Planting vegetable on far-off islands

Only those who have ever set foot on the Spratly Archipelago can truly feel the harsh conditions and understand cadres and soldiers’ hard work and patience to create lush green gardens, adding fresh vegetable to daily meals.

 

On the recent working trip to Truong Sa Island District, we were impressed by the lush green of vegetable patches. The ever-green space surrounded by sea waters, strong sunlight and wind, has been maintained all year round thanks to cadres and soldiers’ attempt and enthusiasm.

 

Soldier Nguyen Van Thien (on the South Reef) said, besides training for combat readiness, soldiers on islands are eager to join the farming work. However, not all kinds of vegetable can withstand the harsh weather. Only short-term vegetable crops can grow in summer. There is a lack of fresh water on the islands. Long-term vegetable is planted from June onwards, meeting their needs for the fresh food. The cadres and soldiers have to build shields to protect the plants from high waves. The soil and seeds brought from the mainland are valued to produce good crops of lush leafy vegetable. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quoc Tuan, a political instructor, Vice-Head of Southwest Cay said they have to recycle water for the gardens and make compost from dead leaves and hay several days before use for gardening. They also have to be careful when harvesting to avoid stepping on and damaging stems or foliage to assure future harvests.

 

Planting vegetable is hard work on submerged reef and it is even more challenging on the underwater one. Vegetable is planted in foam boxes or trays. Captain Le Quang Toan, a political instructor on the Petley Reef said, vegetable is very rare on islands because gardening is very challenging. They have to cover plants very carefully and properly to protect them from saltwater, strong wind and extreme summer heat.

 

In addition to microbiological fertilizer brought from the mainland, proper watering is required with little water in the early morning to wash away the frost and much water in the afternoon to cool the plants off and ensure enough humidity for them to thrive. Currently, many types of vegetables such as cabbages, water spinach, herbs and onions can be seen on the islands.

 

The vegetable cultivation on the Spratly Archipelago started several years ago. The supply of soil and seedlings from the mainland has helped promote the cultivation and good care of a wide variety of vegetable on the islands. Daily meals on islands used to be with only canned food and dried vegetable. Now, soldiers on all the islands of the Spratly Archipelago can have fresh vegetable in their meals, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nhu Tuyen, a political instructor on the Sand Cay.

 

Lush green vegetable gardens are the fruit from hard work. The youth work with “vegetable gardens” on far-off islands has shown the great effort of cadres and soldiers on the islands.

 

Thanh Truc

Translated by N.T