Farmers harvest red onion in Sóc Trăng Province’s Vĩnh Châu Town, the largest producer of the bulb in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta. – VNA/VNS Photo Chanh Đa

SÓC TRĂNG – The good production and business emulation movement among farmers in Sóc Trăng Province has helped improve the lives of thousands of them.

The movement was launched 33 years ago by the Việt Nam Farmers Association.

Đặng Tấn Giang, deputy chairman of the province Farmers Association, said the efficiency of the movement had been improving by the day enabling many farming households to expand their scale and earn high incomes.

The number of households with an annual income of VNĐ450 million (US$18,400) increased by 2.5 times between 2017 and 2019 while the number of those with an income of more than VNĐ1 billion ($40,900) increased by 4.5 times, he said.

The farmers also created jobs for many others, he said.

One of the farmers, Tăng Văn Xúa in Vĩnh Châu Town’s Hoà Đông Commune breeds shrimp and earns more than VNĐ6 billion ($245,000) a year. He hires 25 locals on his farm.

Farmers who participate in the emulation movement are taught effective farming models and advanced techniques.

Nguyễn Thành Công in Mỹ Xuyên District’s Ngọc Tố Commune, who breeds shrimp and goats on a 9,000 sq.m farm and earns VNĐ500 million ($20,500) a year, is a member of the local farmers association.

“I have been provided with farming techniques and learnt effective farming models, and these have helped me improve my family’s economic situation,” he said.

Through the emulation movement, the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province has established many concentrated farming areas that use advanced farming techniques and have guaranteed outlets.

Farmers pool their rice fields and use advanced techniques such as “three increases-three reductions” and “one must-five reductions” and integrated pest management.

Under the “one must-five reductions” method, farmers use certified seeds and reduce the use of seedlings, nitrogenous fertilisers, plant-protection chemicals, irrigation, and post-harvest losses.

They have established co-operatives or co-operative groups to produce agricultural products under value chains to guarantee outlets and improve their incomes.

The Long Thành Hamlet Agriculture Co-operative in Ngã Năm Town’s Tân Long Commune grows organic rice and has linked up with companies to ensure outlets.

Hồ Thị Cẩm Đào, deputy secretary of the province Party Committee and chairwoman of the province People’s Council, said the emulation movement would continue to be fostered.

The province plans to restructure agriculture to produce items that have high value and competitiveness, according to Đào.

More concentrated farming areas with brand names will be created.

The province will collaborate with research institutes, universities, scientists, companies, banks, and others to mobilise funding, acquire advanced technologies and get vocational skill training.

Giang, deputy chairman of the province Farmers Association, said the association would instruct farmers to develop effective farming models and help them access loans, inputs and advanced techniques to help improve quality and efficiency.

It planned to teach farmers vocational and management skills and provide them with market information, he added. – VNS