Clean vegetables are grown under the hydroponic method in Cần Thơ City’s Bình Thủy District. – VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh

CẦN THƠ — The Cần Thơ City People’s Committee has launched a project to enhance the efficiency of high-tech urban agricultural models in and near urban areas in the 2020-23 period, aiming to develop at least nine models. 

Under the project, the city will focus on models that cultivate flowers, ornamental plants, vegetables and fruits, and those that raise ornamental fish. 

The models use advanced farming techniques, organic fertiliser and efficient irrigation systems. 

The project will be implemented mostly in Ninh Kiều and Cái Răng districts. 

In Cái Răng, high-tech urban agricultural models for vegetables and flowers have been implemented on a total of 3,000sq.m in net houses. The net houses use safe farming standards and drip irrigation systems.  

The city targets establishing at least one new hi-tech agricultural co-operative in each ward and commune where the project is implemented. 

Agricultural co-operatives will produce products under Vietnamese and global good agricultural practices (VietGAP and Global GAP) standards. The city will help them achieve certificates for the standards. 

The agricultural co-operatives will be given assistance to introduce their produce to supermarkets, wholesale markets and collective kitchens. 

Nguyễn Ngọc Hè, director of the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the city will promote the application of advanced farming techniques to develop sustainable urban agriculture, especially organic farming models.

Organic farming models do not require a large space and do not cause pollution. They regenerate natural resources and urban waste, he said. 

The models also increase green space and have potential for tourism development. 

High profits  

High-tech urban agriculture has been developed in and around Cần Thơ’s urban areas in recent years, providing high profits for farmers with small farming areas.  

In Thốt Nốt District’s Thốt Nốt Ward, for instance, many farmers have had high profits from urban agriculture. 

Nguyễn Văn Đa in Thốt Nốt Ward is growing Linh Sam (Desmodium unifoliatum) bonsai trees and selling at least 15 – 20 trees a month. 

In months with high demand, such as festivals, the number of sold bonsai trees is even higher. 

“I earn an average profit of VNĐ20 – 30 million (US$860 – 1,300) a month,” he said. 

Many farmers in the ward have switched from rice to high-value crops likes flowers and mushrooms, which has been effective, according to the Thốt Nốt Ward Farmers Association. 

Từ Hòa Khải, chairman of the association, said farmers need training courses on proper farming techniques. 

“The techniques will help farmers reduce production costs and increase yield,” he said. 

Chung Khánh Linh, deputy chairman of the Thốt Nốt Ward People’s Committee, said the ward will expand urban farming models for oyster mushrooms, flowers and ornamental plants in net houses this year. 

The ward will also focus on the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants on a designated road to create a tourism destination, he said. — VNS