Farmers' Associations at all levels survey and mobilize farmers to develop organic and biosafety agriculture .

Increase value per unit of production

The organic vegetable production area of ​​more than 3,000 square meters of the family of farmer member Doan Phong in village 2, Vinh My commune (Phu Loc) is quite impressive with all kinds of vegetables and fruits such as: cucumber, sweet melon, bitter melon, squash, pumpkin, cabbage, lettuce, onion, coriander... The entire area was invested by Mr. Phong into rows of different types of long-term and short-term vegetables and fruits.

Stopping to take care of the vegetable beds, Mr. Phong expressed: "With the local Farmers' Association's propaganda, mobilization, and study of organic vegetable production models in other localities, my family boldly borrowed capital to invest here, totaling nearly 200 million VND to date. Currently, each day, the family's income from vegetables is about 400,000 VND. During the harvest season of squash, pumpkin, and cucumber, the income increases to 450,000 - 550,000 VND per day."

Thanks to safe farming and cultivation, Mr. Phong's family's vegetable garden is favored by the market, and output and prices are more stable. From the effectiveness of this model, many households in the village have converted ineffective garden land to organic vegetable production, bringing in higher income than other crops.

Previously, Vinh My commune had many areas of garden land with low economic efficiency, so many families were not interested in farming. After researching, learning, and visiting organic vegetable growing facilities with high income, local Farmers' Associations at all levels surveyed and encouraged members and farmers to convert suitable land areas to organic clean vegetable production to increase income. Up to now, in the commune, there have been dozens of households producing safe vegetables for sale to the market with an average income of 350 thousand VND/day/garden, some households reaching 500 - 600 thousand VND/day, contributing to increasing income many times over per production unit.

Replicating the model

Huong Binh Commune (Huong Tra Town) is also a locality that is assessed to have done well in the program to support farmers in building production models according to VietGAP, OCOP, and organic standards, associated with the new rural development program. In 2020, V2 oranges, Xa Doai oranges, Thanh Binh tangerines, pomelos, and green-skin grapefruits grown organically in the locality were certified to meet VietGAP standards. Next, Thanh Binh tangerines were selected for the 3-star OCOP product registration process. The commune also developed many economic models applying high technology, linked to the value chain associated with ensuring food safety, bringing in an income of 300 - 350 million VND/ha/year.

Vice President of Hue City Farmers' Association - Mr. Tran Van Lap affirmed that developing organic and biosafety agriculture is one of the general policies and orientations of relevant levels and sectors towards increasing added value and sustainable development. To implement the above policy, Farmers' Associations at all levels have been implementing many activities to help members and farmers in localities replicate the model for sustainable and effective development. Among them, there are models of organic pig farming, circulation, farming with little water use... bringing high economic efficiency, products are also favored by the market and easy to consume.

According to Mr. Tran Van Lap, up to now, the model of biosafety, circular, organic household livestock farming in the city has been formed and developed. Farmers' Associations at all levels will take advantage of priority policies to develop these models to support farmers in replicating the model. At the same time, more extensive propaganda will be carried out to raise farmers' awareness of organic agriculture development, biosafety, creating competitive advantages and increasing product prices.

Article and photos: Ba Tri