Vinh City creates sustainable 'green belt' on the outskirts of the city

(Baonghean) - For suburban communes, the development orientation that Vinh City Party Committee has determined is to both develop the economy and focus on building ecological environmental space on the basis of creating intensive agricultural commodity farming areas associated with tourism development.

Suburban models

People of Hung Dong commune enter the new vegetable crop.

Entering the center of Nghi Lien commune, before our eyes are asphalt and concrete roads connecting to prosperous residential areas, flower gardens, ornamental plants, and green vegetables. Comrade Nguyen Cong Ha - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: Previously, the economy only depended on a few acres of rice fields and sandy soil, so the lives of people in the area were difficult in many ways. Then, the cadres and people agreed and persistently brought flowers, ornamental plants, and commercial vegetables into intensive cultivation, which has really changed the life and appearance of this suburban area.

In Nghi Lien now, there are many households participating in growing flowers and ornamental plants with a total area of ​​up to about 50 hectares, concentrated in hamlets 2, 3, 4 and being expanded to some other hamlets. Typically in hamlet 4, there are 75 households, of which 52 households specialize in growing flowers and ornamental plants in the garden and also in the fields. The profession of growing flowers and ornamental plants was formed in hamlet 4 several decades ago and has been recognized as a craft village by the Provincial People's Committee.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dinh, who has more than 20 years of experience in this profession, currently owns a 0.5 hectare flower and ornamental plant garden, earning a net profit of 200 - 300 million VND per year. Mr. Dinh shared: "Flowers and ornamental plants not only bring in income but also create a healthy living environment, making the village landscape green, clean and beautiful."

Vinh City and the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology discussed coordination in transferring science and technology to develop suburban agriculture.

In Hung Dong commune, in addition to 140 hectares of rice fields, there are more than 60 hectares of crops and dozens of hectares of garden land identified by the Party Committee and the commune government to develop key crops such as vegetables of all kinds, flowers and ornamental plants. My Long hamlet is one of the hamlets specializing in growing commercial vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. According to comrade Tran Duc Lien - Secretary of the hamlet's Party Cell, the smallest household grows about 800 m2, the largest household grows 1,200 - 1,400 m2. Vegetables and flowers are grown year-round in the family garden, achieving a land turnover ratio of 6 - 8 times/year. With care techniques, a roof in the summer, an automatic irrigation system and experience in caring for winter vegetables despite harsh weather, vegetables in Hung Dong are regularly available on the market.

Many other hamlets such as Trung My, Yen Vinh, Yen Xa, Dong Vinh, Vinh Xuan... also got rich thanks to the rotation of vegetables and flowers all year round, not letting the land rest. According to comrade Tran Duc Dinh - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hung Dong commune, with the focus on leadership and direction to expand the area, encourage people to increase crops, increase the land turnover coefficient; convert crops according to market demand, apply science and technology in production, Hung Dong has built a specialized vegetable production area of ​​up to 40 - 50 hectares, becoming the commune with the largest specialized vegetable area in the city.

Hung Dong farmers take care of vegetables

Comrade Tran Quang Lam - Head of Economic Department, Vinh City People's Committee, said: Based on the orientation and direction of the Vinh City Party Committee Standing Committee for suburban communes, the City People's Committee has issued a Project on suburban agricultural development associated with new rural construction. Up to now, a number of clear agricultural economic models have been formed, meeting the goals set by the City Party Committee Standing Committee, which is to both develop the economy and ensure the ecological environment, towards developing eco-tourism.

Removing barriers

Although the city has directed the suburban communes to develop in the direction of commodity agricultural economy. However, the results are still limited. Objectively, due to the rapid urbanization, the infrastructure serving agriculture is broken, affecting agricultural production. On the other hand, the production land in suburban communes is mainly sandy, infertile, and easily flooded when it rains; in addition, earning a living in the inner city is bringing a fairly stable source of income for some workers, from which people are no longer interested in agriculture.

Subjectively, the leadership and direction of the city and its agencies have not been truly resolute, especially in directing the accumulation of land, creating large production areas and a stable market. The work of attracting businesses to invest in the agricultural sector has not been carried out.

Comrade Tran Duc Dinh - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hung Dong Commune, said: Currently, the vegetable production area in Hung Dong is still fragmented in each family's garden and some areas of land of the same color. This leads to the management of irrigation water sources and the use of pesticides being very difficult, making it difficult to build a safe and sustainable vegetable production model.

Japanese sunflowers are one of the new varieties of flowers that have been introduced and planted along with the chrysanthemums traditionally grown in Hung Dong. On average, each sunflower branch sold at the garden is 10,000 VND.

In the 2015 - 2020 term, the Vinh City Party Committee Standing Committee continues to determine the direction for suburban communes: developing commodity agriculture, ensuring food hygiene and safety standards associated with sustainable new rural construction. In particular, vegetables and flowers are the two crops identified as key crops, ensuring to meet the huge demand of the city.

According to comrade Nguyen Hoai An - Chairman of the City People's Committee: Agricultural production, where there are enterprises participating together with the State and farmers, there will be sustainable efficiency. Therefore, the City Party Committee and the City People's Committee are promoting foreign affairs, attracting enterprises to invest in this field.

Currently, there are Japanese enterprises surveying to invest in this field, creating a large production area, good quality and stable market. Along with that, the city also focuses on prioritizing investment to improve infrastructure in suburban areas, especially electricity systems, canals, clean water, traffic roads... Focus on building a market system in potential communes, creating vibrant agricultural commodity trading activities in this area.

Minh Chi