This is a breakthrough solution to promote sustainable development of the province's agricultural sector.
Define specialized areas
Gia Lai has suitable soil and climate conditions for growing short- and long-term crops. Accordingly, the western region of the province focuses on developing long-term industrial crops with high economic value such as coffee, rubber, pepper, fruit trees; while the eastern and southeastern regions of the province develop short-term crops such as vegetables, tubers, rice, cassava, sugarcane, corn, beans of all kinds.
Based on the strengths of each region, in recent years, businesses, cooperatives and farmers have focused on investing in expanding crop areas towards intensive farming to increase productivity and quality of agricultural products, especially production according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, organic standards... associated with traceability and preliminary processing and processing factories.
Over the past 10 years, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has coordinated with agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to build many production models according to VietGAP and organic standards on key crops such as coffee, pepper, passion fruit, fruit trees, etc. The models initially created an important premise in restructuring the agricultural sector, helping farmers apply scientific and technical advances in production to improve economic efficiency.
Mr. Nguyen The Minh - Director of Nghia Hoa Agricultural Service Cooperative (Chu Pah district) said: In 2024, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center coordinated with the Cooperative to implement a fruit tree growing model according to VietGAP standards with an area of 10 hectares. During the implementation process, households were instructed on the production process according to VietGAP standards, with a logbook to monitor, safe quarantine time, and how to identify passion fruit products that meet export standards. Thereby, people and members participating in the model approach the sustainable passion fruit production process.
“In response to the increasingly strict domestic and international market requirements for agricultural products such as coffee, pepper, durian, and passion fruit according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic standards, the cooperative has proactively linked with coffee production enterprises according to 4C standards, VietGAP passion fruit, etc.; and established codes for durian growing areas to provide to export enterprises to increase value and economic efficiency,” Mr. Minh added.
Mr. Hoang Van Thang (Ban Tan village, Ia Phin commune, Chu Prong district) shared: After 20 years of growing coffee with many ups and downs, I still maintain the garden. From 2023 to now, my garden has been selected by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center to participate in the smart coffee cultivation program adapting to climate change in the Central Highlands region. When participating in the program, I was trained by technical staff on coffee production processes according to 4C and UTZ standards; care and fertilization according to each growth stage of the garden. This method not only helps reduce investment costs but also creates clean, high-quality coffee products that meet export standards. In the 2024-2025 harvest, the coffee yield is 1 ton/ha higher than previous years.
According to Mr. Pham Huu Phuoc - Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center: In response to the increasingly strict market demand for agricultural products, in recent years, the Center has coordinated with units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to build a number of coffee production models according to 4C and UTZ standards; pepper cultivation according to VietGAP standards in Dak Doa district; passion fruit cultivation according to VietGAP standards in 3 districts of Dak Doa, Chu Pah and Chu Prong or fruit tree cultivation models according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards to serve the development of raw material areas... Thereby, helping farmers gradually approach the production of the province's key agricultural products according to export standards, bringing higher profits.
Open the way for sustainable development
Up to now, the whole province has more than 255 thousand hectares of crops of all kinds produced according to certified standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, 4C, UTZ, organic... In addition, localities also focus on supporting people, businesses, and cooperatives to build growing area codes for key crops such as coffee, pepper, passion fruit, durian, chili, watermelon... and packaging facilities to meet export needs to markets: China, Japan, Korea, USA, Australia... In particular, up to now, Gia Lai has had 1 enterprise and 3 cooperatives certified to produce according to organic standards of Vietnam, USA (USDA), Korea, Japan (JAS), Europe (EU) on an area of 110 hectares of coffee, pepper, fruit trees, and medicinal herbs.
In addition, the province has 2 enterprises and 4 households converting more than 66 hectares of coffee, pepper and tea to organic production. Along with that, the province has successfully built geographical indications and agricultural product brands such as: Phu Thien rice, Ia Lau rice (Chu Prong), Dak Po vegetables, An Khe vegetables, Gia Lai passion fruit...; 3 geographical indications include: Chu Se pepper, Ba Cham rice and Gia Lai coffee.
Coffee is one of the main crops of localities in the western region of the province such as Dak Doa, Ia Grai, Chu Se, Chu Pah, Chu Prong... However, climate change is becoming increasingly severe and unpredictable, which has significantly affected coffee productivity and output. Faced with this situation, in 2023, the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute coordinated with the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center and Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company to build 3 smart coffee farming models adapting to climate change in Chu Prong, Chu Pah and Dak Doa districts. Households participating in the model are supported with fertilizers to manage nutrients on crops as well as change coffee production practices according to VietGAP and organic standards.
Mr. Le Tan Hung - Director of Dak Doa District Agricultural Service Center - shared: In recent years, from various sources of support capital, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has coordinated with units to build models of applying scientific and technical advances in production. Including pepper production models according to VietGAP standards in Nam Yang and Hai Yang communes; passion fruit production according to VietGAP standards in Hnol commune. At the same time, linking to expand the area of coffee produced according to 4C, UTZ, organic standards... in communes and towns with a total area of over 13,000 hectares. In addition, the district has many types of fruit trees such as durian, banana, passion fruit according to standards, meeting the requirements of the export market.
“In the coming time, the district will focus on developing key branded agricultural products; exploiting and deeply processing local specialties; calling for investment and implementing projects linked to the value chain of production, processing and consumption of key products such as coffee, pepper and fruit trees. At the same time, building certified raw material areas suitable for the consumption market, especially the export market” - Director of Dak Doa District Agricultural Service Center informed.
According to Dr. Truong Hong, former Director of the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute: The current unpredictable climate change situation has significantly affected the lives and production of Gia Lai people as well as the Central Highlands region, especially coffee growers. Faced with this reality, the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute, in collaboration with the Gia Lai Provincial Agricultural Extension Center and Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, has built three smart coffee farming models that adapt to climate change in Gia Lai.
This is one of the suitable solutions for coffee growers to intercrop pepper and durian to open up the direction of clean agricultural production according to international standards to increase the value and quality of products. We hope that in the coming time, the authorities at all levels will support businesses, cooperatives and people to produce clean coffee, ensuring export standards.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Luu Trung Nghia - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment - said: The high prices of the province's key agricultural products such as coffee, pepper, etc. have promoted agricultural development, increasing people's income. In addition, people, businesses and cooperatives have changed their agricultural production mindset to agricultural economic thinking. Thanks to that, the productivity, quality and value of the province's key agricultural products are increasing. "To strive to complete and exceed the assigned plan targets for 2025, the industry continues to closely coordinate with relevant departments, sectors and localities to guide farmers, businesses and cooperatives to focus on converting suitable crops, expanding production areas according to standards, applying advanced irrigation technology, saving water, etc.
Continue to implement the pilot project to build a standard agricultural and forestry raw material area for domestic consumption and export in the period of 2022-2025. In particular, focusing on developing clean and organic agriculture to improve productivity and quality, bringing high economic efficiency on an area" - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment shared.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/gia-lai-day-manh-phat-trien-nong-nghiep-huu-co-post328788.html
Comment (0)