Quang Tri adopts organic farming for sustainable agriculture development

Organic farming has existed for centuries, long before the emergence of inorganic farming methods. While inorganic farming initially offered advantages such as increased yields and reduced labor for crop and livestock management, its long-term consequences include environmental degradation and declining productivity due to soil and water pollution. Additionally, contaminated agricultural products pose risks to human health.

As a result, organic farming has made a resurgence, now integrated with scientific advancements and mechanization to enhance efficiency and ensure food safety. This sustainable approach not only protects human health and the environment but also improves agricultural productivity in the long run.

Organic farming in Trieu Phong. Photo: T.C.L

One of the key factors bringing organic farming practices back to farmers is agricultural extension activities. Over the years, the Quang Tri Agricultural Extension Center has carried out various initiatives to advise, guide, and support farmers in adopting organic farming methods. These methods include avoiding synthetic chemicals, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and growth-promoting feed, instead using organic fertilizers, crop rotation, intercropping, and natural pest control measures such as beneficial insects and homemade botanical pesticides made from ginger, chili, and garlic.

The greatest harm caused by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture is environmental pollution—affecting soil, water sources, and air quality. Chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides seep into the soil, causing it to harden, deplete nutrients, and slow down plant growth. Over time, these toxic substances enter water sources, polluting rivers and lakes and harming aquatic ecosystems. Chemical pesticides not only eliminate pests but also destroy beneficial organisms, including useful insects, birds, and other animals. Additionally, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Organic farming methods involve using organic fertilizers, crop rotation, intercropping, deep tillage, and biological pest control techniques. These methods apply to both crop cultivation and animal husbandry. In crop cultivation, organic farming replaces chemical fertilizers with manure and plant-based compost, providing nutrients to plants while improving soil fertility. Deep tillage enhances soil structure, making it more aerated, nutrient-rich, and capable of retaining water and organic matter for long-term fertility. Crop rotation and intercropping prevent soil nutrient depletion, reduce pest outbreaks, and enhance biodiversity. Natural pest control methods, such as using beneficial insects, biological products, or herbal pesticides, replace harmful chemical pesticides. Organic fertilizers and biological pest control do not harm soil and water resources.

In animal husbandry, organic methods avoid using growth stimulants and lean-meat additives in animal feed. Adopting organic farming practices helps protect both the production environment and the broader ecosystem by improving soil aeration and organic content, reducing soil and water pollution, conserving biodiversity, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and preventing soil erosion.

Organic agriculture sustains and enhances biodiversity by minimizing the use of chemical pesticides. Biological pest control methods, such as natural predators or herbal-based pesticides, protect the environment while maintaining ecological balance in agriculture. Additionally, crop rotation and intercropping create a more diverse environment for beneficial insects and animals, naturally strengthening plant resistance to pests. Practices such as cover cropping, applying organic fertilizers, and sustainable farming help maintain soil aeration and prevent erosion, especially in hilly areas, ensuring long-term land cultivation.

Trần Cẩn, Director of the Quang Tri Agricultural Extension Center, stated that organic farming extension efforts focus on guiding and encouraging farmers to transition from conventional agriculture, which relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, to organic farming with safer and more sustainable methods. In recent years, the center has developed numerous demonstration models showcasing organic farming applications. Notably, it has collaborated with Quang Tri Trading Corporation to implement organic rice farming models, yielding significant benefits such as pest reduction, cleaner products, and higher selling prices, leading to greater economic efficiency than conventional farming.

By adopting modern organic farming, farmers can enhance product value, protect public health, and improve environmental quality, ensuring long-term sustainability. Public awareness campaigns, agricultural extension services, and mass media outreach play a crucial role in promoting farmers' transition to organic farming, accelerating the shift toward sustainable agricultural practices. Once organic farming becomes widespread, it ensures production safety, conserves land and water resources, and establishes a cleaner, more sustainable agricultural system. The transition to organic farming, combined with scientific and technological applications in agricultural production, offers multiple economic benefits, environmental friendliness, and human health protection.

