Hydroponic vegetable has become popular in various scales of farms to households. The planting is derived from hydroponics which cultivate plants on mineral nutrient solutions. However, hydroponic vegetable on pillars as their media has proved to be more effective than other media of foam boxes, plastic tubes, etc. Recently, the model of such hydroponic vegetable cultivation has emerged and developed effectively in the province to ensure food safety and environment protection.
The new direction
Integrating hydroponic vegetable on pillars was coined in by Mr. Giang Manh Tuan, Director of Giang Manh Tuan Hydroponics One-member Co. Ltd. at Hiep Thanh Ward of Thu Dau Mot City. The approach is effective by saving up fertilizers and making use of all the spaces. Planting on pillars increase the scale of hydroponic cultivation by 8 to 10 times on the same area.
The prominent effects of hydroponic cultivation is that the rotated flow of nutrient in the solutions will be absorbed by the plants while the residue will be contained and reused. Hydroponic cultivation offers us ability to control water quantity and nutrient concentration so that the plants would grow better in environment of lower pests. This assures the rotation growth of 30 to 35 days for vegetable.
Officers and members of Binh Duong Provincial Association visit Giang Manh Tuan Hydroponics Co. Ltd. to learn of hydroponic model. Photo: H. Pham
“Application of new technique gives us higher yield. Making use of new planting media also reduce illness on the plants,” Tuan said.
Mr. Do Thanh Dung, Deputy Director of Center for Scientific Advancement and Technology Application, asserted that the hydroponic vegetable cultivation satisfied the demands for safe vegetable while offering chances of poverty escape for local farmers.
Increasing income
Passing over 3 years of researching and enduring various failures, Mr. Giang Manh Tuan have built up a hydroponic farm with average income of VND 20 to 25 million a month. Tuan informed that vegetable planting in green houses of 500 m2 could yield averagely 6,000kg a month for the price of VND 30,000 a kilogram. Thus, the revenue could reach VND 70 to 80 a month and as the cost reduced, the interest would be VND 20-25 million a month. Previously, vegetable cultivation can regain investment capital in 4 to 5 years. For the new approach, the time is shortened to 18 months.
To increase the diversity of farm produces, Tuan has also planted other kinds of vegetable including tomato and bitter melon. Currently, his vegetable gardens have covered nearly 1,500 square meters. He is also diversifying the products from dried to fresh.
Duplication
Aside from technology transferring to families in Ben Cat Town, Di An Town, and Thuan An Town, Giang Manh Tuan Hydroponics Co. Ltd. is launching a project of 1 hectare for hydroponic cultivation at Phu Chanh Commune in Tan Uyen Town. The project includes 20 kinds of vegetable to supply for the market at averagely 2,000 kg a day. To offer opportunities to farmers, the Company offers land lease and cover the selling in 3 to 5 years. Renting farmers are offered deferred payments to the loans. In the meantime, the Company is supplying technical materials to build 1-m2 to 3-m2 vegetable gardens.
For the time to come, Giang Manh Tuan Hydroponics Co. Ltd. will coordinate with Department of Science and Technology to transfer hydroponics to farmers in the province and build up stores to service the customers.
Reported by Hoang Pham – Translated by Vi Bao
