Anthropology students go vegetable growing

One of the scientific reports that won the First Prize in the recent Conference of Students of Social Sciences and Humanities was a research project on organic vegetable cultivation in Thanh Xuan commune, Soc Son, Hanoi, conducted by a group of students from K54 Anthropology. The report had good research results thanks to the elaborate fieldwork and effective teamwork skills. On the sidelines of the Conference, the group of students shared many experiences in the process of implementing this topic. - Why did you choose this topic? Tran Dieu Anh(group leader): Previously, I participated in the Green Generation network - a group of young people working for the environment in Hanoi. In one of the activities of this network, I had the opportunity to learn about the sustainable production model in Soc Son, and visit a vegetable garden grown using organic farming methods. Organic vegetable production is the cultivation of vegetables without using chemicals in planting, caring for, protecting and harvesting, making the most of the characteristics and natural resources of crops to ensure the quality and yield of agricultural products. This production model is especially meaningful in protecting people's health, developing the socio-economy and protecting the local environment. Especially in the context of unsustainable agricultural production in Vietnam today, agricultural products often use fertilizers, pesticides, and growth stimulants that are harmful to both consumers and producers. I shared this concern with my group members and together we decided to find out how this production model is organized, its effectiveness and social significance, whether this is a solution for sustainable agricultural development in Vietnam and how to replicate this model?- One of the highly appreciated factors in this topic is the elaborate process of fieldwork to collect information in the area. Can you share about the survey process and access to information sources? Tran Dieu Anh: It is true that this process took a lot of time and effort from the whole group, and was a key activity to produce the main research results. We discussed and made a very specific field trip plan, and at the same time contacted and sent this plan to relevant organizations for help. Permission and even more support from various places came quite easily, but the real difficulty came when we had to start to exploit in-depth information. We went to live and work with many families in the area to find out how people actually grow vegetables, what their experiences were and how they did it... Initially, we planned to spend 2 weeks getting to know and learn, but in the end, this plan completely failed. It was not until the 7th and 8th weeks that we really became familiar with and made people trust us, and opened up to tell us the secrets: from choosing and preparing the land, choosing seeds, planting, caring for and protecting vegetables...Ho Si Lap: To get information from the local government, we contacted them for help, but in reality this work became very difficult for many reasons. In the end, we took a detour by having established a good relationship with the people, asking them to influence and contact responsible individuals in the local government organization.- From directly participating in vegetable farming in the area with farmers to learning about this new production model, what important conclusions did the group reach? Tran Dieu Anh: Based on the group's research, we believe that organic agriculture in general and the organic vegetable production model in Soc Son have brought distinct values ​​and advantages, creating a clear change in people's lives and ensuring environmental quality. The model has optimally utilized the advantages of resources including those from the State, non-governmental organizations, businesses and people. The group also sees positive prospects: this is a model that promotes community cohesion, strengthens the voice of vulnerable groups such as farmers, promotes the strengths of agricultural production in the context of globalization and environmental pollution, and is also the first step for Vietnam to move towards building and developing more sustainable agriculture, ensuring the health of the community. - What are the biggest difficulties you encountered when doing this topic? Tran Dieu Anh: The problem that team members often encounter is that they sometimes feel discouraged and disoriented because they put in a lot of effort but the results are not as expected. That mentality greatly affects work efficiency. Perhaps the biggest difficulty is overcoming one's own self-doubt and discouragement. For me - as the team leader - there is also the task of maintaining the working spirit of the whole team, maintaining a regular work schedule. For example, after each field trip, I have to maintain a serious working spirit, have to write a work diary regularly and continuously, not forgetting or ignoring it because of laziness...Le Thi Thuong: Right from the start, I had outlined a timeline for myself, but when I got to the field, the reality was completely different. There were even times when I felt “shocked” and sad because I tried very hard to get acquainted, asked a lot of questions from the ladies and gentlemen but still could not get any information. It was not until I went to the fields to work with the people a week later that people began to remember my face and name. I was assigned to learn about the role of government organizations and civil organizations in implementing this production model, so getting information was even more difficult. Because they had their own secrets that they did