Building Large Model Fields: Caring for Farmers' Benefits

(Baonghean) - In recent years, from the policy of building model fields and then large-scale model fields, many localities have achieved positive results. However, along with the obvious successes, the construction of large-scale model fields still has many issues that need to be solved.

Effective models

Overcoming the wide gentle hillsides, the sugarcane fields of Nghia Phu commune (Nghia Dan) are implemented according to the large-scale field model (CĐML) built by NASU Sugar Factory in collaboration with Nghia Dan district to develop green. Mr. Ho Huu Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: Although there was a drought right after planting, there was no rain for several months, but thanks to proper care and fertilization, 8 hectares of sugarcane variety KL 92-11 in this CĐML still grew very well. The district has allocated 60 million VND from the budget to invest in drilling 5 wells, the commune also balanced and supported an additional 50 million VND to build electricity lines and irrigation pipes. In mid-September, it can be put into use to irrigate sugarcane. Farmers are trained by agricultural extension officers of the district, commune and factory, instructed on techniques for care and investment in appropriate fertilizer for sugarcane at each stage. It is not yet harvest time, but with experience, farmers participating in production in the CĐML model are very confident and expect a bumper sugarcane season, with productivity of up to 130 - 150 tons/ha, 60 - 80 tons higher than normal production, bringing in hundreds of millions of dong in income.

Summer-autumn rice harvest in Yen Thanh. Photo: Ho Cac

Since 2013, the first year of implementing the CĐML model, Nghe An has had 15 models. In general, the models have yielded superior yields compared to mass production. Building on that success, in 2 years (2014 and 2015), the agricultural sector continued to implement the models and achieved remarkable results, in which the CĐML model of corn production in Anh Son district achieved the highest yield ever (over 50 quintals/ha). In general, the CĐML models have high and consistent yields. There are some production seasons where, due to the influence of the weather, rice blast disease appears frequently in the province. However, in the CĐML, because plant protection work is focused on and implemented synchronously, and some disease-resistant varieties are introduced and produced, they are less affected by harmful pests.

It can be said that the organization of production according to the CĐML model has been actively implemented by localities and units, bringing high economic and social efficiency, increasing income for farmers and businesses, contributing to the construction of new rural areas. Mr. Phan Duy Thieu, Deputy Head of Planning and Finance Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: Basically, all models have achieved an increase in productivity and quality of 10-15% compared to the general level. From there, the income value per unit area has also increased (reaching an average of over 100 million VND/ha/year), contributing to increasing income for people. The products of CĐML are mainly high-quality rice such as AC5, Materials NA2,... easy to consume, have high value in the market, mainly purchased by businesses at a price at least 10% higher than normal rice, so farmers have higher income. Producing according to the CĐML model, farmers have a higher income of 10 - 15% compared to normal production. For example, the purchase price of AC5 rice of Vinh Hoa Science and Technology Company Limited is 8,000 - 9,000 VND/kg, while the price of normal rice is only 5 - 6,000 VND/kg; VTNA2 and DT 68 rice are purchased by Nghe An Agricultural Materials Corporation at a price 10 - 15% higher than the price of normal rice; especially the 2014 autumn-winter crop peanuts are sold for 35 - 40 thousand VND/kg... At the same time, businesses also have the conditions to purchase, process and consume products that ensure quality and origin.

Most importantly, according to the assessment of agricultural experts as well as local officials, the CĐML has formed a production method with proper and sufficient investment according to advanced technical processes in agricultural production. For example, the construction of CĐML for rice production in Mon Son commune (Con Cuong), Tam Thai (Tuong Duong), Que Phong, Quy Chau, ... has achieved good results as vivid visual models, contributing to ensuring food security in mountainous localities. At the same time, creating effective links between "4 houses" in production. Many enterprises and units such as Nghe An Agricultural Materials Joint Stock Corporation, Vinh Hoa Company Limited, Nghe An Seed Center ... have actively participated. Implementing investment in loans, advance seeds, fertilizers, committing to consume products for farmers, creating good links between producers and enterprises. Scientific and technological advances, advanced technologies are applied in production. Building the CĐML models also contributes to creating conditions for rapid mechanization in production, reducing costs, increasing labor productivity, and raising farmers' income; infrastructure serving production such as irrigation canal systems, intra-field roads, etc. are supported and integrated with investment in the CĐML models to increasingly better serve production. It can be affirmed that organizing production according to the CĐML model has promptly met the requirements of agricultural production in the current period. This is the basis for a rapid shift to commodity agriculture, increasing productivity and quality of crops, increasing the competitiveness of agricultural products in the market, contributing to building new rural areas.

Overcoming difficulties, ensuring harmony of interests

However, according to Mr. Tran Thanh Binh, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture of Nghi Loc district, in recent years, the construction of the cooperative market in the district has revealed some limitations. The most obvious are the shortcomings in the connection between enterprises and farmers. Some enterprises have entered into cooperation with farmers for production, but the situation of not respecting commitments still occurs. Enterprises buy at a lower price than the market price, people break their commitments to sell outside; or in the case of mass harvesting, the amount of products is too much, enterprises cannot buy all, people have to consume by themselves. The sluggish sales of products in the recent melon crop in the cooperative market of Nghi Long commune is an example.

According to Mr. Ho Ngoc Sy, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the current limitation is that the sustainability of some CĐML models is not high. Many CĐML models have been successfully built and achieved high efficiency, but if there is a lack of attention, guidance and support policies from the State, the problem of maintaining production links and product consumption will face many difficulties. From small-scale production habits, the people's dependence, and the lack of strong direction from authorities at all levels, the replication of the model, especially in mountainous districts, will be limited. In addition, some enterprises have only focused mainly on input factors of production such as seed supply and fertilizer loans. In the province, there are not many strong enterprises investing in the agricultural sector, especially in the field of post-harvest preservation and processing, and participating in the export of agricultural products, so they have not consumed all the products produced by farmers. Meanwhile, people are facing many limitations due to the customs, habits and ideology of small-scale, fragmented production which is still quite common. Many households participate in the construction of the CĐML model, while the economic conditions, investment capacity, and production level of farmers are not uniform, affecting the quality of the model. At the same time, many households are not aware of strictly following the contract, normally they still sell products to businesses, but when the market price is higher, they will not hesitate to break the commitment, even not paying debts to businesses if production is not favorable. Because of these difficulties, the CĐML model has only stopped at the model level and has not been widely replicated.

Promoting the effectiveness of the large-scale fields, the province has a policy to continue building large-scale fields (MLFs) throughout the province. To be successful, first of all, all levels, sectors and localities need to strengthen propaganda, enhance cooperation, production linkage, and build MLFs so that people understand and actively and voluntarily participate. At the same time, promote training to improve knowledge about agricultural commodity production for farmers. Speed ​​up the progress of land conversion, field improvement, and create favorable conditions for the construction of MLFs in the province. Quickly apply scientific and technological advances and advanced technologies to production in MLFs, especially advances in varieties, cultivation techniques, and production technology. At the same time, strengthen production cooperation, link well the "4 houses" in the production of agricultural commodities according to the MLF model, especially the active participation of enterprises in purchasing, processing, and consuming agricultural products for people. At the same time, strengthen the participation of Party committees at all levels, authorities, and professional agencies, creating a favorable environment and conditions for businesses and people to participate in implementation.

Phu Huong