Agriculture, along with industrial and commercial-service development concentration, has been also taken care of in Di An Town. To develop in accordance with new conditions, local wards of the town have made rational transition of plants and animals with concentration on transferring from traditional practice to urban agriculture to gain good results.
Daring application of new models
Guava cultivation has previously taken 2-3 years for yields but now the time has been shortened to 6-12 months. In 2014, Di An Town Plant Protection Division tested the guava cultivation model of 25 guava pots at the home of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mia residing at Tan Binh Ward. Initially, many were not so attracted to the cultivation method as the guava is transplanted to pots only. However, after 6 months of implementation, the cultivation has eyed brilliant results with average yield of 2kg a pot, offering smooth, crispy, and beautiful guava fruits as sweet and sour as guava on rich soil.
Mr. Thong is beside his pot farm of guava. Photo: Q. Nhien
Sharing her experience of cultivating guava on pots, Mia said that the transplanted plants would blossom after 1 month without bearing fruits due to the weak root system; after 3-4 months, the plants will bear fruits and only 1-3 pairs of fruits should left depending on the plant health. Besides, the coverage of fruits should be implemented within 1 week of bloom decedent; the fruits will bear in 65-75 days from bloom decedent.
According to leaders of Di An Town Plant Protection Station, plants in general and fruit plants in particular can be cultivated in pots. However, not all fruit plants can bear fruits but guava, ambarella, star-fruit, lemon, etc. thanks to their strong competence of growth and easily bearing fruits. Cultivating guava in pots is effective model of cultivation in urban areas, opening up new approaches for farmers. Recently, many people have contacted for visiting and learning about this model of cultivation to expand their farm production. From the beginning of the year, the station has additionally supplied all the free seedlings and fertilizers to 3 local farmer families for cultivation.
Nguyen Viet Thong in family at Tan Binh Ward which is one of the 3 families supported by the station to develop this model of cultivation in 2015 said that the model conforms to current urban development tendency. Currently, he is testing cultivation in 20 pots; and by simple processes, he was hoping for fast fruit bearing to increase his income.
Urban agriculture – the indispensible approach
Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Di An Town Plant Protection Station talked about indispensable tendency of urban agriculture. Currently, the town has 6.6 ha of land for orchid and ornament plants scattering at local wards. The station has additionally offered high quality seedlings to farmers and guided them how to take care of good growth and fast funding recovery.
As an experienced gardener of years cultivating orchids, Tran Van An residing at Dong Hoa Ward informed that orchid can yield higher income in the same planting area comparing to other plants. For 1,000 square meters of grown-up orchid, he could earn profits of 250-300 million VND a year. However, orchid is very hard to be cultivated while it costs much, requiring sophisticated skills and good cultivation techniques.
Besides, to satisfy the needs for fresh farm produces, many models of safe vegetable cultivation have emerged in Di An Town. From 2014 to today, local station of plant protection has boosted up guidance of how to prioritize biological products and herb-originated substances to eliminate pests during the cultivation process.
Khuong Thanh Dai residing at Tan Dong Hiep Ward talked about the use of organic substances of fewer toxins to human and the environment. Besides, times of substance administration help to reduce 20% of investments than before. Averagely, he and his family can produce 10 vegetable crops of 2.8 to 3 tons per 1,600 square meters to earn VND 180-200 million a year.
In the face of strong urban development, the selection of suitable agriculture model to develop is inevitable. It is also important to maintain lean production and urban agriculture to produce fresh and safe produces satisfying the current needs of local people.
Reported by Quynh Nhien – Translated by Vi Bao
