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| Mr. Phan Lai Duc (left) has created a green farm on the sandy land of Quang Dien |
A new mindset
Crossing the red dirt road through the white sandy plains, Mr. Duc’s farm emerged before us like a lush green oasis. After thoroughly disinfecting both the vehicle and ourselves, Mr. Duc enthusiastically welcomed us and introduced the farm he had painstakingly built.
He shared, “I used to live in the village, but in 2000, I moved out here to start developing a farming and livestock model. The advantage of sandy land is that, while it looks barren, it offers vast areas and abundant water sources. I kept thinking about how to turn this desolate sand into a place suitable for sustainable livelihoods.”
To bring his vision to life, Mr. Duc began by selecting familiar and adaptable livestock and poultry. Starting with pigs and chickens, he also dug a pond to raise fish. For crops, he chose varieties that could thrive in the arid sandy soil, such as mangoes and cashews. He explained, “Though the land is quite harsh, if you can leverage the strengths of each farming activity, the costs decrease, and productivity increases.”
The initial results validated his approach. The pigs and chickens thrived, and the mango and cashew trees bore fruit with decent yields. Life began to improve, but Mr. Duc wasn’t satisfied with just that. Observing the potential of organic farming - free from chemicals, antibiotics, and prohibited substances - he gradually expanded his livestock operations and invested in upgrading the farming system. By improving the efficiency of his farm, he not only reduced labor and operational costs but also significantly increased revenue from the white sandy land.
The achievements
Up to now, Mr. Duc’s livestock farm spans over 10,000 square meters, divided into distinct areas. “Each livestock zone is equipped with automated feeding and drinking systems. Additionally, I’ve installed heating systems for winter and air conditioning for summer to prevent livestock and poultry from suffering temperature shocks, thereby reducing seasonal diseases,” he explained.
Despite managing 400 meat pigs, 40 breeding sows, and 30,000 chickens, his use of microbial bedding for odor control keeps the farm clean. “This not only avoids environmental pollution but also produces organic bio-fertilizer, which is highly sought after in the market. From then on, I both have clean fertilizer for crops and raise the revenue by selling 2,000 to 3,000 bags of fertilizer each quarter at 10,000 VND per bag,” he added.
Every five months, the meat pigs are ready for sale, with prices ranging from 48,000 to 75,000 VND per kilogram. Following several renovations, his fish pond area on the sandy land has expanded to 4,000 square meters, yielding tons of fish each season, including snakehead fish, perch, carp, and catfish. Alongside adopting organic farming technologies, Mr. Duc has also planted economically valuable crops such as coconuts, cajeput trees, and green-skinned pomelos on a 2,000-square-meter area. Annually, the revenue from crops and livestock generates billions of VND for Mr. Duc.
As an organic farming and livestock model that brings high economic value, helps green the sandy land, and enhances the value of agricultural products in Quang Dien, Mr. Duc’s efforts not only enrich himself and his family but also create seasonal job opportunities for many local workers. Mr. Hoang Van Tan, Head of the Elderly Association in Quang Dien District, said, “With his determination, innovative thinking, and willingness to embrace effective organic farming models, Mr. Duc has become a good example for many elderly individuals to learn from and follow. His model is currently being used as a benchmark by the Elderly Association for study tours and knowledge sharing. It thereby inspires the elderly in the area to confidently pursue sustainable economic development”.