Hien was equally intent on developing inexpensive, simple technology for poorly educated farmers. In June, with the help of a grant from the United Nations Development Programme, Hien helped farmers in Tan Linh to establish a workshop to launch local production of 20 tons of fertilizer. In mid-September, farmers were busy preparing the second batch, based on a surge of orders. Eventually Hien hopes for year-round production to suit variable crop rotations. Emptying a plastic bag of micro-organisms that Hien supplies as concentrate, the farmers shovel in peat soil, add scoops of sugar, and follow a simple incubation process in a heated room.
Chemical fertilizers cost twice as much.
The money goes to the workshop, which consists of a production team of seven farmers. They in turn pay Hien 16,000 dong per kilogram for the concentrate. Best of all, farmers who use BioGro can pay after harvesting, which many appreciate, given the growing problem of fake fertilizers and subsequently damaged crops in Vietnam. These farmers still need to use some chemical fertilizers, because BioGro doesn't mobilize all the necessary nutrients. In addition to healthy rice fields, some are also reporting tastier fruit and more-robust tea leaves.