Aspiration for innovation in the fields

Organic certified medicinal herb production area in Nho Quan district of Riti Cooperative (Hoa Lu city).

Modern farmers, not afraid of innovation

In the flow of innovation in social life, farmers who dare to think and act stand out to change local agricultural production.

A typical example is Mr. Bui Duc Thinh, Gia Hoa commune, Gia Vien district. At his "rare" age, Mr. Thinh still shows incredible acumen when applying technology to manage his fish farm. With 2.6 hectares of fish ponds designed according to a modern model, equipped with water pumping, aeration and automatic feeding systems, all fish care activities are within "one touch" from his smartphone.

Sharing about this “powerful assistant”, Mr. Thinh could not hide his joy: “The phone is so small, but it replaces 2-3 people working hard in the pond. It saves time, effort, and is also accurate.

Thanks to it, the fish grow quickly, and we also have more income. Last year, my family earned about 600 million VND in profit!” Mr. Thinh’s story is a vivid proof that technology has become a lever, helping farmers improve productivity and quality of life.

Not only Mr. Thinh, in the vast fields of Ninh Binh , there are more and more other farmers who boldly invest in mechanization in production. A typical example is the large farm Trinh Viet Chien in Kim Phu village, Ninh Khang commune, Hoa Lu city.

Owning 300 hectares of rented rice fields, Mr. Chien has invested in a synchronous machinery system from land preparation, sowing, transplanting, care to harvesting. He even uses drones to spray pesticides and fertilize, a familiar image in the vast rice fields.

Thanks to 100% mechanization, Mr. Chien confidently asserted: “It only takes 10-15 days to plant hundreds of hectares of rice fields. Production costs are also reduced by nearly half compared to manual work. In recent years, rice prices have been good, and I earn several hundred million VND each year.” Mr. Chien’s success is not only a source of personal pride but also an inspiration to many people, affirming that farming can also make you rich.

From the pioneering individuals, an innovative farming community was formed. The large-scale farming club with 45 members, owning more than 800 hectares of rice land, was born, creating a sustainable cooperative strength.

Mr. Bui Huu Ngoc, Director of the Provincial Center for Agricultural Extension and Trade Promotion, shared: It is expected that this force will be the pioneering "new class of farmers", creating a revolution in agricultural production in the province.

The center is planning to support them in accessing more advanced technologies, towards smart agriculture, reducing costs, increasing efficiency and protecting the environment. Gradually, rice cultivation will form a market for selling emission certificates, contributing to increasing income for farmers.

Towards a green and sustainable future

Innovation in Ninh Binh fields does not stop at the application of technology and mechanization. Realizing the importance of food quality and safety, farmers in the province increasingly pay attention to technical standards, safe production, traceability associated with the construction of raw material areas.

Up to now, the whole province has 21 establishments that have been granted VietGAP certification, 8 establishments have been granted organic product certification in accordance with the requirements of Vietnam Organic Agriculture Standards, the total area certified as organic is 26.1 hectares, supplying the market with about 293.8 tons of organic products, including golden flower tea, medicinal plants, chrysanthemum, Cuc Phuong ginseng, kudzu, turmeric, vegetables, tubers, and fruits of all kinds.

The area of organic rice production has reached nearly 5 thousand hectares and has been widely deployed in all districts and cities in the province. Most of the main agricultural products of the communes have been established by production and business establishments with traceability systems to ensure the requirements for storage and retrieval of information at each stage from production to storage, processing and trading of products.

According to 2024 data, the average income per capita in rural areas has reached 70.74 million VND/person/year, showing a significant improvement in economic life thanks to positive changes in agricultural production. With the goal of comprehensively improving the material and spiritual life of rural people, Ninh Binh is continuing to focus on restructuring the agricultural sector towards ecology and multi-value.

Comrade Dinh Van Khiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment emphasized: The purpose of ecological agriculture is to create an ecologically sustainable agricultural system with economic potential, meeting the increasing needs of people without degrading resources and the environment.

In the future, Ninh Binh agriculture will not only play a role in ensuring food security but also aim to serve tourism and provide high-quality, typical agricultural products for the local market and tourists. The province identifies its competitive advantage not in land size or cheap labor but in tourism potential and the uniqueness of local products.

Ninh Binh agriculture does not aim to compete in large-scale exports but focuses on quality and added value, aiming to serve about 1 million people in the province and millions of tourists each year. To realize this vision, Ninh Binh will focus on developing agriculture in a multi-sector, multi-value direction, maximizing the potential of each ecological region.

Specialized production areas will be systematically planned, while green belts, ecological agricultural routes for tourism and high-tech agricultural zones will be formed. The province also pays special attention to preserving and promoting traditional agricultural products and local specialties in conjunction with the development of agricultural tourism and OCOP products.

Applying advanced farming methods such as smart agriculture, precision agriculture, circular agriculture and organic agriculture will be the foundation for building a green, clean, harmonious and sustainable agriculture, contributing to creating urban ecological landscapes and promoting tourism.

Along with advanced agriculture, the province also builds the countryside in a modern, green, clean, and beautiful direction, but still retains traditional cultural identity. The goal is to create a good living environment, narrow the gap between rural and urban areas in the direction of city within village, village within city, while protecting the environment and developing sustainable agriculture.

The image of Ninh Binh farmers in the future is "civilized farmers" - people who master technology and markets, have knowledge and professional production skills, contributing to building a rich and civilized homeland.

With continuous efforts, Ninh Binh is gradually realizing the goal of becoming a pioneering and model province in ecological agriculture, modern countryside and civilized farmers by 2030. This is not only an economic goal but also an aspiration for a better life for people in the homeland of the ancient capital.

Article and photos: Nguyen Luu

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/khat-vong-doi-moi-tren-dong-ruong-923995.htm