Proactively change to adapt
Located about 20km from the center of Dien Bien Phu city, Nua Ngam commune does not have a tap water system. All of the people's daily needs and production depend on well water. In the dry season, water shortages occur seriously, greatly affecting agricultural production, especially rice, a traditional crop that requires a lot of water.
Since 2018, realizing that rice production was facing difficulties due to drought, Mr. Khuong proactively sought out models of growing vegetables and fruit trees from neighboring areas. Without formal training, but with a spirit of learning and practical experience in the fields, he boldly converted more than 13,000m2 of land from rice cultivation to growing pumpkins, cabbage, cauliflower and flexibly rotating vegetables.
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Mr. Khuong and his father (in the photo) proactively researched the model of growing vegetables to make money . |
Specifically, with 6,000m2 of land, Mr. Khuong rotates between pumpkin and rice: planting pumpkin at the beginning of the year, and returning to planting rice in the middle of the year. The remaining area of about 7,000m2 is fully utilized to produce 3 crops of vegetables each year.
In the absence of tap water, the entire commune has to rely on well water, making agricultural production unstable. Statistics in 2024 show that the entire Nua Ngam commune has nearly 13 hectares of crops that cannot be planted due to lack of water. To overcome this, Mr. Khuong's family has invested in underground wells, combined with a water-saving irrigation system to maintain stable production.
Compared to rice cultivation, which yields only 5-6 quintals/1,000m2 with an income of about 5 million VND, the vegetable model has brought many times more profit. In a pumpkin crop, he harvested about 2 tons/1,000m2, with a revenue of 10 million VND, after deducting expenses, he still had a profit of more than 6.5 million VND. With an area of 6,000m2, a pumpkin crop brought in an income of approximately 80 million VND.
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On average, a pumpkin crop brings in about 80 million VND in income for Mr. Khuong's family. |
Cabbage is also a stable source of income. He grows two crops a year, each yielding about 15 tons. On average, revenue from cabbage is about 12 million VND/1,000m2. In addition, cauliflower and some other vegetables are grown in between, helping to increase productivity and limit pests and diseases.
“In the past, rice cultivation only yielded one crop a year, the profit was not high and it also depended a lot on the weather. With the current mixed-cropping model, I can harvest continuously all year round, reducing risks and having a stable source of income. Actually, everyone has difficulties, especially farmers. But if we keep doing the old way while natural conditions have changed, we will never get better,” Khuong shared.
Proactive output, value chain orientation
Not only is he a good farmer, Mr. Khuong also actively connects with consumers to sell his products. Traders buy vegetables and pumpkins from his family’s garden in large quantities, while the rest is sold retail at Muong Thanh market and to people in the surrounding area. Thanks to the guaranteed quality and clear origin, his family’s agricultural products are always sold stably.
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After harvesting pumpkins, Mr. Khuong's family used part of the land to grow corn. |
Going further, Mr. Khuong proposed to the commune to establish a local agricultural cooperative, aiming to build a product chain that meets OCOP standards, both increasing the value of the products and creating jobs for other households. "I want not only my family to develop but also for people in the area to get rich together from agriculture. If there is a cooperative, we will easily access a larger market, and the products will also have a clearer brand," Mr. Khuong shared.
Mr. Lo Van Hoi - Secretary of the Youth Union of Nua Ngam commune commented: "Comrade Khuong is very hard-working, eager to learn and has a pioneering spirit. In the Youth Union meetings, we often use his model as an example for the members of the branches to learn and follow."
While many young people choose to leave their hometowns to make a living in the city, the example of Tran Trong Khuong is a convincing proof of sustainable enrichment right from their homeland. Not only stopping at economic efficiency, his model also carries the expectation of creating a spreading influence, contributing to building an agriculture that adapts to climate change and developing new rural areas in a sustainable way.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/vuon-len-lam-giau-tren-vung-dat-khac-nghiep-bang-su-can-cu-va-linh-hoat-post1755529.tpo
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