Formerly a university lecturer with a stable job and a promising future, Viet chose a challenging path, leaving the classroom to embark on an entrepreneurial journey with sweet potatoes in 2018. It wasn't an easy decision, but it led to a success story – inspiring innovation in agriculture and the value of "new farming methods."
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Viet introduced various products made from sweet potatoes at an exhibition event.
Sweet potatoes have traditionally been a staple agricultural product in Vinh Long, but for many years, the main market has been fresh sweet potatoes with low economic value, easily leading to the situation of "bumper harvest, low prices." Seeing the great potential of this nutritious crop, Mr. Viet decided to find a way to enhance the value of sweet potatoes by developing processed products. From here, his entrepreneurial journey began, filled with countless difficulties but also with great ambition. "Many times when I went on business trips to Binh Tan, known as the 'sweet potato kingdom' of Vinh Long province, I was troubled by the image of farmers toiling under the sun and rain, only to have agricultural product prices fluctuate erratically, sometimes plummeting dramatically, causing hardship for farmers. From there, I started researching more processed products from sweet potatoes," Mr. Viet recounted.
With a solid foundation of knowledge and expertise, Mr. Viet meticulously researched the processing and preservation of agricultural products, experimenting with various formulas to create high-quality products that suit consumer tastes. His first products, such as sweet potato puffed rice cakes and sweet potato biscuits, not only retained their natural flavor but also featured attractive packaging, ensured food safety and hygiene, and were distributed to numerous dealers nationwide. The novelty and quality of his products quickly won over the market. Online sales channels, local supermarkets, and trade fairs both within and outside the province all reported positive results.
Not content with his personal success, Mr. Viet actively supports local farmers in selling their sweet potatoes. Thanks to his integrated production and consumption model, he ensures a stable supply of raw materials for his business while also helping farmers increase their income. This is precisely the philosophy of sustainable development he pursues: "Entrepreneurship is not just about enriching oneself, but also about contributing to the enrichment of one's homeland."
Currently, Mr. Viet has established a company and has 6 products certified under the OCOP program. These include typical products such as sweet potato puffed rice cakes, sweet potato biscuits, baked goods made from grains, dried pomelo peel, etc. Besides baked goods, Mr. Viet is also experimenting with dried sweet potato products in various unique flavors such as honey, onion and chili, seaweed, BBQ, etc. His goal is not only to target the domestic market but also to expand internationally, aiming to promote and enhance the value of Vinh Long sweet potatoes.
Viet's story is a vivid testament to the spirit of innovative entrepreneurship in agriculture, a field often considered traditional and less attractive to young people. But with courage, determination, and a desire to contribute, he has proven that with the right idea, determination, and a little risk-taking, even the seemingly commonplace sweet potato can become "purple gold" if exploited correctly.
Text and photos: NGUYEN TRINH
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/gop-phan-nang-cao-gia-tri-khoai-lang-a186368.html
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