Towards Phu Thien sweet potato brand | Gia Lai Electronic Newspaper

(GLO)- Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative is making efforts to plan the production area of Japanese sweet potatoes according to VietGAP standards to build OCOP products. From there, the Cooperative gradually forms a safe production area of raw materials, aiming to build the Phu Thien sweet potato brand.

Formation of raw material areas

Established in 2017, up to now, Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative (Chu A Thai commune) has 50 members participating, cultivating about 100 hectares of Japanese sweet potatoes. In particular, to help members increase income and produce sustainably, the Cooperative has proactively sought and linked with businesses to sign contracts, opening up many opportunities to develop the consumption market for sweet potato products.

Farmers in Chu A Thai commune, Phu Thien district harvest sweet potatoes. Photo: Sang Phuong

Having been growing Japanese sweet potatoes for nearly 15 years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (Hai Yen village, Chu A Thai commune) has always wondered how to increase crop productivity and ensure stable consumption of products. Therefore, when Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative was established, she was one of the first participants. Joining the cooperative not only received support for investment in seeds and agricultural materials, but also had a more stable output. In addition, she was also instructed on crop care techniques and learned from experience, thanks to which the productivity of her family's sweet potato fields has continuously increased.

Ms. Huong said: “This year, my family's 8 hectares of sweet potatoes yielded 3.5 tons/sao, with a profit of nearly 1 billion VND. Previously, everyone produced on their own, so the yield was only about 2 tons/sao. However, since joining the cooperative, everyone has always supported and exchanged production experiences, so crop yields have increased significantly. In addition, the cooperative has introduced us to large enterprises to purchase our products, so we are very confident about the output.”

Mr. Phi Van Luat (Kinh Peng village, Chu A Thai commune) said: In the past, every time the sweet potato harvest season came, his family was very worried about the output of the product. However, since joining the cooperative, he has not only been supported with seedlings but also had his products consumed, which has somewhat limited the situation of "good harvest, low price, good price, bad harvest". Currently, his family has nearly 13 hectares of rotating rice and sweet potato crops. Mr. Luat excitedly said: "This year, the sweet potato crop was good, with high yield and very good quality tubers. Enterprises purchased at 12,000 VND/kg, earning a profit of more than 100 million VND/ha. In the past 5 years, many households in the commune have joined the cooperative to learn the model of growing Japanese sweet potatoes, creating large fields. Sweet potatoes have high yields, and the cooperative has linked with enterprises to buy them directly at the field, so people do not have to worry about the market.

Mr. Do Van Nam - Director of Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative - said: Japanese sweet potato is really suitable for Chu A Thai land because it gives very good yield and quality. However, to ensure stable output, we have brought quality seeds from Lam Dong to supply to people. In addition, the Cooperative has also cooperated with Minh Phuong Company ( Bac Ninh province) and Van Hoa Group (Dak Lak province) to sign a contract to consume products for people. "However, to develop sweet potato sustainably in the coming time, we actively encourage people to join the Cooperative to produce according to the same process, improve productivity and product quality. From there, we will form a large field producing according to VietGAP standards, meeting market demand" - Mr. Nam shared.

Efforts to build OCOP products

In early 2023, when the authorities announced the plan to implement the OCOP Program, Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative registered to participate for its sweet potato products. The participation of the cooperative's sweet potato products in the OCOP Program not only creates many opportunities to increase value but also further expands the consumption market.

People of Chu A Thai commune prepare the land to grow sweet potatoes. Photo: Sang Phuong

Mr. Do Van Nam said: In order for Phu Thien sweet potatoes to have value in the market, the Cooperative will focus on developing a chain of links through building a production model according to VietGAP standards. The goal is to support people in cultivating to achieve high productivity, quality, safety and economic efficiency. In parallel with registering to participate in the OCOP Program, the Cooperative has recently built a growing area code for sweet potatoes on an area of 80 hectares. In the future, the Cooperative will continue to mobilize people to register to build a growing area code of 120-200 hectares, with the aim of creating products for the export market.

In addition, this year's sweet potato crop, Phu Thien District Agricultural Service Center has also piloted a Japanese sweet potato production model following VietGAP standards with an area of 4 hectares in Plei Tro field, Chu A Thai commune. Mr. Phan Van Vinh - Director of the District Agricultural Service Center - said: "The project aims to transfer scientific and technical advances, introduce new varieties for high productivity and output, and help people change old production habits. As a result, the sweet potato area participating in the model achieved a yield of nearly 4 tons/sao. This is also the premise for Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative to build a concentrated production area, link products in a chain, and create sustainability".

Talking to us, Mr. Pham Van Quyen - Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Phu Thien district - said: In 2023, the Department of Consulting the District People's Committee supported nearly 1 billion VND for 13 entities to complete products to participate in the OCOP program, including sweet potatoes. The Department has supported and helped Phu Thien Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative to complete documents, procedures, and complete stages for sweet potato products to participate in the OCOP Program. In addition, to develop sweet potatoes, the district will focus on maintaining the stability of the planning area, mobilizing people to focus on developing production according to VietGAP standards. At the same time, the Department will strengthen management in the production and trading of sweet potato varieties as well as building collective brands for Phu Thien sweet potato products. In addition, the Department has also guided the People's Committees of Ia Sol and Chua A Thai communes on registering to manage growing areas with an area of 300 hectares so that sweet potatoes are eligible for official export.

TO THE SIDE

Source link