WORKSHOP ON JAPANESE NATURAL AGRICULTURE IN DAK LAK

On February 29 and March 01, 2024, Dr. Tran Dinh Lam - Director of International Cooperation Program at the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies, attended a workshop at Farm Manh Duong in Krong Ana district, Dak Lak Province. The workshop was organized by Nico Nico Yasai, with Mr. Mimoru Shiokawa as the director.

Mr Shiokawa, Mr Teruhiko Sawamura, Ms Himeno Yuko và Dr Tran Dinh Lam attending the workshop

The Japanese guests included Mr. Teruhiko Sawamura and Ms. Himeno Yuko, along with young agricultural producers from various regions such as Binh Phuoc, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and some from Hanoi who own farms in Dak Lak. During the exchanges with the young participants, Mr. Sawamura shared his experiences of over 40 years in cultivating natural tomatoes without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides, emphasizing the importance of respecting nature and deriving all nutrients from the soil. Mr. Sawamura conducted research to produce homemade fertilizers from natural ingredients extracted from sweet potatoes and wild vegetables, combined with rice bran, red soil, fish meal, clam shells, crabs, green rice, and mud from paddy fields. He brought these homemade fertilizers from Japan to Daklak to introduce them to young ecological agricultural practitioners. While visiting two farms affiliated with Nico Nico Yasai in Krông Pắc commune, Ea Phê commune, and Hoa Dong commune, he applied this fertilizer to a small area and suggested that the garden owners mark it to observe the differences in plant growth.

Mr. Sawamura sharing his experience to the participants

Fertilizer for plants, like food for humans, needs to be delicious and clean. Following Mr. Sawamura's guidance, farms previously used containers for storing vegetables, tomatoes, and bananas, creating a pleasant fragrance. In making microbial fertilizers, he tested the aroma and did not hesitate to taste them to assess the quality of the fertilizer and provide feedback to Vietnamese farmers.

Japanese experts visited the 333 sugarcane factory

Finding sources of natural organic fertilizer is crucial for organic agriculture. Japanese experts visited the 333 sugarcane factory in Ea Knốp town to assess the quality of sugarcane mud and explore combining it with other indigenous microorganisms to produce fertilizer for fruits and vegetables, as this presents an advantage in organic farming.

Ms. Himeno Yuko discussed crucial aspects of organic agriculture, emphasizing the care for crops and livestock as if they were one's own children. She advocates for the continual search and utilization of indigenous microorganisms in the area where one resides, along with managing organic fertilizers according to each nutritional cycle. Enthusiastically, she shares articles discussing production activities and trading organic agricultural products in Japan and elsewhere with her Vietnamese counterparts.Vietnamese agricultural enthusiasts actively exchanged opinions on topics such as organic fertilizer production, finding indigenous microorganisms, and methods for fermenting organic fertilizers to achieve the highest quality. They also fervently discussed the challenges and obstacles encountered in the production and sale of these products during the workshop.

Mr Sawamura, Ms Himeno Yuko and Mr Shiokawa sharing their knowledge on organic products

During this occasion, the Natural Agriculture Association of Japan presented Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Thien, co-director of Nico Nico Yasai Company, with T-shirts featuring ecological agriculture symbols. These shirts were designed by supporters of ecological agriculture. Additionally, a guidebook detailing the organic farming process was revised to suit the Vietnamese reality, and it was warmly welcomed and discussed by Vietnamese agricultural practitioners.
 

Meeting betweenthe Natural Agriculture Association of Japan and  the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association

During a meeting at his office, Mr. Nguyen Thuong Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association, highly praised the efforts of the Japanese delegation. He expressed gratitude for the dedication of Ms. Himeno Yuko from the Natural Agriculture Association of Japan and Mr. Sawamura Teruhiko for their tireless enthusiasm in assisting young Vietnamese agricultural practitioners. He hopes that this model will be diligently implemented and supported by Vietnamese consumers. Vietnam recognizes the importance of human health and environmental protection, and therefore, the government is increasingly encouraging and promoting the trend of developing eco-friendly agriculture without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the livelihoods of its people. 

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