Nghe An farmers find ways to adapt to 'escalating' fertilizer prices
(Baonghean.vn) - Since the beginning of 2021, fertilizer prices have increased rapidly, with some types doubling or even tripling compared to the same period last year. Faced with the situation of high prices of agricultural materials, Nghe An farmers have had appropriate ways to adapt...
According to the latest price adjustment in early November, nowfertilizer prices increasefrom 8% -70% compared to the same period in 2020. Specifically, cold fertilizer (urea) previously cost 350,000 VND/50kg bag, but now has increased to 840,000 VND/bag, DAP fertilizer also increased from 600,000 VND to 1.3 million VND/bag, potassium fertilizer also increased to more than 750,000 VND/bag...
Partly due to unfavorable weather conditions, partly due to high prices of fertilizers, which have pushed up agricultural input costs many times, farmers are not interested in farming this winter crop. By mid-November 2021, the whole province had only completed 73% of the planned area.
Growing 1 hectare of squash on alluvial land, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (Thuong Tan Loc commune, Nam Dan district) had to invest nearly 3 million VND in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for 5 fertilizations including: basal fertilizer, bait fertilizer and 3 top dressings. Ms. Huong said: “This year, input costs for squash production have all increased, from land preparation, labor to seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. In particular, the price of fertilizers has increased too much, roughly estimated to be double that of last year. Meanwhile, the output of squash is unknown.”
 |
| Localities train farmers in transferring organic fertilizer production techniques. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
Faced with the situation of high fertilizer prices, in many localities, farmers haveGood ways to adapt to rising fertilizer prices.Specifically, Tan Ky farmers have mass produced organic microbial fertilizers from manure, green plants, molasses with biological products. On average, each year, Tan Ky farmers produce about 3,000 tons of organic microbial fertilizers for crops; about 80% of households produce and use organic microbial fertilizers.
Every year, the District Farmers' Association coordinates with relevant agencies to organize training courses on the production of organic fertilizers from agricultural by-products for farmers in communes in the district.
 |
| Tan Phu (Tan Ky) farmers use organic fertilizer to fertilize fruit trees instead of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
To make 1 ton of organic fertilizer, you need 700 kg of garbage (rice husks, peanut shells, peanut stalks, corn, straw, clam shells, manure...) dried and chopped; 6 types of additives including: 2kg Compost maker + 2kg Urea + 5kg phosphate + 3kg potassium + 5kg lime powder + 4kg molasses mixed with clean water, mix well with 700 kg of garbage. Then pile them into beds, cover with tarpaulin; stir evenly once every 10 days. After 25-30 days, you will get 1 ton of organic fertilizer. The total cost is about 185,000 VND.
Mr. Tran Huu Nghi - Vice Chairman of Tan Ky District Farmers' Association said: "With cheap raw materials, producing and using organic fertilizers helps save production costs; helps regenerate soil, retains moisture well, very suitable in the current harsh climate change conditions".
In Anh Son, the production modelorganic microbial fertilizerhas also been deployed and expanded to 10 communes and towns in the area. Farmers in communes such as Tao Son, Khai Son, Cam Son... have taken advantage of agricultural by-products such as straw, corn residue, sugarcane, livestock and poultry manure... to process into organic fertilizer for production.
 |
| Despite bringing "double" benefits, the use of organic fertilizers instead of inorganic fertilizers still faces many difficulties and has not been widely applied. Photo: Thanh Phuc |
For many years now, some households in Nghi Truong commune (Nghi Loc) have known how to process organic fertilizers to fertilize crops to reduce production costs and improve product quality. Mr. Dang Tho An's household (Hamlet 4, Nghi Truong commune) grows 2 sao of watermelon. To replace inorganic fertilizers, he often buys small fish from Cua Lo fishing port to soak, ferment and then water the watermelons. At the same time, he makes pesticides from a mixture of garlic, chili, ginger and alcohol to spray on the plants.
Mr. Dang Tho An said: “With this method, we can reduce the cost of purchasing materials and produce clean and safe products, so the price is very popular in the market. Therefore, the watermelons, melons, and tomatoes that our family produces are sold out as soon as they are produced, and the price is higher than the market price.”
Currently, in the face of the escalating fertilizer prices, on the one hand, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinates with the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Market Management to inspect and control to avoid speculation and price-fixing; production and trade of fake and poor quality fertilizers. On the other hand, it encourages farmers to stick to production lines, apply improved production models, and utilize agricultural by-products to produce organic microbial fertilizers for cultivation to reduce input costs.