To develop safe domestic vegetable gardens

So as to limit the use of plant protection chemicals, Binh Duong provincial agriculture authorities, for the past time, have instructed farmers to produce safe vegetables by domestic vegetable gardens. Thus, by now, many have make use of the method to both harvest safe vegetables for their meals and mitigate the impacts on the environment.

Not having much land areas for vegetables in urban zones, many families, recently, have practiced vegetable cultivation in plastic trays, bins, and pots. In Binh Duong Province, the movement of safe domestic vegetable cultivation has proved the benefits and easy application.

Mr. Bui Van Sang of Tan An Ward, Thu Dau Mot City makes use of common materials to cultivate safe vegetables. Photo: T. Huynh.

In recent 3 years, Mr. Bui Van Sang, residing at Tan An Ward of Thu Dau Mot City, has made use of the blank land area at the back yard to cultivate vegetables for his family daily meals. On 3 square lots of land, he has cultivated spinach, egg-plant, daikon, and many other types of vegetables for family use all year round and even giving away to the neighbors. According to Mr. Bui Van Sang, the cultivation medium should be prepared in clean soil mixed up with coconut fiber, rice husk ash, and cow release in reasonable ratio to accept the following-up seedling and watering. To prevent pest, on daily basis, we should go ‘catch the worms’. For only a short time, the vegetables would be ready for harvest.

“Every day, I take care of the vegetable garden as a way to do physical exercise and to save up for my family,” said Mr. Bui Van Sang.

At Chanh My Ward of Thu Dau Mot City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai is starting up her cultivation of vegetables. Making use of her front yard, she cultivates morning glory, salad, gourd, and pumpkin for daily meals. Hai said that the cultivation help reduce family daily cost by nearly VND 20,000 a day.

Recently, the authorities of agriculture have offered popular guidance on vegetable cultivation and agricultural production in safe and non-pollution approaches. They encourage not only large-scale and high-tech vegetable farms but domestic gardens as well. Many choose soil with microbe and hydroponics to for their vegetable gardens.

Under thorough guidance, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mot, a retiree of Hiep Thanh Ward in Thu Dau Mot City, can cultivate various types of vegetables on small area of land. On 24 trays of soil, she could plant various vegetable types. It was beyond her expectation to witness the good growth.

“I feel relax looking at the green growing vegetables,” she said.

Talking to us, many families working on vegetable cultivation said that the gardens may require a lot of time but the joy and health benefits they could bring are tremendous. Besides, the present of such gardens contributes to environment protection. Knowing of the benefits, many households in Thu Dau Mot City have joined up training courses to enlarge the movement from Tan An, Hiep An, Phu My, and Tan Khanh – the localities of traditional vegetable cultivation.

Reported by Truc Huynh – Translated by Vi Bao