Identification creates smooth output

40 members of Hao Thanh Agriculture Cooperative (Cooperative) in Dong Lan village, Dong Ky commune (Yen The district) were delighted to receive VietGAP certificate for 14.5 hectares of longan and approval to export late ripening longan.

Members of Luc Nam Agriculture Service Cooperative harvest longan.

The Cooperative Director Ton Quang Thanh said though the Cooperative has been established for one year, under the instruction from competent agencies and rich experiences, all members correctly follow the regulation to produce longan in line with VietGAP standard. So, together with GRC, the Cooperative’s products satisfy export condition.

The statistic from the Plant Production and Protection Division (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development-DARD) proved that the province now has 204 GAC for lychee covering over 16,000 hectares, 110 for longan (2,000 hectares) and 117 for orange and pomelo (1,600 hectares) among others.

The GAC issuance helps customers and traders access product information easily, widen chance to export the product and introduce them on e-commercial platforms.

With 50 hectares of longan grown in line with VietGAP standard and GAC, this year members of Luc Nam Agriculture Service Cooperative in Luc Son commune (Luc Nam district) can sell 40 percent of products at supermarkets and e-commercial platforms with high selling price (30,000 VND per kg). Customers only need to scan QR Code to know the product origin and its legal documents.

Digitalization enhances value of fruit tree

To gradually digitalize the product and centralized production area, the DARD completed building “Digitalization map of intensive and centralized production areas for signature and key products, high-tech production area in the province”. Anyone can use smart phone or computer to check sufficient data of location, area, productivity and kind of product in each area.

The localities also paid due attention to building the trademark and brand for their signature products. Typically, Luc Nam district People’s Committee early got Protected Geographical Indication Certificate for Luc Nam sugar apple. Many sugar apple gardens applied then were recognized with VietGAP standard together with GAC, QR codes and anti-counterfeiting stamps.

Yen The district People’s Committee holds ceremony to depart the late ripening longan to Australia.

Similarly, the farmers growing lychee in line with GlobalGAP in Phuc Hoa commune (Tan Yen district) can be more comfortable in product output when their product has clear origin and widely popular among customers.

Nguyen Van Thuan in Quat Du village No.2 of Phuc Hoa commune said: “Over 7 tonnes of lychee (40 percent of total productivity) of my family in last season was supplied to customers in Japan, France and other countries. The products were sold out with high price”.

Implementing the Project “Supporting sustainable fruit production in Bac Giang province during 2021 – 2025 period”, this year DARD will digitalize 129 GAC including 43 GAC for lychee, 17 for longan, 39 for orange and pomelo, 10 for sugar apple, 8 for jujube, 11 for guava and one for custard apple.

At these areas, apart from creating database, the sector will select contractor to supply management software and electronic diary on smart application. Instead of writing daily record, the households will record cultivation and management procedure on smart phone. The product will have stamp for origin traceability and brand recognition.

DARD Director Duong Thanh Tung said: “In addition to accelerate selection of suitable digital technology platform supplier, we are completing document to request issuance 187 more GAC for fruit trees”.

Regarding 129 areas for digitalization this year, the DARD established working group, assigned staff in charge of each area and locality to support farmers and business in designing package, brand and code for product recognition. However, the participants need to acknowledge the responsibility and invest in the infrastructure at the areas with GAC, especially internet and camera systems.

Seeking solutions to promote fruit consumption

Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports were estimated at 1.47 billion USD in the first five months of the year, down 13.6% compared to the same period in 2021, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. In May alone, the export turnover was posted at 300 million USD, down 11% compared to May 2021. Meanwhile, many southern localities are harvesting many kinds of fruits, requiring appropriate solutions for domestic consumption and export.

Good signals for Vietnamese fruit exports

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Vietnamese fruits attract attention at festival in Tokyo

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Ben Tre prepares for first shipment of green grapefruit to the US

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Ho Chi Minh City hosts first-ever fruit festival

A fruit festival kicked off along Binh Dong wharf in District 8 of Ho Chi Minh City on May 28, part of efforts in building waterway tourism products in the southern economic hub.