Coming to Binh Thuy Islet, it is not difficult to see green vegetable fields as far as the eye can see. The people of Binh Thuy are inherently honest and gentle, and have been closely attached to growing crops for more than 30 years. As a veteran farmer in Binh Thuy, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nen cannot forget the time when people here switched to growing vegetables. "In the past, farmers in Binh Thuy also grew rice to have food. However, because the land was limited and the population was large, rice cultivation was not suitable. Meanwhile, growing vegetables does not require a large area, but if the price is right, the profit will be much higher. Therefore, Binh Thuy people also switched to growing vegetables to suit the natural conditions," Mr. Nen recalled.
In the memory of this old farmer, Binh Thuy was identified as a specialized color growing area since the year 2000. Initially, the agricultural sector of An Giang province planned for farmers to grow 2 rice crops and 1 color crop. In the following years, Binh Thuy switched to "2 colors, 1 rice" and progressed to form a specialized color growing area until now.
FollowingMr. Nen's direction, I saw green patches stretching out in my sight with all kinds of vegetables: green mustard, onions, chives, okra, cucumber, soybeans and especially white radish. With the terrain characteristics of the island, the water source for farmers growing crops in Binh Thuy is quite abundant, it is also a “silver river” so the soil is fertile all year round. Besides, the level of crop cultivation of Binh Thuy farmers is quite professional, so the output supplied to the market is abundant.
Farmers in Binh Thuy Islet have been attached to crops for nearly 30 years.
"Customers from Cho Moi, Phu Tan, Long Xuyen or Chau Doc also come here to collect vegetables to sell in and outside An Giang province, even to Ho Chi Minh City. We farmers often joke with each other saying "One hectare of land is equal to seven hectares of rice", because the income from vegetables if the price is right is really good. Many families also rely on vegetables to improve their lives, even though the land area is not too large. Moreover, the total cultivated land area of this island is only a few hundred hectares, and rice cultivation does not bring much economic value” - Mr. Neen analyzed.
Over the years, farmers in Binh Thuy have actively participated in learning farming techniques to improve the productivity and quality of crops. Some farmers have joined cooperatives to improve economic efficiency from crop cultivation. Mr. Nguyen Trung Tao, Director of Loi Phat Agricultural Cooperative, said that the cooperative currently has 35 members, sharing techniques and experiences in growing vegetables and information on prices and markets. The cooperative plans to be the focal point for purchasing vegetables from members for distribution to the market.
"Farmers also face many difficulties, especially in terms of agricultural output. Technically, we can meet market demands, but there is still no stable outlet. Meanwhile, vegetables are the type that must be consumed early and cannot be stored for a long time," Mr. I shared.
Currently, some farmers in Binh Thuy cooperate with the company to cultivate according to “orders”, but the quantity is not much and lacks sustainability. Therefore, Mr. Tao and other farmers really hope that the professional sector and locality will have measures to support output, helping them feel secure in production. The fact that farmers only know how to rely on traders makes them suffer many disadvantages, because it takes many intermediaries to bring vegetables to consumers.
Orienting to remove difficulties for Binh Thuy vegetables, Vice Chairman of Binh My Commune People's Committee Huynh Tan Hung informed that Binh Thuy was once planned as a specialized vegetable growing area, with an area of over 500 hectares. The goal is to form a safe vegetable production area, meeting the linkage consumption needs of businesses. Due to many factors, this work has not achieved the desired results. "The current administrative unit arrangement has opened up a development direction for vegetables in Binh Thuy. We will redevelop the concentrated safe vegetable production area in the island, to affirm the brand for Binh Thuy vegetables. After the merger of the two provinces of An Giang - Kien Giang , the consumption of vegetables will be more favorable, because the administrative boundaries of the new An Giang province include the sea and island areas. At that time, the connection of vegetable consumption in the province will be easier than before, helping Binh Thuy farmers have a stable output, through the support of local authorities and specialized sectors in the coming time" - Vice Chairman of Binh My Commune People's Committee Huynh Tan Hung emphasized.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/vung-chuyen-canh-rau-mau-binh-thuy-a423672.html
Comment (0)