What fertilizers do organic farmers use

More than 5 tones of agricultural products were offered free to the people by beauties, including the first runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2020, Pham Ngoc Phuong Anh; the first runner-up of Miss World Vietnam 2019, Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan; the second runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2018, Nguyen Thuy An; the second runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2014, Nguyen Lam Diem Trang; Miss Can Tho 2014 Huynh Thuy Vi. The event took place on March 1 in HCMC is part of support program for Covid-19-affected people carried out by the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) in 13 cities and provinces which have recorded coronavirus community infections, namely Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Gia Lai, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Hanoi, Bac Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoa Binh, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Hai Phong and Hung Yen. The campaign has been organized from the end of February to mid-March. More than 5 tones of agricultural products are offered free to the people Residents donate money to the support fund. The second runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2018, Nguyen Thuy An hands over a bag of agricultural products to a man. The second runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2014, Nguyen Lam Diem Trang By Tieu Tan – Translated by Kim Khanh …

[Read more...] about Beauty queens join ‘ products rescue campaign’ to help farmers in affected area

Vietnamese farmers often call on consumers to ‘rescue’ farm produce when there is an oversupply and sales are slow. But the use of e-commerce platforms has changed that. Earning his living by cultivating vegetables for many years, Do Van Chung in Gia Loc district in Hai Duong province complained that he has never met such difficulties before. In previous years, he harvested 4 tons of cabbage and earned VND14-16 million from two sao (1 sao = 360m2) of cultivation area. But he cannot find buyers and is not sure if he can earn VND2 million from each sao. Phung Danh Ut, the owner of a melon field used with greenhouse technology, also complained that trucks have not come to collect produce for the last two weeks and the price has plunged from VND35,000 per kilogram to VND11,000. Chung and Ut, who have been living on agricultural production for many years, have become ‘as clumsy as bears’ as goods circulation is stuck. To solve the problem, Hai Duong provincial authorities decided to utilize IT to boost the distribution of products. Some groups have been set up on Zalo, including Doanh nghiep nong nghiep Hai Duong (Hai Duong agriculture companies), Nong nghiep Hai Duong vuot qua dai dich (Hai Duong’s agriculture overcomes the pandemic) and Tong hop nhu cau (demand summary). Leaders of appropriate agencies are also members of the groups, helping connect businesses in Hai Duong province and other provinces, and helping farmers join production, supply and transportation chains. “We connect businesspeople by using the commune’s electronic information portal and Zalo and invite them to come to Hai Duong to collect farm produce,” said Nguyen Tien Thanh, deputy chair of Pham Tran commune. “Approximately 800 tons of farm produce were marketed during the social distancing time. About 300 tons of cabbage remains unsold,” he said. Meanwhile, Do Van Sang, deputy chair of Gia Loc district, said 10,000 tons of vegetables and 200 tons of poultry meat have …

[Read more...] about Using technology, farmers no longer need produce ‘rescue’ campaigns

Russian authorities have reported seven poultry farm workers aged 29 to 60 years infected with the A(H5N8) strain of avian influenza, also known as bird flu. This is the first reported detection of this strain of avian flu in humans, WHO stated. All seven individuals worked at a poultry processing plant and were therefore exposed to infected birds. None of the infectees have presented respiratory symptoms and remain healthy, according to WHO, which added there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza H5N8, and that the risk of an outbreak among humans remains very low. The strain is a subtype of the influenza A virus that causes flu-like symptoms in wild birds and poultry. Outbreaks of the H5N8 strain have been reported in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East, and North Africa in recent months. In Vietnam, the monitoring program of the Department of Animal Health has not detected the circulating strain of H5N8. However, from 2021, the department would increase testing in the national avian influenza surveillance program. Dr. Pawin Padungtod, senior technical coordinator of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam, said technically, the H5N8 virus strain shares antigenic characteristics with the H5N6 strain circulating in Vietnam. Therefore, the current avian flu vaccine used in Vietnam still works against the H5N8 strain. To prevent H5N8 influenza infection, FAO and WHO recommended breeders strengthen biosecurity measures in the breeding area, comply with poultry vaccination schedules, report unusual cases of poultry deaths and not allow visitors to enter farms. The two avian flu virus strains, H5N6 and H5N1, that have been detected in the country, spread from poultry to humans through contact with infected feces or other bodily fluids, and can prove fatal. …

[Read more...] about WHO warns Vietnam to guard against H5N8 bird flu strain