Thanh Chuong grows vegetable soybeans for export to Japan.

Vegetable soybeans, originating from Japan, are quite delicious and highly nutritious. They are harvested while still green and boiled to be eaten as a vegetable.

As one of the many households participating in the vegetable soybean farming model in Dong Van commune (Thanh Chuong district), Mr. Vo Ba Sau was initially quite skeptical due to his lack of experience and technical knowledge. However, after two months of cultivation, he has now seen the benefits that vegetable soybeans bring to the people.

"Growing vegetable soybeans has a short growing time, yielding 3 crops per year, with 3-3.5 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters); at a selling price of 8,000 VND/kg, it is more economically efficient than corn and other crops," said Mr. Vo Ba Sau.

Inspecting and evaluating the results of the vegetable soybean cultivation model in Dong Van commune. Photo: Huu Thinh.

As a commune with many favorable conditions for agricultural production development, in 2018 Dong Van collaborated with a company to build a model of vegetable soybean cultivation in three hamlets: Tien Kieu, Thuong Quanh, and Phuong Dinh. Over time, the implementation showed that vegetable soybeans adapted well to the soil and grew more vigorously than other soybean varieties in the area.

The tree is resistant to pests and diseases, has a tall trunk, good branching, and produces abundant fruit, averaging 30-50 fruits per tree; yielding 3.5-4 quintals per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). Farmers are guided on how to cultivate it using clean farming practices.

When the vegetable soybean plants reach maturity, the company will purchase the whole pods, eliminating the need for drying, threshing, and weather-dependent conditions like other soybean varieties, thus reducing many risks for farmers.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Van commune, said that during the implementation process, the commune assigned the agricultural cooperative to organize linkages with businesses to provide training in science and technology, monitor the development and care process, and sign commitments to purchase products from the people. To date, the bean crop has yielded very positive results.

Because the soil along the Lam River is well-suited to the riverside alluvial plains, the vegetable soybean plant thrives and produces abundant pods. Photo: Huu Thinh

Along with Dong Van commune, Thanh Khai commune is also developing a model for growing vegetable soybeans for export this winter, covering an area of ​​10 hectares on the alluvial plain along the Lam River.

According to farmers, the techniques and care for growing vegetable soybeans are simple; the growing time is about 80 days per crop. Compared to other crops, vegetable soybeans yield much higher economic returns.

In 2018, vegetable soybeans were planted in Thanh Chuong district with a total area of ​​37 hectares in three communes: Dong Van, Thanh Khai, and Thanh Tuong. To encourage farmers to confidently produce and cultivate this soybean variety, before planting, the company that guaranteed the purchase of the product directly monitored the growth and development of the plants, as well as guiding farmers on cultivation techniques and pest control, helping the plants to develop optimally.

When harvest time comes, the company will go directly to the fields to purchase the produce from the farmers at a guaranteed price of 8,000 VND/kg and will export it to Japan.

In just a few days, the vegetable soybeans will ripen and be ready for harvest. With its outstanding advantages, along with the potential of the large alluvial land along the Lam River, the vegetable soybean crop is opening up a new direction for people in Thanh Chuong district.

This is not the first time Thanh Chuong has grown this type of bean for export to Japan; it was previously implemented quite effectively in Anh Son.