not want to share or doubted my motives. Many times I spent the whole morning working with the people in the fields but by noon I was “chased” back - so pitiful! Those difficulties made me confused and bewildered, not knowing where to start again. Up to now, the most important experience I have learned is that when planning work, you must anticipate practical problems that may arise and always flexibly change the plan to suit actual conditions, so that in the end you still achieve the original goals set.Ngo Thi Chang: The biggest difficulty is to create trust for yourself and for everyone in the work. As a student, when going to the field, the local people do not always believe, listen and answer honestly. Sometimes the information obtained is very superficial compared to the initial effort and expectations. I used to be very sad and discouraged. After that, I had to tell myself that I was assigned to learn about farming methods, so whatever the people do, I have to do it with them and do it a lot so that they get to know me better. While working together, it is easier to ask them about their experiences and methods.Ho Si Lap: Because this is a group research project, the biggest difficulty is maintaining the solidarity of the members, in which the role of the leader is very important. We are really grateful to the group leader Dieu Anh for always trying to maintain the relationship and working spirit of the whole group. We have participated in outside activities such as attending conferences and exhibitions related to the topic... Only then can we truly nurture the working motivation of the whole group.Ta Thi Hien: I come from a farming family, so at first when I came into contact with the farming work of the people, I felt familiar and thought that what I wanted to learn could be done by just asking my family and neighbors, without having to go to the field. But in fact, I was wrong because each place has its own culture, its own way of doing things, which is not the same. To have accurate research results, specific and practical experiences are needed. My biggest difficulty is fighting with myself to not give up.- Going back to Lap's opinion that maintaining group activities during the research process is very difficult, so what principles have been set to ensure that the group does not disintegrate? Tran Dieu Anh: The first factor is always democracy. From the topic, research content to the way of doing things, if just one person shows disagreement or reluctance, it will not go anywhere. We have built a group working rule, then a general working plan with clear division of work for each person. All of these things must be discussed and agreed upon by the entire group. Everything must have a deadline, if someone does not complete their part of the work, everyone will meet to find out what problem that person has that cannot be solved. The whole group will participate in solving the problem, not leaving it to an individual to solve alone. Or in the relationship between members, if someone is dissatisfied with something, they must talk frankly, not letting the situation of "being on the surface but not in the heart". There are also cases where someone feels too frustrated, the whole group will "surround" them, listen to them talk about all the things that are bothering them. As the group leader, I also always try to invite my friends to participate in more outside activities to connect and "wind up" the group's spirit.

- So up to now, besides the awards you have received, what has participating in scientific research brought you? Le Thi Thuong: I was different from many of my friends in the group because my initial choice was not Anthropology. And for a long time, I did not feel the attraction of this major. Only in the third year, when I went on a field trip, did I discover that my major had a high practical application and guaranteed career opportunities. The process of doing a field trip to do the project further reinforced my thinking. I was assigned to present the report at the conference. For a whole week before the presentation, I almost “lost my appetite and could not sleep”. I had to go home to practice speaking, record and listen to it again, then make adjustments. When everything went smoothly, I was very happy because I realized that things were not as difficult as I thought.Tran Dieu Anh: Although the field trip had many difficulties, the group still achieved all the set goals. The most difficult thing was that everyone had to focus on writing and synthesizing all the collected information - very simple, very everyday information but had to be written in scientific language. Through that, I personally felt that I had a real experience of scientific thinking, from the way of evaluating the problem to the way of expressing...Ngo Thi Chang: Scientific research is very necessary for students. It is really a pity if students do not do scientific research. Because this is an opportunity to help us increase life experience, practice thinking and practical work. Scientific research has helped me overcome my inherent "shyness", affirm my own abilities to be more confident in life.Ta Thi Hien: Scientific research gives me a lot of experience in working in groups, and helps me appreciate the efforts of everyone. When working in groups, it is important that we know how to share sincerely and listen. Participating in scientific research helps to form a more scientific mindset and a broader vision when looking at and evaluating issues and events.Ho Si Lap: I really agree with your opinion, it is true that only by doing scientific research can students mature in terms of professional knowledge and social communication behavior.