A farmer in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai has successfully produced a type of machine dedicated to ploughing terraced fields, reducing the burden of farm work on these inaccessible spots.

For years, farmers in Nam Bung commune, Van Chan district, have wanted a ploughing machine to help them work. Yet, the equipment for sale on the market is too big and heavy while terraces are narrow, thus they still have to do their farm work manually. 

Noticing such a hardship, Bui Sy Toi has devoted his time to creating a ploughing machine exclusively for use on terraced fields. 

After each prototype was made, he took it to the fields to test. Following a number of versions, Toi’s effort finally paid off when the first workable machine was born in mid-2012. 

Powered by motorcycle engines and weighing less than 90 kg, the plough consumes one litre of petrol for every 1,000 sq. m. of land while its capacity is equal to other existing machines. 

“I was born into a farming family so I understand how strenuous the work is. Since I have some motorcycle repairing skills, I started with the idea of making a mini-plough that is easy to operate on hilly areas. And at last, I have created my first product,” Toi said. 

Thanks to the aforementioned advantages, Toi’s home-made machine soon became popular among local farmers. 

Farmer Ban A Chiep in Nam Bung commune said: “In the past, I had to rent buffalo for ploughing and raking, which was labour intensive and ineffective. For the last three crops, I have used the machine made by Toi, and it has proved effective.” 

His machines have caught the attention of farmers and businesses from other northern provinces like Lai Chau and Son La, as well as southern localities such as Binh Phuoc and Binh Duong. 

Toi has opened a workshop and hired seven workers to produce ploughs. He said he and his staff can complete a machine a day at peak periods, adding that prices vary from 8 - 13 million VND (381 – 619 USD) each depending on the state of the engine. 

Confident in his invention, he has filed an application to the Yen Bai Department of Science and Technology for copyright registration and plans to attend the upcoming provincial Science and Technology Creative Contest.