With the approach of restructuring agriculture in alignment with new rural development, shifting gradually from quantity-based to quality- and value-based agriculture, the agricultural sector has leveraged the potential and strengths of localities within the province. This transition aims to move from extensive to intensive production, focusing on targeted investments to develop key agricultural products, thereby enhancing production efficiency toward commercial-scale agriculture.

In particular, to achieve the goal of sustainable, comprehensive agricultural development—encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects—the sector has made significant strides in expanding organic farming on a large scale. This effort is closely linked to key products such as high-quality organic rice, Khe Sanh Arabica coffee, Quang Tri pepper, and specialty fruit trees. The aim is to establish a new agricultural model that transforms challenging natural conditions into competitive advantages while integrating agricultural development with eco-tourism.

Currently, the province has 478 hectares dedicated to organic farming, including rice, pepper, and fruit trees. Additionally, there are 74 hectares of rice cultivated using natural farming methods, 317.9 hectares following organic-oriented practices, and 40 hectares grown under VietGAP standards. Organic products from the region have successfully entered high-demand international markets such as the United States, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.

According to statistics, the province currently has over 80 agricultural development projects, including more than 10 high-tech agriculture projects applied across various sectors such as crop cultivation, livestock farming, aquaculture, forestry, and agricultural processing.

There are over 50 greenhouses and net houses producing high-quality, safe vegetables and fruits, with more than 11,000 hectares of crops utilizing advanced agricultural technologies. Additionally, nearly 110 hectares of aquaculture, including two- to three-stage shrimp farming, have adopted high-tech methods, along with over 70 livestock farms integrating advanced agricultural technology.

The area of production forests using tissue-cultured seedlings under sustainable forestry management certification continues to expand. Many businesses and production facilities are also investing in drying, preservation, and processing technologies to enhance agricultural product value.

Large-scale livestock farms have established contract-based partnerships with enterprises, covering everything from input supplies and breeding stock to guaranteed product off-take.

Most farms apply biosecure livestock farming processes and advanced technologies such as automated equipment, smart farm monitoring systems (cameras connected to the internet and smartphones), and closed livestock housing with climate control, automated feeders, and drinking systems.

These advancements have increased meat productivity and output by over 30% compared to traditional methods, significantly boosting the province’s livestock efficiency. Additionally, more than 80% of the province’s OCOP (One Commune, One Product) goods are now available on e-commerce platforms and online markets, ensuring high-quality, high-value products.

The province has also planned organic agricultural zones, including a 3,000-hectare organic rice farming area across four districts—Hai Lang, Trieu Phong, Vinh Linh, and Gio Linh. There is a 500-hectare organic pepper farming zone in Gio Linh and Vinh Linh, a 1,000-hectare ecological and organic coffee agroforestry area in Huong Hoa District, and designated fruit-growing areas in Huong Hoa, Vinh Linh, Gio Linh, Trieu Phong, and Hai Lang for banana, citrus fruits, avocado, and passion fruit cultivation.

Currently, the province has more than 1,400 hectares of organic and organic-oriented farming. In rice production, fresh rice yields average over 6.5 tons per hectare. Companies purchase rice directly from the fields or as dried rice at pre-agreed prices, ensuring farmers earn between $2,550 and $3,060 per hectare, with net profits of nearly $1,180 per hectare—$280 to $400 higher than conventional farming.

For pepper production, the province has nearly 100 hectares of organic pepper with stable off-take agreements. Prices are $0.40 to $0.48 per kg higher than market rates, and with lower investment costs, farmers earn $400 to $600 more per hectare than with conventional methods.

In organic-oriented coffee production with stable long-term purchasing agreements, buying prices are $0.20 per kg higher than the market rate. This enables farmers in Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, to earn $1,950 to $2,030 per hectare, which is $610 to $820 higher than traditional coffee farming.

For organic-oriented biosecure pig farming, a model using fermented feed mixed with locally available ingredients has been introduced. This enhances feed nutrition and gives it a mild aroma, stimulating pigs’ appetite.

The use of a biological bedding system, which aligns with pigs’ natural instincts and behavior, supports healthy growth. Pigs in this system gain weight at an average rate of 775 to 800 grams per day. The implementation of this biosecure, organic-oriented pig farming model has created additional jobs and increased household incomes for livestock farmers.

Tran Cat Linh - Ngoc Mai