Circular economy is no longer just a concept in agricultural production. In the context of increasing input costs, gradually depleting natural resources and complex climate change. Recently, Son La province has been promoting propaganda and guiding farmers and cooperatives to apply the circular economy model in production to achieve the dual goal of economic growth associated with environmental protection.
Having raised livestock for many years, he was once among the households that discharged waste directly into the environment. But in the past 2 years, after being trained in clean livestock farming, everything has changed for Mr. Dinh's family. From a few cubic meters of pig and cow manure each month, instead of being thrown away, Mr. Dinh's family now collects them in a compost pit and processes them into biofertilizer to fertilize fruit trees and coffee trees.
Mr. Quang Van Dinh, Muoi Noi commune, Son La: “Collect garbage and compost, then go back to the fields. Now, coffee and eggplant with compost grow very effectively, the plants grow very well, and the coffee is wonderful. I also pump the compost water into the hole, then compost for about 1-2 months, then pump it up to 500m, and water it. There is nothing more to say, it is very good.”
Not only using waste to make organic fertilizer, many households also build biogas tanks to replace fuel. Reducing pollution and costs, livestock waste from being "discarded" has now become a dual resource: both fertilizer and clean fuel for the family.
Ms. Do Thi Loan, Muoi Noi commune, Son La: “When my family did not use biogas, it affected the environment and neighbors a lot. Since biogas has been used, waste has been greatly reduced. In addition to reducing waste, my family also uses it for fuel and cooking. Now my family is very happy that they do not have to spend money to buy gas every year. In addition to using it for daily household cooking, biogas is also used for cooking for livestock.”
Also choosing the circular agricultural direction, at Thanh Cuong Cooperative, Mai Son Commune is implementing a plum cultivation model using organic products that is showing initial results. If cultivated in the traditional way, the grass will be completely destroyed, however, for members of Thanh Cuong Cooperative, the grass is not removed but is naturally grown. When it grows to a certain stage, the grass is cut and mixed with straw and compost, fermented with microorganisms to compost the roots as fertilizer for the plants.
Mr. Leo Van Lech, Director of Thanh Cuong Cooperative, Son La: “The simplest circular agriculture that our Cooperative is applying is to grow grass until a certain stage, then we will cut the grass to cover the roots to feed the plants. Here, we say no to herbicides or any other impact other than pure nature to retain our customers.”
With more than 8 million livestock and poultry and over 85,000 hectares of fruit trees, Son La generates about 1.5 million tons of agricultural by-products each year. If utilized effectively, this will be an abundant source of raw materials for circular agriculture in the future.
Mr. Dinh Cong Thuy, Regional Agricultural Technology Center 3: “From training, transferring science and technology, people have gradually applied and accepted, showing some results in recent times. In the following years, we will continue the production process according to the circular economy. Utilizing livestock waste to raise earthworms, applying closed models from input to output to thoroughly collect and serve production in cultivation and livestock”.
From changes in perception to innovation in action, circular economy is not only a solution, but is becoming an inevitable trend for Son La to move towards a green and sustainable agriculture.