Good ways to increase income for people in Anh Son district

A field of one rice variety

In the summer-autumn crop of 2019, with financial support and direction from the People's Committee of Anh Son district, Anh Son Agricultural Extension Station has deployed the construction and implementation of 4 large-scale pure rice production models with a scale of 152 hectares, in the communes: Khai Son (30 hectares), Hoa Son (30 hectares), Hoi Son (30 hectares) and Duc Son (62 hectares).

Participating in the model, 1,715 households were supported with 70% of rice seeds and fertilizers. Notably, from land preparation, sowing, care to harvesting, all were done under the guidance and supervision of the Agricultural Extension Station staff, so the rice plants grew and developed well.

Model of a purebred rice field in Anh Son. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Although under difficult conditions: prolonged drought, harmful pests and diseases, and due to the people's psychology of uncertain summer-autumn crop, so little investment and care, on an area of ​​152 hectares implementing the model, the yield reached 4.8 - 5.2 tons/ha.

Ms. Dang Thi Ngoc, a household participating in the model, said: “While other places lost the entire summer-autumn crop, my family’s entire field still achieved high productivity. After the harvest, the rice was purchased by companies at a high price, so I was very excited.”

“By properly applying the single-variety rice field model, following the production process of “3 reductions, 3 increases” (reduction in varieties, fertilizers, pesticides; increase in productivity, product quality, economic efficiency of crops) has brought about clear economic efficiency. In addition, changing the habit of fragmented, arbitrary production to the application of science and technology, large-scale production in the direction of goods for people”.

Mr. Trinh Xuan Quy - Head of Anh Son Agricultural Extension Station

The positive signs that the single-variety rice field model has brought from this pilot planting, Anh Son will proceed to widely replicate to other localities to help farmers improve productivity, quality, increase income and facilitate production. At the same time, attract businesses to join in investing in seeds, fertilizers, pesticides for farmers and purchase products for stable and sustainable production.

Building specialized grapefruit growing areas

Ms. Luong Thi Suu's household in Kim Tien village, Phuc Son commune was selected to pilot the model of growing Quang Tien pink grapefruit for sale. The 0.6 ha area previously used to grow turmeric and ginger with low efficiency, but now it has been replaced by 200 grapefruit trees. After nearly 2 months of planting, Ms. Suu's grapefruit garden is now taking root, green, and has a 100% survival rate.

Selecting grapefruit varieties for people participating in the model. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Suu said: “I was supported 100% with seedlings, materials, fertilizers; I was instructed on how to care for them, and I was regularly trained, so I was very confident when participating in the model. In 3 years, this grapefruit garden promises to bring in a significant source of income. While waiting for the grapefruit to close its canopy, I intercropped turmeric, ginger, and pumpkin to get the tops in the form of “taking short-term to support long-term”.

Starting in August 2019, Anh Son Agricultural Extension Station implemented the Quang Tien pink grapefruit growing model on an area of ​​3 hectares in Phuc Son and Hoi Son communes. Households participating in the model are poor families, with land conditions to develop garden economy, and have the will to escape poverty through garden economy.

Agricultural extension officers instruct on techniques for growing Quang Tien pink grapefruit. Grapefruit gardens are taking root, growing green and producing good results on Anh Son land. Photo: TP

After being selected to participate in the model, households will attend a training course on growing citrus fruit trees, and visit Quang Tien ward (Thai Hoa town); receive seedlings, fertilizer support, and station staff to monitor the care process and prevent pests and diseases.

“The grapefruit variety is suitable for the soil and climate of Anh Son and is a tree with high economic value. After the model is effectively implemented, it will be expanded and specialized areas for growing grapefruit for sale will be built, which is a key crop, bringing income to people in the mountainous communes of Anh Son,” said Ms. Thuy Trieu, an officer of the Agricultural Extension Station assigned to be in charge of the model.

Giving "fishing rods" to poor households in difficult areas

Ms. Lo Thi Huong's household in village 9 is one of the poor households with difficult circumstances that received free breeding cows to raise according to the model deployed by the Anh Son District Agricultural Extension Station since 2018.
Ms. Huong shared that her husband died early, her two children were infected with Agent Orange/dioxin, she is the main farmer, so poverty has followed her. After receiving the model's breeding cows to take care of, the two cows are now developing well and will soon give birth to calves. If well cared for, when selling the calves, she will get 20-25 million VND, having money to pay off debts, repair the house...

Visiting the breeding cow model in Tho Son (Anh Son). Photo: TP

In order to support ethnic minority households in mountainous areas and poor households in the commune to develop the economy and improve their lives, Anh Son Agricultural Extension Station has implemented a model of breeding cows in Tho Son, a remote commune of the district.

Accordingly, 5 poor households in Tho Son commune were provided with 10 breeding cows, 1 sao of elephant grass seeds and 150 kg of bran. After 1 year of implementation, 5/10 breeding cows have bred, the calves born have grown and developed well, bringing in an income of 10 to 12 million VND/cow. After the first breeding, the calves are sold to other poor households in the commune at the original price so that the households have the conditions to develop the economy, support each other to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.
The models that Anh Son Agricultural Extension Station has implemented have had a great influence, not only helping poor households develop their economy and increase their income, but also contributing positively to the district's poverty reduction work and completing the new rural construction program of the localities.