in the alluvial areas of Hung Nguyen district have boldly converted and planted biomass corn. In the winter crop of 2021, about 400-450 hectares of alluvial land along Lam River in Hung Nguyen district were planted with biomass corn. When the corn is ready to be harvested, vehicles from farms and livestock companies come to the site to purchase it at market prices.

Corn biomass on Hung Nguyen alluvial land is fully contracted. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Vo Trong Hung in hamlet 3, Long Xa commune, who grows 3.5 hectares of biomass corn, said: “Each sao of young corn costs 1.2-1.4 million VND. They buy it by the sao, send a truck to the field to harvest it, and then transport it away. The money is also paid immediately after. Doing it this way, it is quick to eat, healthy, and you don’t have to worry about who to sell it to, or what the price is?”…

Replicating affiliate models

From the effectiveness of the model, this year, Nam Dan district has connected with businesses and the Institute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture to continue expanding the area of ​​potato cultivation in Thuong Tan Loc, Trung Phuc Cuong, Xuan Lam, Hung Tien communes with a total area of ​​nearly 50 hectares. In addition, there are chili pepper cultivation models in Khanh Son commune with an area of ​​about 15 hectares.

Winter crop care. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Dinh The - Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNam Dan districtsaid: “Since 2017, Nam Dan district has had a model of linking peanut seed production in the alluvial area of ​​Nam Loc commune (old), now Thuong Tan Loc commune. Then, by 2020, the model stopped supporting, but the results were very great, people have accessed and applied science and technology to cultivation, increased productivity, increased quality, increased value per unit area and have been popularized and replicated. From 2021 to now, the locality has connected and implemented many linkage models in production such as: growing potatoes on alluvial land; growing biomass corn...

It can be seen that the first benefit of the linkage model is that farmers reduce the pressure of input costs when businesses lend them seeds and fertilizers; receive science and technology transfer and have all products guaranteed, without worrying about lack of output. This is the motivation for people to actively produce, stick to the fields, and limit the situation of abandoned fields...

Farmers in Nghi Long commune (Nghi Loc) cooperated with Dong Xanh Company to test-plant Korean Wonyeong melon. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In the 2021 winter crop, 4 households in Nghi Long commune (Nghi Loc) cooperated with Dong Xanh Company to test-plant Korean Wonyeong melons on an area of ​​2,000 m2 in a greenhouse in Kim Nghia hamlet. Accordingly, people were supported with seeds, transferred melon growing techniques, and had their products consumed at a committed price. Although it was only a trial crop, in the 2021 winter crop, Korean Wonyeong melons are very suitable for the climate and soil conditions, the plants flower evenly and the fruit is large, with a fruit set rate of over 90%. Melons grown in greenhouses can control pests and diseases, helping to save labor. If the land area previously used to grow crops only brought in a profit of 10-15 million VND per crop, then with the same area, each crop brings in a profit of 50-55 million VND.

Ms. Vo Thi Van - agricultural officer of Nghi Long commune said: "This winter crop, we are planning to expand the area and increase the number of participating households. This is the open direction for farmers to innovate production methods in the direction of applying technology, creating typical agricultural products, building a chain of links in production to increase economic value and increase income for farmers".

Growing commercial spices in winter crop production in Dien Xuan commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Thanh Phuc

With development orientationcommodity production, quality, efficiency, value chain enhancement and sustainable development, in the 2022 winter crop, Dien Chau district stabilizes the area of ​​4,200 hectares, of which 300 hectares are planted with potatoes and 1,600 hectares of biomass corn according to the linkage model.

Mr. Phan Xuan Vinh - Vice Chairman of Dien Chau District People's Committee said: "If in the past, people in Dien Chau district produced winter crops on a small scale, had not yet formed commodity areas, and there was still a situation of stagnation and unsold products, then in recent years, through the linkage models of 4 parties (farmers, the State, scientists and enterprises), the value of winter crops has been increased.

Up to now, Dien Chau district has built 30 new models, thereby forming 7 specialized winter crop areas with an area of ​​6-40 hectares with an income of 100-250 million VND/ha, such as models of growing hot peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, onions, garlic, high-quality vegetables... When participating in new models, farmers in Dien Chau district all enjoy support mechanisms in terms of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, especially attention to output and product prices, creating peace of mind for farmers.

Currently, many households are also boldly looking for "customers" to produce winter agricultural products according to orders to ensure stable output. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Linking for sustainable production is an inevitable requirement of commodity agriculture. In addition to the benefits received by both parties, building this link is essentially building a new consumption channel in the value chain by eliminating intermediaries between producers and businesses. The current problem is that, in order to replicate the model, in addition to the province's support policies, the parties need to be transparent, harmonize interests, and ensure that farmers make a profit, then the link will be sustainable. In addition, in addition to the connection of the province, district, and locality, farmers can also search for "customers" themselves, produce products according to orders to have stable output and profitable production./.