Green start-up with 'king of bamboo shoots'

Six young people – one direction

The story begins with a girl with long hair, white skin, and a bright smile: Tran Thu Yen Nhi (born in 1997), residing in Dong Hoi ward, Quang Tri province. Few people thought that this girl who graduated from the Vietnam Dance College, attached to the stage lights, would decide to turn to the rough path of agriculture . “At that time, I had many choices. Being a dancer, the future was stable, but in my heart there was still a void. I wanted to do something more practical, to help my fellow countrymen escape poverty. When my family experimented with growing bamboo shoots and got good results, I thought: Why not?” - Yen Nhi said.

From the initial idea, Yen Nhi began to research and study planting techniques, then nurtured the dream of expanding the model. However, to turn the idea into reality, one person is not enough. On that journey, Yen Nhi found 5 friends of the same age to accompany her: Hoang Tan Thin, Luu Thanh Dat, Hoang Trung Duc, Tran Thi Hong Suong and Le Thi Thanh Thuy.

Each person has their own strengths: Duc, Suong and Thuy are experts in agriculture and forestry, and have worked on many agricultural projects. Thin and Dat are good at connecting and trading. They are different in expertise, but have one thing in common: love for the land and the desire to build a career in their homeland. “There is no common formula for starting a business. We had to figure out everything from choosing seeds, growing them, to finding an outlet. There were nights when we sat down and discussed until morning, but in the end, we just knew we would go to the fields tomorrow and try again,” Thanh Dat recalled.

Reckless investment in high technology

The barren land in Nam Trach commune (Bo Trach district) is now lush and green, but few people know that to achieve this look, young people have made many bold decisions. Step by step, the group of young people have persistently built a process of growing bamboo shoots organically, focusing on quality.

From the beginning, they boldly installed a drip irrigation system using Israeli technology, which was not a small investment compared to their financial capacity. They also used a flycam to manage the 21ha of bamboo shoots, combined with a periodic soil moisture and pH meter. “When discussing the investment, everyone was worried. The capital contribution was not much, we were afraid we could not handle it. But in the end, we agreed: if we want to go the long way, we have to do systematic farming, applying technology from the beginning. Up to now, that was the most correct decision” - Thanh Thuy shared.

Thanks to this professionalism, in 2024, the group established Bamovina Organic Agriculture Cooperative, becoming one of the few young cooperatives in Quang Binh following the direction of high-tech agriculture.

Not only stopping at farming, the group also brought the model to participate in the 4th "Creative Startup" Competition organized by Quang Tri Provincial Youth Union. The project made a strong impression because it "germinated" in reality, not just on paper. The application of high technology to revive barren land was highly appreciated by the jury. As a result, Bamovina won second prize, becoming a bright spot in the local startup movement.

Bamboo shoots, known as the “king of bamboo shoots”, have a sweet, crunchy taste and high nutritional value. Thanks to organic farming, Bamovina’s products quickly entered the shelves of many clean agricultural stores. Customers in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi… ordered in large quantities.

Not stopping at fresh bamboo shoots, the Cooperative also processes a variety of products: sweet and sour bamboo shoots, steamed bamboo shoots, dried bamboo shoots... Ms. Nguyen Thuy An, manager of An Nong Clean Food Store on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Dong Hoi Ward said: "We choose Bamovina bamboo shoots because we believe in the quality. Customers have given very positive feedback. They like it because the bamboo shoots are crispy, have a natural taste, and are chemical-free."

The initial success not only brings economic benefits, but also creates sustainable livelihoods for many local workers. Mr. Lam Van Hung, from Ba Don town, shared: “Before, I worked as a construction worker, hard and unstable. Working at the cooperative, the work is easier, the salary is about 10 million/month, enough to raise children to study. The important thing is that I feel happy, because I contribute to cleaning, which is beneficial for the land.” Currently, Bamovina Cooperative has created stable jobs for more than 10 workers, mainly people in the surrounding area.

Although mentioned by many as a typical startup model, Bamovina members are still not satisfied. They continue to experiment with new techniques, find sustainable output, and aim for international certification for Bamovina's organic bamboo shoots.

If they just stop at production, the dream will not be complete. The group of young people soon plan to bring the product far away.

Bamboo shoot packaging process before sale

Bamovina’s story is not only about turning barren land into lush green land, but also inspiring many other young people. Nguyen Van Hai, a Youth Union official, said: “These young people have proven that starting an agricultural business is not a fantasy. If you have knowledge, technology and perseverance, the countryside is a fertile land to build a career.”

With faith and creativity, a group of young people from the Bamovina Organic Agriculture Cooperative has written a story about reviving barren land with bamboo shoots – a plant known as “the king of bamboo shoots”. This story not only provides livelihoods for many people, but also sows the seeds of green entrepreneurial aspirations for today’s young generation.

In the harsh Lao windy land, the image of bamboo shoots standing straight up is like a metaphor for the spirit of youth: resilient, persistent, daring to sprout even from barren land. More than a year ago, Nam Trach was just a desolate reed area, now it has become a lush green bamboo shoot field, attracting many groups of tourists. People come not only to see the bamboo shoots, but also to witness with their own eyes the strength of human will.

Young people beam with happiness next to the fruits of their labor

For Nhi and her colleagues, today’s success is just the beginning. They still stay in the fields every day, watching every bamboo clump, every drip of water, as if taking care of a “brainchild”. Amidst the laughter of her friends, Yen Nhi said: “We believe that if we work with all our hearts, the land will not let us down.”

Source: https://tienphong.vn/khoi-nghiep-xanh-bang-vua-cua-cac-loai-mang-post1785247.tpo