Effectiveness of growing bitter melon according to natural farming method in Hai Duong commune

Hai Duong commune, Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province has a large area of ​​sandy soil. Previously, this land faced many difficulties in agricultural production due to poor soil. In recent years, Hai Duong people have applied the bitter melon growing model in the direction of natural farming, which has brought high economic efficiency, contributing to improving the farming environment.

Checking bitter melon growing project models following natural farming direction in Hai Duong commune - Photo: MT

Nowadays, clean food is of interest to people, especially clean vegetable products. The abuse of pesticides has had a long-term impact on the environment, groundwater and land. Agriculture is facing significant challenges such as environmental pollution, degraded land, biodiversity loss, pest outbreaks due to ecosystem destruction caused by the abuse of chemicals in production... In addition, the lack of cooperation in product consumption makes the market for clean agricultural products unstable. Therefore, agricultural production is not sustainable.

In order to help the community group improve part of their livelihoods when participating in the management and protection of local forests, the FMCR Project has partially supported the funding to build a livelihood package for the people, thereby increasing their income and exploiting the advantages of the sandy area. Realizing that the bitter melon plant is very suitable for the land and climate in the sandy area, in 2023, a community group of 70 members living in Hai Duong commune registered to grow 10 hectares of bitter melon using natural farming in Dong Duong village, Hai Duong commune, Hai Lang district.

The principle of natural farming is to produce based on natural resources instead of intensive farming based on chemicals to create superior productivity. The core of natural farming is to create clean agricultural products, protect human health, protect land and water resources, and create a basic foundation for organic agricultural production. The products are also safe for users. With the investment of the FMCR project to implement the model, the group of bitter melon growers using natural farming is equipped with scientific and technical knowledge during the implementation of the model, and is supported in finding markets and building a chain of agricultural product consumption links.

The innovation of the natural farming model of squash compared to conventional production models is the use of compost fertilizers and the use of nutritional preparations and fermented herbs to provide throughout the growth process of squash plants. If the use of inorganic fertilizers for many years will bring harmful effects such as: increasing the sensitivity of crops to diseases, destroying beneficial microorganisms, causing many areas of cultivated land to lose fertility, imbalance of nutrients in the soil, hardening the soil, reducing crop yields and increasing production costs, affecting the environment and human health... then applying the natural farming process will increase soil fertility, increase minerals and effective microorganisms for the soil, have a very good effect on soil improvement, especially for degraded soils. In the long run, it will help squash resist pests and diseases better, helping the fruit to be firm and thick.

When growing squash using natural farming, there is no longer the situation of empty chemical pesticide bottles being thrown away everywhere in the fields. Instead, there is awareness of following the process of growing squash with compost, spraying nutritional products, and microbial herbal products to help squash grow well, improve the soil and protect the health of farmers.

According to some people, compared to previous crops, from the time the plants are young to harvest, people often use pesticides to prevent pests and diseases, which greatly affects health and the environment. This year's crop, when using nutritional and herbal products, people feel more secure during the process of caring for and harvesting squash, no longer feeling afraid of the effects of chemicals. At the same time, squash plants grow and develop evenly, with fewer pests and diseases, and no longer have leaf wilting at the base. In the following crops, people plan to continue implementing and expanding the natural farming model.

In addition, organic bitter melon products have higher nutritional content and are safer for consumers. This contributes to enhancing the brand value of local agricultural products.

Vice Chairman of Hai Duong Commune People's Committee Vo Trung Hieu said: "In 2023, the first crop of bitter melon grown in the direction of natural farming will have a lower yield than conventional farming in the locality, but the income will be 20-21 million VND/ha higher and the investment cost will be lower than conventional farming.

In addition, natural farming has improved the soil environment, preventing desertification of sandy areas and bare land due to the lack of use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. Protecting the habitat for coastal marine life. Maintaining biodiversity in coastal areas, contributing to climate regulation and environmental cleaning. At the same time, growing squash naturally contributes to creating jobs for local workers, through the hiring of laborers to plant, care for, and harvest.

Minh Tri

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/hieu-qua-trong-muop-dang-theo-huong-canh-tac-tu-nhien-o-xa-hai-duong-192779.htm