Paving the way for agricultural products to reach international markets

After 3 years of implementing the Project "Piloting the construction of a standard agricultural and forestry raw material area for domestic consumption and export in the period of 2022 - 2025", agricultural production activities in Son La province have achieved many positive results, gradually shifting from traditional production to concentrated commodity production, applying high quality standards and forming a sustainable chain, paving the way for agricultural products to reach the international market.

Pineapple growing model in Muong Sai commune.

As one of 13 provinces and cities participating in the project, Son La implemented it in 2 phases in localities, including Mai Son, Song Ma and Moc Chau. The project focuses on investing in regional infrastructure, building standard fruit tree material areas, high-tech application areas and establishing production linkage models between enterprises - cooperatives - farmers, ensuring stable output.

The focus of the project is quality standardization and technology transfer. Implementing the project, over the past 3 years, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has organized 6 intensive training courses on VietGAP techniques and business management for cooperatives; online training for professional staff, cooperatives, enterprises and community agricultural extension groups. At the same time, attracting 13 cooperatives to participate in managing nearly 440 hectares of raw material areas for coffee, tea, fruit trees and vegetables; providing 945,000 pineapple shoots, 3,400 passion fruit seedlings, 980 fruit bags for cooperatives and farmers; implementing 5 intensive farming models of mango, pineapple and passion fruit according to VietGAP standards in many localities with a total area of ​​45 hectares.

Officers of the Provincial Agricultural Technical Center instruct farmers in Phieng Pan commune on passion fruit care techniques.

Song Ma Mango Agricultural Service Cooperative, Song Ma Commune, is one of five units supported by the project to build a model of intensive safe fruit tree cultivation, aiming to meet standards. Mr. Nguyen Van Vuong, Director of the Cooperative, shared: Thanks to the support from the project, we have applied and been certified to produce safe mangoes according to VietGAP standards on an area of ​​10 hectares. In 2025, the Cooperative will harvest over 200 tons of mangoes, sell them to traders at domestic wholesale markets, domestic supermarkets and export them to China.

The close connection between cooperatives, farmers and processing enterprises is a factor that helps stabilize output and increase the value of agricultural products. Son La has been successful in attracting large investors, typically the DOVECO Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Factory, which stably purchases 30,000 - 70,000 tons of raw materials for export. Enterprises such as Nafoods Tay Bac and TH Group also contribute to ensuring output. To date, the whole province has successfully built 5 high-tech fruit growing areas for longan, custard apple, mango, and plum; built and maintained 160 safe fruit production chains, with an output of more than 43,000 tons/year; managed 202 export growing area codes, with an area of ​​more than 2,800 hectares and 8 fruit packing facility codes; 31 agricultural products with geographical names have been granted protection certificates; 59 OCOP products are produced and processed from fruit.

Safe passion fruit growing model in Phieng Pan commune.

Community agricultural extension (KNCĐ) is considered a strategic "lever" to help change farmers' awareness from small-scale production to modern commodity agricultural economic thinking. In the period of 2022 - 2025, the whole province has established 99 KNCĐ groups with 830 members. The groups have organized 14 training courses, 5 seminars, 2 tours to new-style cooperatives, attracting 600 participants. In particular, in coordination with GIZ and JICA, 16 intensive training courses on planting and caring techniques for Arabica coffee and Queen custard apples were organized for 400 people, contributing to improving production capacity, quality management and connecting product consumption with large enterprises.

Ms. Ngan Thi Minh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Agricultural Technical Center, said: Implementing the project, the Center has supported the KNCĐ teams to connect with the DOVECO Son La, Bao Lam, Nafoods Gia Lai Vegetable and Fruit Processing Center and traders to consume 9 tons of pineapple, 172 tons of passion fruit, 15 tons of custard apple for cooperatives and farmers. Along with that, it encourages the establishment of cooperatives, cooperative groups, forming modern agricultural economic thinking, contributing to strengthening community capacity and sustainable production.

Song Ma Mango Agricultural Service Cooperative, Song Ma commune was granted a certificate of production according to VietGAP standards.

Paying attention to developing transport infrastructure to promote production, the Project has invested in the road connecting Chieng Sung production area to Mai Son Industrial Park, 6.8 km long and is being urgently completed. Of which, 4.3 km has been concreted, expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

The pilot project to build a standard agricultural and forestry raw material area contributes to perfecting the linking infrastructure, changing farmers' production thinking; creating a solid foundation from standardizing processes to expanding markets, affirming position, and gradually bringing Son La agricultural products to the international market.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/mo-duong-cho-nong-san-vuon-ra-thi-truong-quoc-te-ESl3XHkDR.html