The impoverished land neighbouring Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center in Dai Cat Hamlet, Ninh Phung Commune, Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province is naturally difficult...
 |
| Water spinach sold Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center. |
The impoverished land neighbouring Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center in Dai Cat Hamlet, Ninh Phung Commune, Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province is naturally difficult for rice production. Since a farmer named Phan Ngoc Tuan grew water spinach successfully on this land, the local authority and the Farmers’ Union have shown interest in developing this model towards a production association.
Successful solution to impoverished land
Paying a visit to water spinach field in Ray Village, Dai Cat Hamlet, Ninh Phung Commune, we saw wheelbarrows heaped with water spinach going to Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center that underwrites water spinach for Tuan.
Tuan said that, ‘This land was impoverished and low-lying in previous years. Moreover, it was polluted by waste water from Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center. As a result, rice grown on this land gave poor harvest. When the farmers claimed for the damages, Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center asked a definitive purchase of the polluted area. However, the Farmers’ Union suggested the People’s Committee of Ninh Phung Commune handing over the land for their production and Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center underwriting all products. The idea has been agreed”.
In February, 2009, Tuan started growing water spinach of the an area of 2 hectares in this land. The area was expanded to 2.5 hectares in April, 2009. Every 500 square meters costs VND350,000 for 5 quintals of seeds. After 30 - 35 days, it worked out 1.2 - 1.5 tonnes of water spinach. Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center will buy all. Every 500 square meters gets a net interest of VND3.6 million/litter. Water spinach has ten litters every year, earning a net interest of VND70 million, three times higher than rice. The important thing is the stable output of the water spinach here owning to the large demand of fresh food for ostriches in Ninh Hoa Ostrich Breeding Center.
Beside water spinach, Tuan has grown 1.2 hectares of elephant grass for ostriches’ food and bred 1 quintals of red snapper fish. A crop is estimated to bring him a turnover of VND15 million from elephant grass (3 tonnes/500 sq m in productivity, VND600,000/500 sq m in profit) and a turnover of VND5 million from fish.
Tuan also expanded his production by associating other farmers who have shares worth VND million each in his business.
Production association set up
From Tuan’s success, the Farmers’ Union of Ninh Phung Commune has set up a water spinach production association here.
To develop this model, the union lent the association VND50 million from the Farmers Supporting Fund, supported it in a bank loan of VND30 million to buy two D8 water pumps and one hand plough. Additionally, the union suggested the local authority letting more land out for the production. Obviously, this is an effective model, supported by many related levels.
Brave change from rice into another plant is a considerable solution to other impoverished lands in the province.
T.T
