Volunteering to 'incubate' science

Journey to "awaken" the difficult land

The journey from Vinh city to Hua Na village (Hanh Dich commune, Que Phong district) started at 3:30 am. In the pickup truck swaying through the hairpin bends, Mr. Mai Hong Phong - Head of the Inspection and Legal Department, Nghe An Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management, also the Captain of the Volunteer Team for Science and Technology Transfer, still kept his eyes open to lead the volunteer group through the journey of more than 200 km.

Volunteer team on their way to visit people in Pu Duoc village, Dong Van commune, Que Phong district. Photo: Thanh Quynh

The atmosphere became more lively when the car had the appearance of 2 business owners of clean food chain stores in Vinh city and Thai Hoa town, 2 factors that the team spent a lot of time calling for to solve the output for people raising fish in Hua Na Hydropower Reservoir. This time, they went with the group to personally survey the quality of aquatic species raised in the reservoir to make a decision to sign a contract with the people.

After nearly 2 years of accompanying people to develop the area for fish farming in the lake, volunteer Nguyen Cong Tho - Deputy of the Aquatic Product Inspection Station of Quynh Bang Commune (Quynh Luu) still remembers clearly the first difficult days when he helped people in the lake area change their thinking and approach new methods in aquaculture.

Because most of the people are ethnic minorities, they are limited in science and technology as well as in connecting with traders to find outlets for their products. There are times when diseases and unsafe food sources cause fish productivity to be very low. Therefore, after many years, 42 Thai and Mong households raising fish in the lake are still struggling to find a way out of poverty.

Business owners from Vinh City and Thai Hoa Town came to the site to learn more and sign contracts with the locals. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Understanding that difficulty, since its establishment in 2018, the Science and Technology Transfer Team has not hesitated to travel long distances to reach the people. After many training sessions, field surveys at the cages as well as developing a plan to improve the quality of the seed source, the first batches of qualified fish have been sold. Today, the people are happier when they receive news that a business is about to come to sign a contract.

Together with people to build a prosperous life

After 3 hours of climbing uphill to reach Pu Duoc (Dong Van, Que Phong), the vast, green Hua Na lake appeared before our eyes. Lang Van Xo, Lang Van Sang, and Vi Van Tuyen had prepared 2 boats to welcome the group.

Mr. Mai Hong Phong then brought out a square box, which contained dozens of flashing lights donated by the team members to give to the people to light up the farming area, to prevent boats from hitting the fish cages. In addition to the lights, there was also a contract prepared by the team for everyone to sign with the business.

Volunteer team inspects Hua Na hydroelectric reservoir and fish cages to transfer technology to local people. Photo: Thanh Quynh

The boat sailed more than 300m to reach the fish cage system of Mr. Lang Van Sang. Having been involved in fish cage farming since childhood, at that time, Mr. Sang and his three sons had nearly 20 fish cages on the upper Lam River. Until the State had a policy of relocation to build Hua Na Hydropower Plant, the father and sons continued this profession on the reservoir of the hydropower plant.

Remember in 2018, nearly ten fish cages of Mr. Sang and Mr. Xo's families were infected with disease. Fish died all over the cages without any clear cause, the villagers were even more worried because they feared that the disease from these fish cages would spread to the entire lake.

At that time, Mr. Xo contacted the Volunteer Team, although he and the people did not have much hope for help due to geographical and traffic distance. However, as soon as he received the call, Mr. Nguyen Canh Hoang - Head of the Quynh Bang Aquatic Product Inspection Station, a member of the volunteer team, immediately took the last afternoon bus of the day to go to the people.

After examining the situation, he realized that the fish were infected with fungus, and that improper care by the people made the disease worse and spread quickly. Understanding the situation, he "prescribed medicine" for the fish and gave specific instructions for treatment. After nearly 2 weeks, the fish were cured.

People were even happier because that year's fish season had good prices, each cage brought in no less than 7 - 8 million VND, a not small amount of money compared to the income of the people of Pu Duoc village in the past.

Volunteer team members help people release fish fry. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Not only the people in Pu Duoc but also many models are sponsored by the Volunteer Team to transfer science and technology. For example, the model of growing the new Green King cucumber variety according to VietGAP for Mr. Tran Van Khoi in Hamlet 7 (Trung Son Commune, Do Luong).

Good harvest, good price, melon growing area is less than 1,000 m²He earned over 30 million VND. According to Do Luong district's assessment, this is a model in 2018 of Trung Son commune.

Since then, many people in Trung Son commune and neighboring communes have learned the model to reproduce and produce. Even happier, in Thanh Tien commune (Thanh Lien), last crop, some households successfully planted Green King melons.

To support the economic development of coastal areas, the team has transferred techniques for aquaculture, seafood processing, mushroom cultivation and livestock support to the people. Notably, there is a model of raising herbal chickens with a total flock of more than 4,000 chickens for Mr. Le Van Duong, Tan Hai hamlet (Quynh Bang, Quynh Luu).

This new farming method minimizes the use of vaccines and drugs. The output of the model is of good quality, safe, low production cost, stable economic efficiency and is sought after by traders.

Instructing people on oxygen pumping techniques to transport fish for consumption. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Extend the journey of overcoming difficulties

Talking about the Science and Technology Transfer Volunteer Team, Mr. Pham Van Toan - Head of the Provincial Youth Union Movement Board said that the movement of self-establishment and career establishment of union members and young people is developing strongly.

However, access to science and technology is still limited. Based on that reality, to support union members and young people in the process of starting a business, the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee has decided to establish a team of young intellectuals volunteering to transfer science and technology in the agricultural sector of Nghe An province. The members are all exemplary party members, coming from relevant departments and branches in the agricultural sector.

To grasp the aspirations of union members and youth, grassroots union organizations have distributed survey forms. Based on the support needs of union members and youth, they will request the Volunteer Team to participate in "rescue" and provide scientific and technical assistance.

In recent times, the Volunteer Team has had many exciting programs, organized dozens of training sessions to transfer scientific and technical advances in agricultural production, livestock, aquaculture, seafood processing for union members, youth and people, along with regularly disseminating the policies and guidelines of the Party and State on agricultural, forestry and fishery extension.

Thanks to that, many union members and young people have grasped new techniques to confidently develop the economy, replicating effective enrichment models with an income of hundreds of millions of dong each year.

VietGAP shrimp farming and greenhouse melon growing in Quynh Luu.

The science and technology transfer volunteer team are pioneers, volunteering to sow scientific seeds in rural areas eager to apply new things in production, in order to escape poverty and become rich.

“All beginnings are hard”, difficulties and hardships still lie ahead, but the achievements you create will be a source of motivation for union members, youth and people in disadvantaged areas to rise up.