People who 'leave the village' to go to the forest to grow clean vegetables

(Baonghean.vn) - Although they are not relatives, some came early, some came late, but 12 households in the upper stream of Khe Nhinh (Huu Kiem commune - Ky Son) still work together to establish a hamlet to grow clean vegetables.

Introduced by young commune official Nguyen Khac Dong, we visited the upstream area of ​​Khe Nhinh (Huu Kiem commune - Ky Son) on the sunny days of late April. A concrete road of more than 1.5 km long has been poured leading to the place where 12 households are growing clean vegetables.

Khe Nhinh area, where 12 Thai households have established a hamlet to grow clean vegetables. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Lo Hong Thang, a retired cadre, welcomed us into his small stilt house with a warm face. He said that Khe Nhinh area was a place for slash-and-burn farming since ancient times of the Thai people in Huu Kiem commune. In the past, wild animals gathered in large herds here, so whenever people had free time, they would carry guns and crossbows to hunt. Since then, this area has been called Khe Nhinh (shooting hole).

Mr. Lo Hong Thang harvests clean cucumbers in the garden. Photo: Dao Tho

However, getting here is not easy. The road up is steep, from the top of the mountain you can clearly observe the whole area of ​​Huu Kiem commune. Mr. Lo Hong Thang said: "Before 2017, 12 households in Khe Nhinh, whenever they had vegetables and fruits to sell, they would carry them on their backs and slowly walk through the forest to the village center to sell. Now motorbikes can go all the way there" - his voice seemed to be cheerful.

New melons were grown experimentally in Khe Nhinh but brought high efficiency. Photo: Dao Tho

The area where Mr. Thang has zoned off production is only about 5,000 m2 wide.²but there are all kinds of clean vegetables. This season, he focuses on growing cucumbers and melons, and in other seasons, he grows cabbage, mustard greens, beans... and does not use pesticides or growth stimulants. The sweet cucumbers and melons that he picks and invites you to enjoy right in the garden are so interesting. "It's just the first harvest but I've already sold nearly 3 million worth of melons" - Mr. Thang boasted.

Mr. Thang is harvesting melons in preparation for customers to buy. Photo: Dao Tho

On the other side, the family of Mr. Vi Van Duong and Ms. Luong Thi Hong are busy catching worms on the cucumbers that have just borne fruit. This is a family that has been attached to Khe Nhinh for nearly 40 years. Back then, they only knew how to follow their parents to clear the fields, but a few years ago, they and 11 other households switched to reclaiming land to grow rice and clean vegetables. Only thanks to this vegetable garden has the family escaped poverty and all 4 of their children have been able to go to school.

Mr. Duong and Ms. Hong take care of their family's clean vegetables. Photo: Dao Tho

Ms. Hong took us to the apricot garden that was in full fruit season and that she was picking so that her husband could take it to the center to sell. According to her, at the same time last year, this sour apricot garden sold nearly a quintal, helping her to send money to her daughter who is studying medicine in Vinh city. Living in this remote area every day, all 12 households feel happy every time someone comes to ask to buy clean vegetables.

Mr. Duong and Ms. Hong's apricot garden is laden with fruit during harvest season. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Nguyen Khac Dong - an official of Huu Kiem commune said: "Now, the vegetables of Khe Nhinh people are sold out immediately when they are brought to the center. There are seasons when there is not enough supply for the market because people know the reputation of clean vegetables and they are very popular. In the near future, the commune will encourage and mobilize people to expand the area, grow more specialty vegetables and fruits suitable for the highland climate to increase income"./.

Dao Tho