Keep growing area codes to stabilize export markets

The growing area code is not only a technical procedure, but also a “green passport” that helps Lam Dong agricultural products enter the world market. As importing countries increasingly tighten standards, maintaining the growing area code becomes a measure of the prestige of the entire industry, the key to sustainable integration of highland agricultural products.

Durian, dragon fruit, coffee... the products that are making Lam Dong brand can only stand firm when each growing area is strictly and transparently managed.

Close supervision to maintain the reputation of export goods

According to Lam Dong Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the province currently has nearly 1,000 export growing area codes with 39,363 hectares and 338 licensed packing facility codes. Of which, durian and dragon fruit are the two main products, accounting for the largest proportion in the export chain with 587 dragon fruit area codes with 26,000 hectares and 337 durian area codes with more than 13,100 hectares.

Lam Dong’s agricultural export markets include China, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Switzerland, Japan and South Korea – markets known for their strict standards on safety and traceability. To maintain this “green passport”, each growing area must be strictly managed from the production process, use of agricultural materials to packaging.

Over the past year, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has monitored more than 300 key growing areas and packaging facilities. Through inspection, a number of durian samples were contaminated with heavy metals, including samples exceeding the allowable threshold. The specialized agency has issued warnings, requested corrective actions, and instructed people to absolutely not use fertilizers and pesticides containing cadmium and lead. Mr. Ha Ngoc Chien - Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Lam Dong province said that one sample exceeding the threshold can cause the entire shipment to be rejected for import. Keeping the growing area code is to maintain national prestige, not only of the locality but also of the entire industry.

Raising awareness among producers

Nghiep Xuan Import Export Trading Company Limited, in Dong Gia Nghia Ward, has been granted a packaging facility code and has a raw material area of ​​more than 100 hectares with 6 durian growing area codes. The company is completing documents to request the issuance of some new growing area codes in the locality to expand production scale and meet export demand. Mr. Bui Phu Ton - Director of Nghiep Xuan Company said that building a growing area is not difficult, the problem is to implement the rules voluntarily and seriously. If done so, there will be no problem of agricultural products being returned due to some technical barriers. Enterprises and gardeners can even negotiate and offer more competitive prices when exporting.

To meet the increasing demand, since the beginning of the year, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has organized many specialized conferences on durian quality management, guiding businesses and farmers on electronic traceability and pesticide residue control. The province is also building a digital-based system for managing growing areas and packaging facilities, allowing management agencies, cooperatives and businesses to monitor, update and warn of risks in real time.

At the same time, Lam Dong province is coordinating with the Plant Protection Department and businesses to standardize the sampling process and risk assessment according to GAP and HACCP standards, moving towards synchronizing area code data nationwide. When completed, each area code will not only be "valid" but also have "transparent records", a key factor in helping Vietnamese agricultural products expand their markets. In the coming time, the department will strengthen supervision, training, and support businesses and cooperatives in managing growing area codes, while replicating the model of sustainable production and export linkages.

In the context of Europe tightening EUDR regulations, requiring traceability throughout the entire supply chain, maintaining the correct area code is a strong commitment to clean production, zero deforestation and compliance with global green standards.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/giu-ma-vung-trong-de-on-dinh-thi-truong-xuat-khau-397441.html