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 field of Nghia Phu commune (Nghia Dan) is 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 developed 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 district, commune and factory agricultural extension officers, instructed on techniques to care for and invest 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 Agriculture 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 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 a number of 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 a productivity and quality increase of 10-15% compared to the mass. 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, NA2 Materials,... easy to consume, have high value in the market, mainly purchased by enterprises 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 Joint Stock Corporation at a price 10 - 15% higher than the price of normal rice; especially the 2014 autumn-winter 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, etc. 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. Investing in loans, advancing seeds and fertilizers, committing to consume products for farmers, creating good links between producers and enterprises. Scientific and technological advances and advanced technologies have been put into production. Building the CĐML 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 construction 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 quickly shifting 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 cooperatives 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 them themselves. The sluggish sales of products in the recent melon crop in the cooperatives 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, people's dependence, and the weak direction of authorities at all levels, the replication of the model, especially in mountainous districts, will be limited. Besides, some enterprises only focus 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, 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 do not have the awareness to strictly comply with the contract, normally still sell products to businesses, but when the market has higher prices, they will not hesitate to break the commitment, even not pay debts to businesses if production is not favorable. Because of these difficulties, the CĐML model is currently only limited to the model and has not been widely replicated.

Promoting the effectiveness of the CĐMLs, the province has a policy to continue building large fields (CĐLs) in the whole province. To be successful, first of all, all levels, sectors and localities need to strengthen propaganda, enhance cooperation, production linkage, and build CĐLs so that people understand and actively and voluntarily participate. At the same time, promote training to improve knowledge on agricultural commodity production for farmers. Speed ​​up the progress of land conversion, field improvement, and create favorable conditions for building CĐLs in the province. Quickly apply scientific and technological advances and advanced technology to production on CĐLs, especially advances in varieties, farming techniques, and production technology. At the same time, strengthen production cooperation and link well the "4 houses" in the production of agricultural commodities according to the CĐL 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