The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak is encouraging ethnicminority communities to produce microbial organic fertilizer fromagricultural byproducts as it is not only economically efficient, butalso boosts soil nutrients and decreases pollution in rural areas.

Since the beginning of this year, local communities have produced tensof thousands of tonnes of organic fertiliser from coffee husks, corncoband straw, which is also keeping streets clean of debris.

According to Pham Quang Muoi, head of Cu M’gar district’s division foragriculture and rural development, the activity not only helps localpeople save up to 14 billion VND (700,000 USD) each year but alsoincreases crop productivity and reduce environmental pollution.

As stated by officials, microbial organic fertiliser is highlybeneficial for plants and soil as it increases minerals andmicronutrients, improves soil porosity and nutritional values,stimulates root growth, and reduces harmful pests.

Household-based estimates show that one tonne of microbial organicfertiliser costs 700,000 (35 USD) to 850,000 VND (41 USD) on average,while a tonne of chemical fertiliser costs up to 3 million VND (150USD).

In the past, Dak Lak province produced substantialamounts of byproducts, which were considered waste, due to its extensivecoffee and maize production - over 203.500ha of coffee and 120.000ha ofmaize.

However, thanks to the success of the new microbialorganic fertiliser production model, the province has been distributingtechnology and skills on how to reuse byproducts usefully, by runningtraining courses, particularly for ethnic minority groups.-VNA