Abyei, located between Sudan and South Sudan, faces extreme climate conditions with scorching heat nearing 40°C, low humidity, and barren land, making farming difficult. Despite these challenges, Vietnamese engineering soldiers have tried to cultivate vegetable gardens in the area to serve their daily meals.
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The vegetable garden of Vietnam’s Engineering Company Rotation 3 |
After arriving in Abyei for their peacekeeping mission, Vietnamese engineering troops were aware that production promotion not only helps improve their meals but also ensures soldiers’ health. The U.N. provides food with limited vegetables, mainly potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and napa cabbage. Therefore, it is necessary to have their own vegetable garden.
Bringing seeds from Vietnam, the troops carefully selected drought-resistant crops such as water spinach, malabar spinach, mustard greens, tomatoes, and pumpkins. They reorganized a 250-square-meter farming area, utilizing treated wastewater, and applying various techniques to boost crop yields.
They also built a shaded structure to protect crops. Besides, instead of chemical pesticides, Vietnamese engineers created natural insect repellents from orange peels, chili, garlic, and onions, ensuring both plant and environmental protection.
Non-commissioned Senior Captain Tran Ngoc Son, responsible for taking care of the garden, held that local soil is mainly nutrient-poor clay, which hardens in the dry season and becomes waterlogged when it rains, slowing plant growth. To address this, they built a shaded structure, composted plant waste to enrich the soil, and used nets and plastic bags to protect crops, among others.
The harvested vegetables have improved the troops’ meal quality. In addition, the production promotion effort fosters discipline, teamwork, and resilience among the soldiers. Each unit assigns a member to take care of the garden.
The image of these Vietnamese engineering troops in the harsh land proves their resilience, creativeness, and efforts in accomplishing all assigned missions and challenges. In addition to their peacekeeping missions, they have brought new appearance to the area, spreading the beautiful image of Uncle Ho’s soldiers.
Translated by Minh Anh