Recent years, process of urbanization in Thuan An town has taken place rapidly, triggering narrowness on agricultural production land. Therefore, focusing on hi-tech urban agriculture for clean, green and sustainable development has been paid attention by mass bodies.
Thuan An town farmers’ society chairwoman Tran Ngoc Phuong, said “To concretize instructions and policies of developing hi-tech and ecological agriculture, the society and the local Economic Division, Plant Protection Station, Veterinary station, Agriculture Promotion station co-hold training classes on technical transfer for the society members as well as co-organize seminars and experience learning visits to HCMC and neighboring provinces.
Some models of urban agriculture development have created high economic efficiency, meeting urban demand. At present, the entire town has about 150 household involving in urban agriculture model. Specifically, there are about 24 orchid planting households, 19 ornamental fish breeding ones, over 30 orchard planting ones.
Typically, Nguyen Ngoc Son’s close breeding model located at Binh Chuan ward has gained success on breeding python, crocodile and producing python, crocodile leather products such as purse, shoe, bags, belt, etc.
Another close model of Tran Van Nam in Vinh Phu ward, Thuan An town has showed success on breeding pigeon with an income of VND40-50mil per month. Nam shared that his pigeon farm has less than 200 pigeons, occupying a small area and investment capital but brings a very high efficiency. His farm has been presently in shortage of supply for market. Eyeing sustainable development, he has invested in a close model by opening an eatery and supplying species such as pigeon, pigs, chicken, etc for his own eatery.
Aside from applying scientific advances into production and breeding, the town farmers’ society has mobilized capital sources to help local farmers invest in new production and business models.
Phuong added that one of capital sources promoting its efficiency includes the supportive fund for farmers. Until now, the total fund value has reached over VND1.1bil, offering loans for 1,700 turns of households. In addition, the society has disbursed loans from Bank for Social Policies, Job placement capital 120, etc.
From 2007 to 2012, the society offered loans worth over VND135bil for over 12,000 turns of households. Especially, members helped each other through installment payments of fertilizer, nursling and breeding with the total value of over VND5bil.
According to Tran Ngoc Phuong, to develop urban and hi-tech agriculture, there are many things to do. Firstly, it is necessary to change thought of agricultural production, to shift plants and species structure, to mobilize farmers to join in cooperatives, to build models of technical transfer and many more.
Hi-tech agriculture development is a right way to help farmers make wealth in the context of narrowed land areas.
Reported by T.Thao – Translated by A.C
