Viet Nam News
Waste water has a lot of value.
There are useful substances in it.
When two Can Tho City students realised this, they started to make potting soil from waste water.
Vegetables grow well in their potting soil.
CAN THO — Potting soil made from wastewater, a project initiated by two college students, offers a comprehensive solution to protect the environment and create economic value in the Mekong Delta.
Nguyen Huu Huy Hao from Ca Mau Province and Phan Hong Muc from Bac Lieu Province first came to the idea of potting soil when they were studying at engineering schools in Can Tho City.
“Waste mud produced by treating wastewater contains a considerable amount of nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients essential for vegetables and trees,” said Hao.
As the biggest hub of fish farming and processing of Viet Nam, the Mekong Delta is now facing saltwater intrusion, drought and pollution caused by the industry. The better control of waste mud promises to improve the environment in the region.
“We questioned whether we could improve the process of wastewater treatment at seafood processing facilities and simultaneously create sustainable profits,” said Muc.
The two students started their project by contacting seafood processing facilities in the provinces of Ca Mau and Soc Trang, asking to process their waste mud. After two months of trial-and-error, they successfully compounded their first six kilogrammes of potting soil.
“Basically, it takes three steps to make potting soil from waste mud, evaporation, Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and microbiology addition,” said Hao.
However, persuading people to use potting soil made from waste mud is a tougher challenge for initiators.
“At first, we asked our friends and acquaintances to try the product and give feedback. We also approached and introduced our soil to organic vegetable farms,” Muc said.
Nguyen Duy Phuc, director of Can Tho City Youth Employment Centre, told the Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper that he got to know the product at a local fair when it caught the attention of only a few participants.
“Working with students, I am interested in products made by young people and eager to try and give feedback on their new type of potting soil. However, the product surprised me with its quality,” he said.
At present, the centre’s rooftop is converted into a garden, using potting soil compounded by Muc and Hao. Vegetables develop well without any fertiliser or supplement.
In 2017, the two students established INOS Nguyen Phan Company producing the product of potting soil named Taho. They received support from biology experts, Can Tho City College of Technological Economics, University of Technology and Youth Employment Centre in developing their product and marketing.
“Our company aims to create the ‘duo-profit’ for us and for seafood processing facilities who supply waste mud, helping them to reinvest into manufacturing operations,” said Hao.
Taho potting soil is distributed to farms in HCM City and several Mekong Delta cities and provinces including Can Tho, An Giang, and Ca Mau at a good price, ranging from VND20,000 to 250,000 (US$0.88–11) for a bag of 2kg to 28kg.
Nguyen Van Phong, owner of a vegetable farm in Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City, said he has already noticed the effectiveness of their product.
“I am piloting using soil for a new type of tomato imported from the Netherlands. The plants have good growth with high nutrient content in fruits. In the future, I will use the product all over the farm,” he said.
In 2018, Hao and Muc will start to receive investment to expand their operation.
“Though we have several challenges of lack of experience and financial resources to head, we will continue to develop the product as it helps to improve the environment in Mekong Delta. We hope that it will inspire other youngsters to protect the environment by their initiatives and projects,” said Muc. — VNS
GLOSSARY
Potting soil made from wastewater, a project initiated by two college students, offers a comprehensive solution to protect the environment and create economic value in the Mekong Delta.
Initiated means “started”.
A comprehensive solution is a very thorough answer to a problem – one that addresses all aspects of the problem.
“Waste mud produced by treating wastewater contains a considerable amount of nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients essential for vegetables and trees,” said Hao.
Nutrients are substances that make body cells grow. They are found in both food and soil.
As the biggest hub of fish farming and processing of Viet Nam, the Mekong Delta is now facing saltwater intrusion, drought and pollution caused by the industry.
A hub is a centre where a lot more happens than in other places. In this case it is a place where there is more fishing and fish processing going on than elsewhere in the country.
Saltwater intrusion into the Mekong Delta means saltwater entering the Mekong Delta.
“We questioned whether we could improve the process of wastewater treatment at seafood processing facilities and simultaneously create sustainable profits,” said Muc.
Seafood processing facilities are places where seafood is changed into fish products that are sold in shops.
Simultaneously means “at the same time”.
Sustainable profits means profits that keep on being earned.
After two months of trial-and-error, they successfully compounded their first six kilogrammes of potting soil.
Trial-and-error means doing something again and again, making mistakes, until you are able to do it right.
“Basically, it takes three steps to make potting soil from waste mud, evaporation, Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and microbiology addition,” said Hao.
Evaporation happens when water turns into water vapour in the air because of the heat.
Germicidal irradiation is a process of getting rid of germs by exposing them to radiation.
“At first, we asked our friends and acquaintances to try the product and give feedback.”
Your acquaintances are people who you know and are neither your friends nor your enemies.
We also approached and introduced our soil to organic vegetable farms,” Muc said.
Organic means grown without chemicals
At present, the centre’s rooftop is converted into a garden, using potting soil compounded by Muc and Hao. Vegetables develop well without any fertiliser or supplement.
Converts means changed from one thing into something else.
“Our company aims to create the ‘duo-profit’ for us and for seafood processing facilities who supply waste mud, helping them to reinvest into manufacturing operations,” said Hao.
Duo means two.
“I am piloting using soil for a new type of tomato imported from the Netherlands.
Imported means brought in from another country.
In 2018, Hao and Muc will start to receive investment to expand their operation.
Investment, in this case, means money put into a project in order to make more money from that project.
WORKSHEET
Find words that mean the following in the Word Search:
1. A river with a delta.
2. A vegetable imported from the Netherlands.
3. A place where vegetables are grown at the youth employment centre.
4. The weight in kilograms of the first batch of potting soil that the two students put together.
5. The course that Nguyen Huu Huy Hao and Phan Hong Muc were studying when they came up with the potting soil idea.
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ANSWERS:
© Duncan Guy/Learn the News/ Viet Nam News 2018
1. Mekong; 2. Tomato; 3. Roof; 4. Six; 5. Engineering.