A farming business in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat has introduced its first ten tons of potatoes grown without soil to the market in an ambitious effort to drive away Chinese products from Vietnam’s vegetables hub.
Langbiang Farm director Tran Huy Duong started seeking solutions to increase the quality of his potatoes in mid-2012, when Chinese potatoes were transported to Da Lat, the capital city of Lam Dong Province, and covered with the city’s typical red mud to be distributed to other localities under disguise of the reputable Da Lat produce.
Duong wanted to have Da Lat potatoes no longer recognized by the mud-covered skins, but the thin, soft and clean skins, and big and all-alike tubs.
The director ended up adopting the hydroponic technology , an agricultural method that does not require soil.
Instead, potatoes are placed in a growing medium consisting of a mixture of coconut fiber and rice husks. The mixture has no nutritional value, but helps the tomato roots adhere to the medium and enables the plants to absorb nearly all of the nutrients poured into the growing medium.
Nutrients and water are provided to the plants via a drip irrigation system, which pumps these necessities drop by drop into them multiple times a day.
“We can control the contents of nutrition from the fertilizer, and thus avoid heavy metals and pesticide residues,” Duong said.
After two experimental crops, Langbiang Farm was able to produce the first ten tons product, to the joy of its director.
The productivity of potatoes grown under the hydroponic technology is 30 percent lower than the traditional method of outdoor crops, but their prices are 1.5 to 2 times higher because they are considered hi-tech agricultural produce, Duong said.
“While investment for the hi-tech crop is up to three times higher than the traditional one, we can save 30 percent of fertilizer costs, while the risks of damages by weather is only 20 percent compared to 70 percent of outdoor crops,” he added.
The director said what’s more interesting is that his potatoes can be harvested without the need of hoes or shovels.
“Employees only need to wear gloves and take the potatoes as if picking fruits on the trees.”
Beating Chinese potatoes
Nguyen Van Son, deputy director of Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the department will cooperate with its technology and sciences and Langbiang Farm to enhance the technology to produce high-quality potatoes with competitive prices.
“The hydroponic technology is a strong tool to drive away Chinese potatoes disguising as Da Lat produce,” Son pressed.
Nguyen Ba Hung, an agriculture expert, said hydroponic technology has been applied for tomato, strawberry, and pea crops, but is not common in growing potatoes.
Da Lat farmers currently do not grow potatoes during the rainy season, which opens the door for Chinese potatoes to penetrate.
Duong said Langbiang Farm is willing to transfer its growing technology to any farmers free of charge.
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