Nguyễn Thị Kim Anh takes care of her vegetables at the An Thuyên garden. VNA/VNS Photo

 NINH THUẬN — Nguyễn Thị Kim Anh is a pioneer in applying hydroponic technology in farming.

Her vegetable farming model in Bắc Phong Commune, Ninh Thuận Province, has created high economic efficiency.

Kim Anh, 41, who is also the chairwoman of the commune’s Women's Union, said that the family's 1,650-sq.m farm in Gò Sạn Village, used to be flooded and full of weeds.

In 2018, she and her husband invested both money and labour to turn the abandoned area into a farm.

The couple first decided to experiment with growing mushrooms, with an investment of over VNĐ200 million for the construction of a 145sq.m greenhouse.

According to Kim Anh, hydroponics was a way to grow vegetables without soil as well as toxic chemicals, instead using a nutrient solution to help plants grow and ensure absolute safety for consumers.

Kim Anh's vegetable garden, named An Thuyên garden, has rows of green vegetables all grown with this highly efficient method.

The successful garden proved that the hydroponic model was suitable for places where there was a shortage of cultivated land.

The model was still new, but thanks to promoting products on social media, clean vegetables from the garden have been sold around the province.

Kim Anh employs five workers and is looking to expand the hydroponic vegetable model.

She plans to apply for technical support and preferential loans from the start-up capital and scientific and technological development programme of the province.

She looks to expand the hydroponic greenhouse from 145 sq.m to 2,000 sq.m, with a focus on investing in 25 greenhouses with a cost of VNĐ950 million and installing 15,000m of hydroponic tubing, at a cost of VNĐ630 million.

The project will combine consulting and design services to grow clean vegetables at home for households living in urban areas who do not have land, as well as link the supply of clean vegetables with consumers.

If successful, the project is expected to produce 28 tonnes of clean vegetables per year, with a revenue of about VNĐ700 million, creating stable jobs for 15 workers with an average income of VNĐ4-5 million/person/month.

Currently, Kim Anh and her husband were constructing a hydroponic vegetable garden for the Military Command of Ninh Thuận Province with an area of 500 sq.m.

Authorities in Bắc Phong Commune consider Kim Anh's economic model to be new but highly effective.

Growing green vegetables using the hydroponic method has helped in the application of science and technology in local production, with many farmers keen to learn more.

Kim Anh’s clean hydroponic vegetable project was awarded First Prize in the "Creative Start-up Women in 2022" contest organised by the Women's Union of Ninh Thuận Province.

Nguyễn Thị Lý, vice chairwoman of the Ninh Thuận provincial Women's Union said that the union will support the development of the project and support Kim Anh in establishing the An Thuyên Agricultural Cooperative. — VNS