Issuing growing area codes: The 'key' to exporting agricultural products

Growing area codes are mandatory to prove the origin of products and the level of compliance with production processes according to international standards. In Thai Nguyen, 127 growing area codes have been granted to many key crop groups. The Department of Agriculture and local authorities are actively managing, maintaining, and expanding the standard area. This is an important foundation for agricultural products to be qualified to access the world market, meeting the trend of transparent and safe agricultural trade.

Fragrant green squash of Yen Duong Cooperative (Phuc Minh commune) meets Japanese agricultural standards JAS for organic production.

Phu Thinh Agricultural Cooperative in Phu Dinh Commune has been operating for many years in the field of tea growing and processing. Currently, the Cooperative has 19 members and 26 households associated in production, forming a concentrated tea material area. In 2024, the unit will be granted a growing area code for 10 hectares of tea, creating conditions for standardizing the entire care and processing process.

Cooperative Director Do Van Thao informed: Member households strictly follow technical instructions, from fertilizing, spraying biological pesticides to pre-harvest isolation time. The main product is currently OCOP 3-star Moc Cau tea. We are receiving orders from the Korean market but the current output does not meet the requirements, so the Cooperative aims to expand the standard raw material area to 45 hectares to improve supply capacity.

Ms. Luu Thi Tu, a tea grower in Phu Ninh hamlet, said: Since joining the cooperative and being trained in keeping a production diary and applying organic farming techniques, the tea plants have grown well and the quality of buds has improved significantly. The selling price of dried tea ranges from 350,000 to more than 1 million VND/kg depending on the type.

Being trained and complying with the requirements of the growing area code has helped people to be more fully aware of the value of safe production processes, thereby proactively changing production methods to improve quality and build brands.

Tea products of Phu Thinh Agricultural Cooperative (Phu Dinh commune) meet the growing area code standards and are eligible for export.

In Thuong Minh commune, fragrant green squash is considered a sustainable economic development direction and a typical local agricultural product. Every year, people in Thuong Minh and Cho Ra grow nearly 200 hectares of fragrant green squash. Along with expanding the scale of cultivation, households focus on applying safe food production processes, ensuring consistent fruit quality. In 2024, more than 26 hectares of fragrant green squash in Thuong Minh were granted growing area codes, creating a basis for the product to have the opportunity to expand the market.

According to Ms. Ma Thi Ninh, Director of Yen Duong Cooperative, the Cooperative is currently associated with the production of about 20 hectares of fragrant green squash with an output of over 500 tons per year. The Cooperative's products have achieved 4-star OCOP and have many domestic and international organic certifications.

From the aromatic green squash raw material, the Cooperative has developed a fragrant squash tea product that has achieved 3-star OCOP, widely consumed in the supermarket system. Ms. Ninh believes that being granted a growing area code is an important condition to help the unit expand its distribution system and confidently approach export markets in the coming time.

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province is managing 127 growing area codes for key products. Of which, there are 82 tea growing area codes with nearly 600 hectares, 26 rice growing area codes over 107 hectares, 9 fruit growing area codes with over 41 hectares and 7 vegetable growing area codes nearly 34 hectares.

All coded growing areas must strictly implement pest management measures, keep production logs and comply with traceability regulations. Inspection and monitoring work is regularly carried out by the relevant authorities to ensure standards are maintained and to avoid code warnings or revocation.

Mr. Hoang Thanh Binh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection, emphasized: The growing area code is a prerequisite for agricultural products to be allowed to be exported to markets with high requirements on safety and traceability. This is considered a "passport" to help products overcome technical barriers of demanding markets.

The specialized sector is continuing to promote technical guidance, support localities in preparing dossiers, and monitor the maintenance of standards in areas that have been granted codes to expand the area eligible for export.

In many localities, the reality shows that when products have a growing area code, the value of goods increases, output is stable and people feel secure in investing in expanding production. This is an important factor helping cooperatives and farming households participate more deeply in the value chain, increase income and develop sustainable production.

The development of the growing area code system demonstrates Thai Nguyen ’s determination to build a large-scale, safe and transparent commodity agriculture. This is a strategic step to help the province affirm its distinctive agricultural product brand, improve competitiveness and gradually expand the international market.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202511/cap-ma-so-vung-trong-chia-khoa-de-xuat-khau-nong-san-d502d5f/