Mr. Luong Quoc Doan paid a visit to Nuong Farm in Thoi Son Commune, owned by Ms. Chau Thi Nuong, a 2025 outstanding Vietnamese Farmer. Photo: Pham Hung.

This is the story of innovative, forward-thinking farmers who are rising out of poverty while paving the way for a new era of green agriculture driven by technology and sustainable value chains.

From Agricultural Waste to Annual Revenue of VND 12 Billion

The working delegation visited production process of termite and medicinal mushrooms which was owned by a 2025 outstanding Vietnamese Farmer.

Their first stop was Nuong Farm in Thoi Son Commune, operated by Ms. Chau Thi Nuong, a 2025 Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer.

Embracing a modern farming mindset, Ms. Nuong has transformed what was once agricultural waste into valuable medicinal mushrooms through a closed-loop, circular production system.

She explained that rice straw after each harvest in the Mekong Delta is often burned—causing pollution—or sold at very low prices. Recognizing that Thoi Son has a relatively cool climate, she leveraged this resource to build a zero-waste production chain.

Ms. Chau Thi Nuong –  2025 Outstanding Vietnamese female farmer introduced finished products made from mushrooms and medicinal mushrooms. Photo: Pham Hung

Specifically, after each rice harvest, Ms. Nuong uses rice straw to produce substrate for mushroom cultivation. After cultivating black termite and lingzhi mushrooms, the substrate is reused to grow straw mushrooms. The remaining by-products are used to feed earthworms, producing organic fertilizer, while the bases of cordyceps are repurposed as feed for chickens.

To invest in technology, Ms. Nuong installed a rooftop solar power system, which not only provides self-sufficient electricity but also creates shade to regulate temperature, enabling more effective mushroom cultivation.

Her 4-hectare farm produces a variety of high-value mushrooms, including lingzhi, cordyceps, termite mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and straw mushrooms, with an annual output of over 10 tons and revenue of approximately VND 12 billion.

Ta Danh Agricultural Cooperative has not only improved household incomes but also created stable jobs for 50 local workers, 80% of whom are Khmer women, with monthly incomes ranging from VND 6 million to VND 9 million.

Revitalizing challenging land with Thyrsostachys Siamensis 

After leaving Thoi Son, Mr. Luong Quoc Doan visited the Thyrsostachys Siamensis  and Four-Season Bamboo Growers’ group in Nui Cam Commune. This model demonstrates effective crop conversion in response to climate change.

Mr. Luong Quoc Doan visited model of Thyrsostachys Siamensis and four-season bamboo cultivation together with the working delegation in Ta Lot Hamlet, Nui Cam Commune. Photo: Pham Hung.

According to Mr. Ly Thanh Tung, Chairman of the Farmers’ Union of Nui Cam Commune, the area at the foot of Nui Cam Mountain previously suffered from water shortages, leading to crop losses and unstable livelihoods.

Local farmers shared their thoughts and aspirations with Chairman of Vietnam Farmers' Union Luong Quoc Doan. Photo: Pham Hung.

In 2025, the commune Farmers’ Union organized a study visit to Binh Phuoc and coordinated with banks to provide financial support. As a result, 52 members converted 80.5 hectares to Thyrsostachys Siamensis cultivation.

Although once considered a “poor man’s crop,” Thyrsostachys Siamensis has proven its value: low investment costs, minimal irrigation needs, easy propagation, and strong resilience.

Chairman of Farmers’ Union Luong Quoc Doan delivered a speech to address difficulties and challenges for farmers. Photo: Pham Hung.

With annual incomes of VND 80–100 million per hectare, Thyrsostachys Siamensis has significantly improved livelihoods in mountainous areas.

However, both Ms. Nuong and the bamboo growers face a common challenge: limited deep processing capacity. Currently, Ms. Nuong’s mushroom products must be outsourced for freeze-drying and packaging at high cost, while Thyrsostachys Siamensis is mostly sold raw, limiting profit margins.

Addressing bottlenecks in capital and technology

After listening to farmers’ concerns, Chairman Luong Quoc Doan expressed his appreciation for these well-oriented agricultural models that create jobs and stable incomes.

Chairman Luong Quoc Doan and the delegation visited Dang Ngoc Binh’s Thyrsostachys Siamensis cultivation model. Photo: Pham Hung.

To support sustainable development, he proposed that local Farmers’ Unions and the An Giang Provincial Farmers’ Union identify financial solutions to help Ta Danh Cooperative invest in a closed production line, including freeze-drying and packaging, to reduce intermediary costs and increase profits.

He also instructed the provincial union to develop plans to use the Farmers’ Support Fund to assist bamboo growers in acquiring initial processing equipment aligned with enterprise demand.

At the same time, he encouraged the bamboo growers to establish a cooperative, which would provide a stronger legal foundation for financial support and business linkages.

He emphasized the importance of trust in production linkages, noting that farmers must remain united and uphold commitments with enterprise partners.

The visit not only offered practical solutions but also inspired a vision of sustainable prosperity for farmers in An Giang.

Once bottlenecks in processing are resolved, circular agricultural models like Ms. Nuong’s and the Thyrsostachys Siamensis forests at the foot of Nui Cam Mountain are expected to expand further across Vietnam’s agricultural landscape.