VietNamNet Bridge - Before the whirlwind of urbanization and the decline of grain prices, they are the last farmers in Thanh Da Peninsula (Ward 28, Binh Thanh District, HCM City) who stick with the job left by their fathers.

Mr. Le Van Dung and his wife.

Binh Quoi Street brings together many pubs, cafes and karaoke parlous. This is a well-known place for playboys. But amid that place still exists a countryside area.

In mid-August 2013, we paid a visit to Thanh Da when farmers just finished transplanting rice seedling in the field. An old man named Pham Van Ngai went to the field very early to remove weeds. He has one hectare of field and he takes care the field alone, since his wife died several years ago. He has eight children but none of them do fieldwork.

Ngai said he plants two rice crops a year and harvest from 3.3 to 4.4 tons per crop, earning about VND10-15 million/crop ($500-$700). Before each crop, the old man has to borrow VND5-6 million to purchase seeds, fertilizer, pesticide, etc, with interest rate of VND200,000 for VND1 million per month. After selling rice, he pays both the principal and interest money.

Along the way to the field, we saw many fields left fallowed. Ngai said about five years ago, this area was the vast field. But now due to low prices for rice, villagers turn to breed fish and lotus in some fields and some others are left unused.

Dreams for the future day

Nearby, Mr. Le Van Dung and his wife were pulling up young plants of rice to transplant the last field. The couple has 1,200sq.m of field and two children. The daughter has just graduated from College of Tourism and works as a cashier for a restaurant in District 1. The son is an 8th grade student.

Mrs. Loan, Dung’s wife said earning from the field is not enough to support the family so the couple has to do extra work, such as construction builders and selling vegetables at the market.

Dung and Loan said they will try to keep their field until they can do farm work.

CA TPHCM