(VOVworld) – Nguyen Hong Chuong of Lam Dong province is an amateur engineering inventor. In the last 10 years, he has come up with 7 inventions including 2 machines to improve agricultural productivity and a frame specially designed for growing clean vegetables in urban areas. In 2013, Chuong received the Prime Minister’s certificate of merit for his contributions to Vietnam’s new rural development program.

The noise of machines blends with the sound of rock music at Chuong’s workshop in Lac Lam commune, Don Duong district. In one corner ò hí workshop, Chuong placed some large loudspeakers and a computer to download music from

“Inventions and music are related. Music comes from our soul and so do inventions. Music helps me relax and reduces stress.”

Chuong says music has made him more optimistic and creative. He plays his guitar, violin, or saxophone whenever he is sad or trying to figure out the functional principles of a machine. Chuong used to earn his living by performing at cafes, shops and weddings. In 2004, Chuong and his wife rented 8,000 square meters to grow vegetables and incurred a huge debt because of low vegetable prices. Chuong played music to earn enough money to clear his debts and began to think about his future. He says: “There were many options but I decided to invent agricultural machinery to help farmers because I’m a farmer too. I’ve been trying to produce machines that will increase productivity.”

He had to borrow money from the bank to create his first invention, which was a sowing machine. Dao Thi Huong, Chuong’s wife, recalls those difficult days: “Chuong’s brothers thought there was something wrong with him. They thought that only foreign experts could produce such machines and Chuong, who did not finish secondary school, would never succeed. Some villagers even told me that he was crazy. He came home at midnight and left at 6AM. He worked very hard and finally succeeded after two months.”

Chuong’s sowing machine helps to reduce man-hours and minimize stress. He has also produced machines used in incubators and a frame to grow clean vegetables in urban areas: “I plan to export my machines used in incubators. My model to grow clean vegetables is cost-effective and environment-friendly.”

Chuong is 40 years old and some of his patented inventions are now in use.

“I always study the functional principles of the machines before starting to manufacture them. Learning from other scientists’ experience is very helpful.”