All three parties benefit.

(Baonghean)Nearly five months ago, Vintechco Duc Viet Investment Joint Stock Company approached Tan Ky district to lease land for growing chili peppers for export. Although this is a new form of production, the Tan Ky District People's Committee boldly attracted and facilitated the company's operations. After one chili pepper growing season, the fields are now ready for harvest, confirming the effectiveness of the collaboration between all three parties involved.

Selecting chili peppers for canning and export to South Korea.

One early spring day in the Year of the Horse, we visited Tan Ky district, where the district leaders revealed: "This spring trip is to invite reporters to the chili pepper fields for export, to get inspiration for writing an article to kick off the new year." From Lat town, up to Tan Long commune, then to Phu Son, passing through Nghia Dung and Nghia Binh communes, amidst the light spring rain, farmers were enthusiastically harvesting chili peppers. Mr. Nguyen Ba Thuc – Head of the District's Agriculture Department, said: "Although it's cold and rainy like this, the farmers still have to wear raincoats to harvest chili peppers. Because, according to the company's regulations, export chili peppers must be green; if they ripen, the company will not import them. Therefore, despite the unfavorable weather, the farmers are diligently harvesting to meet the deadline."

While chatting with Ms. Hoang Thi Van, who was harvesting chili peppers in the fields of Tan Ho hamlet, Tan Long commune, she shared: “My family has 3 sao (approximately 0.3 hectares) of land along the Con River. Previously, we planted sugarcane or corn every year, but this year we planted chili peppers. The chili pepper company invested in seeds, fertilizers, plastic sheeting, and technical assistance… After nearly 3 months of planting and caring for the plants, the chili peppers are ready for harvest. Right after Tet (Lunar New Year), the company announced that we could go to the fields to harvest the chili peppers, and everyone was excited. As of February 12th, my family has harvested 5 batches of peppers, supplying the company with 150 kg. The company has a contract to buy each kilogram of chili peppers at 5,000 VND. We expect to harvest about 4.5 tons of chili peppers from these 3 sao.” According to Ms. Van's calculations, chili pepper cultivation yields much higher returns than sugarcane, and the costs are lower.

Arriving at Tan Yen hamlet, Tan Phu commune, we met Mr. and Mrs. Tran Xuan Cong harvesting chili peppers in their rubber plantation. Looking at Mr. Cong's chili pepper rows, they were noticeably better than the chili fields in Tan Long commune. Mr. Cong explained: "This rubber plantation is one year old. Taking advantage of the empty land, we intercropped pineapples and watermelons, which provided a considerable income. This year, we intercropped chili peppers for export, and the yield was incredibly high. The area we intercropped chili peppers covers about 2 sao (1 sao = 1,000 m2), and this chili crop yielded approximately 3.5 tons. Compared to other intercropped plants, chili peppers are the most profitable, and the company guarantees the purchase of the product, ensuring a stable market. Watermelons and pineapples, while having higher yields, require more investment and have an uncertain market."

In the communes of Nghia Dong, Nghia Dung, and Nghia Binh, the atmosphere of labor in the chili fields is much more bustling. According to the contract of Vintechco Duc Viet Investment Joint Stock Company, in the two communes of Tan Long and Tan Phu, the company only invests in seeds, fertilizers, plastic sheeting for the planting beds, and technical expertise to cultivate 30 hectares of chili; the labor is provided by the farmers. Upon harvest, the company guarantees the purchase of the product. In the two communes of Nghia Dung and Nghia Binh, the company leases the land for three years at a price of 14-18 million VND/hectare/year (depending on the type of land). After leasing the land, the company is fully responsible for everything from land preparation, planting, caring for, and selling the product. During the process, the company employs local farmers at a rate of 120-160 thousand VND/day (depending on the job).

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lieu, a farmer from Dinh hamlet, Nghia Dung commune, happily shared: "My family owns 3 sao (approximately 0.3 hectares) of land in this field, all of which we rent to the company. After renting the land, the company hired three family members to work, averaging 15 days of work per person per month. The work here isn't strenuous, mainly planting, weeding, and harvesting, and the company pays 120,000 VND per person per day. However, working for the company requires adherence to the schedule: from 7 am to 11 am and from 1:30 pm to 5 pm. Those who arrive late have their wages deducted. Previously, after Tet (Lunar New Year), people would rest for the entire month of January because there was nothing to do. This year, however, we all went to work on the 4th day of Tet despite the cold and rainy weather. Even so, everyone was enthusiastic and arrived on time because they received their money immediately. The company pays fairly and promptly. Payments are made every 10 days, and advance payments are available if needed." Thanks to this, the company's employees no longer have to worry about scrambling for money to pay for weddings and funerals like before. In fact, compared to producing everything themselves, hiring farmers to work for the company is much more profitable. Mrs. Lieu's family has three members working for the company, and since the beginning of the season, they have received over 15 million dong in wages.

Speaking with us, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Khiem – Director of Vintechco Duc Viet Investment Joint Stock Company, said: “Up until now, we can truly breathe a sigh of relief regarding chili peppers in Tan Ky. With an initial investment of over 10 billion VND, including machinery for land preparation, furrowing, fertilization… as well as seeds, fertilizers, and supplies, most of the chili pepper crop has now been harvested, with a large quantity of high-quality fruit. This year's chili harvest started in early February and ended at the end of June 2014. It is expected that 110 hectares of chili peppers in Tan Ky will yield 800 tons (equivalent to 40 billion VND). As of February 13th, the company had harvested 25 tons of chili peppers and exported them to South Korea.” With such estimated yield and production, Mr. Khiem believes the set target has been achieved. Thus, to date, the company has confirmed the effectiveness of growing chili peppers for export (138TN and 600TN Trang Nong varieties) in Tan Ky. To cultivate and care for 80 hectares of chili peppers in Nghia Dung and Nghia Binh communes, in addition to using mechanized machinery, the company also employs 1,000 seasonal workers, enabling local farmers to access new, highly commercialized production methods.

Mr. Pham Van Loi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nghia Dung commune, happily said: “Since the company came to grow chili peppers, farmers in the neighboring hamlets feel like they have a factory in their village. Every day, the women go to and from work on time, just like working shifts at a factory. During the production process, the company, the local government, and the farmers always work closely together, helping each other, so all three parties benefit. Next season, the commune will encourage people in other hamlets to create favorable conditions for the company to lease land. Only then will our farmers change their perceptions and quickly adapt to modern agricultural production methods.”

Mr. Pham Van Hoa, Chairman of the Tan Ky District People's Committee, expressed his delight, stating: "Vintechco Duc Viet Investment Joint Stock Company is the first unit to invest in agriculture, achieving efficiency for all three stakeholders (farmers, businesses, government, and scientists), which is a breakthrough for Tan Ky. In the future, the district will continue to cooperate with the company in joint ventures and gradually establish chili farming cooperatives in Nghia Dung and Nghia Binh communes. The goal is that, after the company hands over the land to the local authorities, the cooperatives will continue to cooperate with the company to grow chili peppers and supply products for export. Initially, through various forms of propaganda, the district will continue to encourage farmers to expand the area planted with chili peppers. At the same time, we will organize visits for local organizations and associations to learn from the model and replicate it, aiming to raise farmers' awareness of high-value, commercial agricultural production."

Xuan Hoang