Elderly Thai ethnic farmers 'turn' barren land into a source of money.
Thanh Phuc - Hoai Thu•November 5, 2024 14:44
From a barren wasteland, littered with pebbles and overgrown with weeds, thanks to diligent hands and innovative methods, the elderly Thai ethnic farmers in Luc Da commune (Con Cuong district) have transformed it into a fertile field…
These days, passing through the Moi stream area in Luc Da commune (Con Cuong district), everyone is amazed by the lush, vibrant winter vegetable garden of Mr. Lo Van Tien's household, filled with various kinds of pumpkins, squash, amaranth, cabbage, cucumbers, and more. Photo: Thanh PhucFew people know that, in the past, this Moi stream area was all rock, flooded during the rainy season and drought-stricken during the dry season, so it remained barren for many years. Regretting the wasted land, and with his family's limited arable land, Mr. Lo Van Tien came up with the idea of reclaiming this area for production. (Photo: Hoai Thu)Mr. Tien buys animal manure from local farms, cuts down green manure plants, and uses by-products from vegetables after harvest to compost into microbial organic fertilizer for the soil, saving costs and improving soil quality. Photo: Thanh PhucAfter a whole year, vegetable seeds are sown in this barren wasteland. Photo: Hoai ThuThrough perseverance and dedication, Mr. Tien now has over 1 hectare of vegetables that thrive year-round. Photo: Thanh PhucWith guidance from commune officials, Mr. Tien regularly updates his knowledge of farming and organic vegetable production methods on the internet. Photo: Thanh PhucWith the advantage of large land areas in the highlands, many people in Luc Da have taken advantage of growing grass to feed their livestock. A typical example is Mr. Vi Van Son's household, who both grows grass for his family's livestock and sells it to livestock farms in the area. Photo: Hoai ThuTo ensure a reliable water supply for irrigation, elderly farmers in Luc Da have invested in installing pipeline systems to bring water from rivers, streams, ravines, and dams to their fields. Photo: Thanh PhucMachinery was also introduced, partially freeing up labor and increasing efficiency in production. Photo: Hoai ThuHigh-yielding, high-quality grass varieties are being cultivated in Luc Da to supply cattle fattening farms. Photo: Thanh PhucGrowing corn for biomass to sell to livestock farms has also been incorporated into the local cropping pattern. This has improved production efficiency and boosted economic development. Photo: Hoai ThuClip: Thanh Phúc - Hoài Thu
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