Turn waste into resources

From agricultural waste and by-products and people's markets and collective kitchens, Mr. Nguyen Dang Vuong, a member of the Farmers' Association of Binh An village, Vinh Chap commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, has successfully researched and produced more than 300 tons of mixed microbial feed and more than 50 tons of microbial organic fertilizer for livestock and crop production. This is a product that Mr. Vuong has worked hard to implement from the topic "Solutions to turn waste into "resources", turning agricultural waste and by-products into feed and microbial organic fertilizer for production". This topic has just won the Encouragement Prize at the 10th National Farmers' Technical Innovation Competition organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association in early October 2024.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Vuong received the Encouragement Prize at the 10th National Farmers' Technical Innovation Competition in 2024 - Photo: Character provided

According to Mr. Vuong, through research, he found that every year, the amount of waste after harvesting crops; manure, wastewater from livestock or waste from seafood and fruit trading activities... by traders in the market discharged into the environment is quite large.

If this amount of waste is recycled and reused effectively in agriculture , it can reduce production costs. In addition, the fact that farmers mainly use chemical fertilizers and industrial feed in livestock and crop farming also poses many risks, greatly affecting the natural environment and consumer health.

From that concern and the knowledge he learned in Japan for 2 years about biotechnology, Mr. Vuong decided to work with some members of the Tay Son Clean Agriculture Cooperative (of which Mr. Vuong is the director) to research and apply EM (Effective Microorganisms) microbial technology, also known as useful microorganisms to compost the above by-products and waste products to create a nutritious food source for livestock and organic microbial fertilizer for plants.

Sharing about the solution, Mr. Vuong said that he has applied EM microbial technology to production activities with 3 main purposes: One is to process mixed microbial feed for poultry and livestock from the fermentation of rice, paddy, corn, soybeans, bran, fish, shrimp, crab, snails, beer lees, wine lees, soybean residue, potato leaves, duckweed, corn stalks, peanuts, straw... to help increase the ability to digest and absorb food better for livestock.

Second is composting organic fertilizer for plants from corn stalks, potatoes, peanuts, straw... to help improve the soil, increase soil looseness and fertility.

Third is raising black soldier flies and treating the environment with beneficial microorganisms, helping to destroy and decompose livestock and poultry manure as food for black soldier flies; black soldier fly excrement also completely reduces odors in livestock areas, limiting environmental pollution.

A new point of that solution is that he also buys waste products from business activities at Dong Ha market such as discarded animal organs, fish heads, fish intestines... Then processes them in 2 directions: If the product is still fresh and not moldy, EM microorganisms will be used to compost, creating a nutritious food source of fish protein for livestock and poultry.

If the product is spoiled, rotten, or moldy, mix it with leftover rice and soup from restaurants, collective kitchens, and hotels in Dong Ha City to raise black soldier flies and incubate it with probiotics to create black soldier fly protein.

According to Mr. Vuong, the goal of the solution is to build a closed-loop agricultural ecosystem. That is, to reuse waste in cultivation and livestock farming to return to serve agricultural production through the application of technical advances, biotechnology, and physical-chemical technology. Thereby reducing waste and post-harvest losses, especially minimizing waste that pollutes the environment, protecting the ecosystem and human health, while creating a cheap but nutritious food source for livestock.

Mr. Vuong informed that Tay Son mixed microbial feed product was tested by the Technical Center for Standards, Measurement and Quality 2 to meet quality standards in October 2023. This product was used by him to raise 1,000 straw-yellow hybrid chickens, 1,000 guinea fowls and 1,000 Grimaud ducks in a semi-free-range farming model.

In addition, he also supplies animal feed and microbial fertilizers to some households in need in the area. Thereby bringing in revenue of more than 3.7 billion VND per year, after deducting expenses, the profit is more than 280 million VND.

Mr. Vuong affirmed that the application of technical advances in clean pig farming using microbial fermentation brings high economic efficiency, reduces environmental pollution, and prevents diseases. In order to create long-term and sustainable output for the product, Mr. Vuong also uses social networking platforms such as Zalo, Facebook and Youtube channel to promote and sell products.

Through these channels, he has posted hundreds of videos sharing his experience in raising chickens, pigs, ducks... organically as well as promoting his products to consumers. He filmed the processes of feed production, raising, processing, and packaging products directly to create trust for consumers.

Before winning the Encouragement Prize of the 10th National Farmers' Technical Innovation Competition, Mr. Vuong's "Tay Son Microbiological Mixed Feed" solution won the District A Prize for Outstanding Rural Industrial Products; was recognized as the 7th Outstanding Rural Industrial Product of Quang Tri Province in 2024. Mr. Vuong was also awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for his achievements in the movement "Farmers compete in production, good business, solidarity to help each other get rich and sustainably reduce poverty" in the period 2021 - 2023.

Tran Thuy

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/bien-rac-thai-thanh-tai-nguyen-189703.htm