Powering large model fields

(Baonghean) - In 5 years (2010 - 2015), the whole province has had over 100 large-scale field models, contributing to finding a new direction for agricultural development. In order for large-scale fields to continue to be expanded and developed steadily, support and encouragement with new, more practical and effective policies are needed...

Diversify resources

Phuc Thanh is one of the communes with a long tradition of growing rice seeds and is now a bright spot for the largest model rice field in Yen Thanh. Each crop, the commune has a large field of over 100 hectares, accounting for 20% of the commune's cultivated area. Mr. Nguyen Khac Nang - Director of Phuc Thanh Agricultural Services and Electricity Cooperative boasted: With 100 hectares of large model rice fields, of which about 80 hectares are linked to growing seeds for businesses, it really opens up great prospects for agricultural production. Compared to normal rice production, each hectare of rice seeds increases by 10 - 12 million VND, so people are very excited.

With the success of the large-scale field, not only the budget but also businesses have come to support. Currently, in addition to businesses such as Nghe An Agricultural Materials Corporation, Central Seed Company 1, Vinh Hoa Company Limited... investing in rice seed and rice production, there are now many large-scale field models for peanuts, corn and soon tea and sugarcane. Along with providing advance seeds and fertilizer materials, some businesses have initially purchased products for farmers. Recently, according to Decision No. 08/QD-UB/2015 of the Provincial People's Committee on a number of specific policies to attract investment in the agricultural and rural sector in the period of 2015 - 2020, some businesses are initially approaching to invest, promising that large-scale fields in our province will have more opportunities.

Agricultural extension officers check rice in a large sample field in Nam Thinh hamlet, Phuc Thanh commune (Yen Thanh).

In Hung Nguyen - one of the earliest districts to implement the province's large-scale field policy, Ms. Ba Thi Dung - Deputy Head of the district's Agriculture Department said: Due to unstable investment by enterprises, each year Hung Nguyen allocates a budget of 1.8 billion VND to invest in agricultural development, of which 1.1 billion VND is used to implement large-scale fields. Continuing the results of previous years, in the spring crop of 2016, Hung Nguyen implemented 10 large-scale field models in 8 communes, each model from 8-9 hectares.

This spring crop, Hung My commune has planted 10 hectares in hamlet 2. Although at the beginning of the implementation, due to the cold weather, some short-term areas were affected, but now they have recovered and developed very well. Mr. Le Dinh Ta - an agricultural extension officer of the commune said: Promoting the results of the summer-autumn crop last year, the commune has planted 20 hectares quite successfully. This spring crop, in addition to the 10 hectares of the district, the commune allocated the budget to plant 7.5 hectares, but they were all killed by the cold, so only 10 hectares of the district remain. Mr. Ngo Van Ty in hamlet 2, Hung My commune is the family with the largest field area in the hamlet, his family has 6.5 sao and all of them are large-scale fields. He said that this is the first time planting a large field, he learned many new things, at first he was worried, but thanks to timely guidance from plant protection and agricultural extension officers, the rice grows well, so he is more assured.

In addition to the district's support budget, the communes of Hung Nguyen district all allocate funds, support from 50% - 100% and money for materials, pesticides, on average each year allocate about 20 - 80 million VND from the agricultural extension fund to support farmers. Therefore, although the investment from enterprises is not much, the district still maintains a large model field of several hundred hectares. Not only that, in the face of complicated weather developments, the district proactively integrates and introduces new varieties into production of large model fields for testing and demonstration. If successful, it will be expanded to the following crops.

There are still difficulties

The first thing is the mechanism, currently the support mechanism under Decision 02 has expired; the policy to support large fields is implemented according to Decree 62/ND-CP/2013 of the Government and Circular No. 15 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. However, according to Circular 15, to receive support, enterprises must go through many procedures, from making plans or projects to submitting to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval; enterprises must have plans to build raw material areas according to 5-year, 10-year cycles... Because of this rigid regulation, some enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, said they are very hesitant and are no longer interested in investing in large fields. Besides, although the budget also allocates investment funds for large fields, it is very limited, instead of investing the correct norm of 105 million VND/ha, districts have only invested 50% so the productivity has not reached the maximum compared to the requirements.

The large-scale field model will continue to be implemented in the coming time.

On the other hand, in essence, building large-scale fields is building a “four-house” linkage in agricultural production, but there are areas that are almost completely lacking in enterprises. Meanwhile, there are areas where enterprises invest but are left to their own devices, and the roles of state management and scientists are unclear. When risks arise or product prices increase, farmers “break the deal” to sell to others, and enterprises also have a hard time. On the contrary, if no one buys the products produced, and production does not guarantee profits, it is very difficult to mobilize people to build large-scale fields…

Finally, there is the obstacle from the people: large-scale field production means "5 together": same field, same type of seed, same planting and harvesting at the same time, but there are too many households participating in one field with different farming skills, so it is very difficult to direct.

Phuong Ha