The "key" to Lao Cai's agricultural products reaching further markets.

Currently, the most important "passport" for agricultural products lies in the food safety indicator system and transparency throughout the entire supply chain. For Lao Cai – a locality currently possessing 605 OCOP products rated from 3 to 5 stars – strengthening inspection, supervision, quality standardization, and tightening management from the source is not only an urgent requirement to protect consumers, but also a crucial strategy to enhance competitiveness, consolidate trust, and expand opportunities for agricultural products to reach further markets.

Farmers in Púng Luông commune are harvesting corn.

The philosophy of "management from the source" has become the guiding principle for Lao Cai's agricultural sector in recent years. A clear example is the recent issuance of Directive No. 06/CT-UBND by the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee to strengthen the management of production, business, and use of pesticides, fertilizers, and plant seeds in the province.

In reality, the quality of agricultural products is determined right from the seed selection stage, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. When agricultural inputs are not strictly controlled, all efforts in subsequent stages become meaningless.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the province has intensified inspections and closely monitored the business activities of agricultural supplies. These inspections not only focus on administrative documents but also concentrate on preventing counterfeit and substandard goods and protecting production areas.

Inspections are conducted both unexpectedly and periodically, focusing on fertilizer and pesticide dealers; plant nurseries and veterinary supply stores. Inspections include: business licenses and professional certificates; expiration dates, labels (especially Vietnamese labels for imported goods); and sample testing for quality control.

Currently, the province has over 500 agricultural supply businesses; in the forestry sector alone, there are over 150 licensed seed production and trading establishments. The Department of Agriculture and Environment has strictly controlled 100% of imported seed batches; the rate of fertilizer samples failing to meet declared quality standards has decreased to below 5% thanks to post-inspection work.

Standardizing the list of permitted pesticides and eliminating harmful chemicals from farming practices has created a "filter" right from the input stage. This is a crucial step in building a clean and transparent agricultural system.

Khao Mang mini corn - one of the new varieties certified to ensure safety and quality.

Beyond just the supply chain, the assessment of food safety conditions at agricultural and forestry production and business establishments has also been tightened. Standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, or organic certification are no longer just encouraged, but are gradually becoming mandatory requirements for participating in modern supply chains and exporting.

The shift from small-scale production to concentrated, controlled farming has significantly improved the quality and value of agricultural products in Lao Cai . With each facility undergoing rigorous assessment of its workshops, processing, and preservation methods, the resulting products not only meet standards but also carry substantial added value – building market confidence amidst growing consumer concerns about food safety.

In the digital age, "safety indicators" are no longer limited to certificates, but are concretized by traceability systems. Each QR code on product packaging becomes an "electronic diary," transparently documenting the entire journey from "field to table." With just one scan, consumers can access complete information about the product, thereby strengthening trust, limiting commercial fraud, and protecting local specialty brands.

This transparency is creating leverage for key products of Lao Cai such as Muong Khuong chili sauce, Suoi Giang Shan Tuyet tea, and Bac Ha temperate vegetables to gradually expand their markets both domestically and internationally.

Regarding future directions, Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized: Managing food safety indicators is a core link in enhancing the value of local agricultural products. The sector will continue to strengthen post-inspection, resolutely handle violations, and support businesses and cooperatives in perfecting their traceability systems, aiming for a transparent and sustainable agricultural market.

Traders are buying clean agricultural products from the people of Púng Luông right in the local area.

Enhancing the status and competitiveness of agricultural products is not something that happens overnight, but rather the result of a sustained accumulation process, from tightening the management of inputs and assessing production conditions to transparentizing information. Each safe agricultural product from Lao Cai that enters the market not only carries the dedication of the farmers but also serves as a guarantee of the credibility of the management agency.

With a systematic approach, strict management from the source, and standardized safety indicators, Lao Cai is gradually asserting its position as a modern, professional agricultural sector, prioritizing quality as a commitment to consumers and as a foundation for local agricultural products to reach further markets.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chia-khoa-de-nong-san-lao-cai-vuon-xa-post898387.html