Increasingly unpredictable weather makes cultivation more dependent on the ability to adapt techniques to each growth stage. In Tay Ninh, a key rice-producing area in the Southern region, Le Van Trang noted that prolonged heat can stunt rice growth and hinder tillering, while continuous rain causes plants to grow tall, weakening their stalks and making them prone to lodging. A more complex challenge lies in nutrition, as growers must balance plant needs with the risk of over-fertilization. "Add more and fear excess nitrogen, don't add and worry about losing yield," Trang said.

At a coffee farm in Bao Lam 3 commune, Lam Dong province, farmer Nguyen Huy Dac stated that cultivation involves many variables, including weather, fertilizer, plant varieties, and other factors. Among these, reasonable fertilization is always one of the determining factors for plant growth, yield, and quality. However, deciding how to fertilize correctly, when to apply it, and which type of fertilizer is suitable for each crop remains difficult. He himself had tried various fertilizers, but his plants did not develop as expected; sometimes roots became bound, and shoots struggled to emerge.

Le Van Trang (Tay Ninh) learns "golden tips" from Ca Mau Fertilizer for effective rice cultivation. *Photo: PVCFC*

These two cases highlight that growers not only need to select suitable products but also determine the correct timing, dosage, and care tailored to each crop type, soil condition, and prevailing weather. Ca Mau Fertilizer developed its "Golden Tips" campaign to combine nutritional advice, technical guidance, product selection, and result monitoring throughout the cultivation process.

When plants receive the right nutrients, at the correct time, and with appropriate solutions for each growth stage, previous difficulties gradually resolve. Healthier plants with stable growth lead to improved yield and quality, helping farmers achieve successful harvests and fostering sustainable efficiency across multiple seasons.

For Trang's rice field in Tay Ninh, the "golden tips" involved closely monitoring plant conditions and weather to adjust nutrition appropriately, applying balanced fertilizer at the right time, rather than increasing amounts intuitively. During the seedling and tillering stages, he used NPK Ca Mau Gold 20-15-8 ("Golden Season 1") as guided, which helped the rice tiller well, grow stronger, reduce lodging, and maintain yield potential under adverse weather conditions.

Farmers apply fertilizer to coffee plants following Ca Mau Fertilizer's guidance. *Photo: PVCFC*

In Nguyen Huy Dac's coffee garden in Lam Dong, significant changes were evident after he applied the "Golden Tips" from Ca Mau Fertilizer. Instead of fertilizing based on past experience, he focused on soil care, root nourishment, and stage-specific fertilization, adhering to the "four rights" principle. The use of NPK Ca Mau, incorporating Polyphosphate technology, also aided root development and nutrient absorption in acidic soil. Consequently, the issues of bound roots and slow shoot development gradually improved, leading to healthier and more uniform plant growth.

Beyond sharing expertise, the "Golden Tips" are validated through numerous real-world demonstration models, yielding positive results in growth, productivity, and economic efficiency. Cultivation activities are simultaneously monitored and evaluated by a team of experts and technicians throughout the implementation process.

The durian demonstration model in Krong Pac (Dak Lak) increased profit by over 10% and yield by over 8%, while reducing costs. *Photo: PVCFC*

A prime example is the outcome from an 8-year-old Dona durian demonstration model in Krong Pac, Dak Lak. This model utilized NPK Ca Mau combined with Om Camau organic fertilizer, following the guidance of the "Golden Tips." At the summary ceremony, Ho Cong Truc, M.S., Director of the Central Highlands Soil, Fertilizer, and Environment Research Center, reported that the garden's profit increased by over 8%, costs decreased, and yield was higher than the control model. These results were recorded on a durian garden that already had a relatively good yield foundation.

According to a PVCFC representative, continuing a seven-year journey of partnership with farmers across various platforms, the "Golden Tips" campaign is receiving positive feedback from the farming community. Every shared story, experience, model, or solution aims for a common goal: to provide farmers with accurate information and a sound basis for making informed decisions each season.

With the message "Right Information, Bountiful Harvest," the campaign seeks to connect technical knowledge with real-world production conditions. Ca Mau Fertilizer anticipates this approach will help farmers sustain efficiency after favorable seasons, while progressively improving productivity, quality, and adaptability to fluctuations in weather and market conditions.

Hoang Dan