This is the achievement of the scientific topic of “Developing a safe fresh fruit and vegetable production model following a chain link from producing to selling products”.
Safe tomato production in Thuong Dat commune
Safe tomatoes and winter melons grown in Thuong Dat and An Chau communes (Hai Duong city) have been available in northern Big C and Co.opmart supermarket systems and many clean vegetable shops in Ha Noi. This is the achievement of the scientific topic of “Developing a safe fresh fruit and vegetable production model following a chain link from producing to selling products”.
Journey to supermarkets
To gradually find a place for safe vegetables, the Agroforestry and Aquatic Product Quality Management Branch (AAPQMB) (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) realized the scientific topic of “Developing a safe fresh fruit and vegetable production model following a chain link from producing to selling products” in 2014.
PhD Le Dinh Son, AAPQMB Director, head of the topic, said the goal of this project was to develop a safe tomato and winter melon production model in accordance with VietGAP process and organize the sale in supermarket systems and other outlets.
The topic attracted the participation of 85 households with a total area of 10ha, equally divided between Thuong Dat and An Chau communes. This was a positive direction, step by step finding stable outlets for farm produce and raising farmers’ incomes.
During the implementation, the branch instructed farming households to comply with the technical process towards safe production, namely growing of safe vegetables on high, dry, well-drained, metal-free grounds far away from sources of hazardous waste; use of uncontaminated irrigation water, separately-tested microbial organic and foliar fertilizers, and distributed plant protection products only; and no chemical spraying 15 – 20 days before harvest.
The farmers’ production process was closely monitored by engineers with products occasionally taken away for checking.
Thanks to strict application of the process, winter melons and tomatoes met quality assurance criteria without pestilent insects, residues of plant protection products, or microorganisms harmful to consumers.
Along with that, the branch actively reviewed and selected enterprises to act as product outlets. “The selected enterprises must be in real need to ensure long-term benefits for farmers. Businesses having been linked to and already had products sold in major supermarkets are easily selected because the supermarkets will not have to reassess them. The branch has chosen Hai Duong Xanh Agricultural Produce and Foodstuffs JSC. for meeting these requirements. The company’s products have been available in supermarkets in many provinces and cities, so it really suits the topic implementation,” said Master Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, AAPQMB Chief Inspector.
Brand name targeted
After one year of implementation, the topic has obtained positive results. In late 2014, Thuong Dat tomatoes and An Chau winter melons were granted VietGAP certificates, purchased and sold in northern Big C and Co.opmart supermarket systems, more than 20 clean vegetable shops in Ha Noi, and Hai Duong Xanh safe vegetable shop (Dien Bien Phu street, Hai Duong city) by Hai Duong Xanh Agricultural Produce and Foodstuffs JSC.
Mr. Bui Xuan Nien, Director of Hai Duong Xanh Agricultural Produce and Foodstuffs JSC., said the company would keep undertaking the sale of the topic’s products in the coming years.
Benefiting from the scientific topic, farmers maybe the happiest people. “I have attended many training and guiding courses on the safe production process and been supported with over VND15 million, accounting for 50% of variety prices. Each sao (360m2) of tomatoes yields 1.8 – 2.2 tons of products, currently bought at a price of VND10,000 – VND11,000/ kg by Hai Duong Xanh Agricultural Produce and Foodstuffs JSC., so my family makes a profit of VND18 million – VND20 million/ sao,” said Nguyen Thi Them, owner of more than 1.3 mau (3,600m2 x 1.3) of tomatoes grown under the VietGAP process in Thuong Triet hamlet (Thuong Dat commune).
VIET QUYNH
Đăng ký: VietNam News