Farmers still prefer to grow water spinach based on experience.

Many farmers still grow water spinach based on experience.

Nowadays, the issue of social responsibility is gradually becoming a hot topic, especially in the field of agricultural production and trading when associated with food safety scandals.

MSc. Tran Duc Luan, Faculty of Economics (Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry) said that the intention to produce, the behavior of producing, processing, distributing or consuming safe water spinach all require social responsibility of the parties involved.

Farmers grow water spinach in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Vy

Sharing the research results at the recent Social Responsibility Workshop in Binh Duong , MSc. Luan said that the results of the survey on the water spinach market conducted by Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry in 2024 with 90 farmers in Cu Chi, Hoc Mon and District 12 gave many surprising results. Farmers are aware of social responsibility when producing water spinach. However, many farmers still prefer to grow water spinach according to traditional experience.

Accordingly, farmers growing water spinach based on experience account for 75%, the rest are farmers growing safe water spinach according to VietGAP standards.

Producers assess that safe water spinach is fertilized and sprayed with pesticides according to regulations and is regularly checked for water source, pesticide dosage, and quarantine period by inspection agencies.

VietGAP water spinach of a cooperative in Cu Chi district. Photo: Nguyen Vy

Meanwhile, traditional water spinach (common water spinach) is grown according to the experience of each farmer.

Comparing the characteristics of the two types of water spinach in the surveyed area, VietGAP vegetables have the following characteristics: High cost; low productivity, hard vegetables; not beautiful; not guaranteed to sell in large quantities.

VietGAP vegetables have safe production certification; usually sold to supermarkets and convenience stores. Average selling price is 2,900 VND/kg; lowest is 1,500 VND/kg; highest is 8,000 VND/kg.

Morning glory usually has high yield. Young (soft) vegetables; beautiful appearance; grown by experience, easy to care for; low cost. This vegetable is not tested for vegetable standards; sold in large quantities. Average selling price is 2,090 VND/kg; lowest; 1,500 VND/kg; highest 3,000 VND/kg.

Many farmers still grow water spinach based on experience. Photo: Nguyen Vy

On average, on an area of ​​1,000 m2, farmers producing safe water spinach have a profit of 45.5 million VND/year. And regular water spinach is 36.74 million VND/year. Although compared to regular water spinach, the profit from safe water spinach is 24% higher, the profit/cost ratio is lower than regular water spinach, about 0.07 times.

Safe consumption of water spinach contributes significantly to promoting safe production.

Also according to MSc. Luan, the survey results with 125 consumers showed that the frequency of using water spinach in daily meals in the area is quite high.

Of which, the need to use water spinach 1-2 times/week accounts for the highest rate, 56.8%; using water spinach 1-2 times/month accounts for 24.8%.

According to the survey, consumers are concerned about their own health and the health of the community. However, the assessment score (maximum score is 5) on the belief that safe water spinach is really safe is not high. The score on the intention to buy safe water spinach also only fluctuates from 3.7 to 3.9 points.

Customers choose to buy water spinach at a supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Vy

According to MSc. Luan, consuming safe vegetables is an important part in promoting safe production and ensuring the health of consumers.

"Consumer responsibility does not stop at personal choice but also encourages the community to buy safe vegetables and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector," shared MSc. Luan.

Binh My Commune (Cu Chi District) is considered the capital of water spinach in Ho Chi Minh City with an area of ​​276 hectares, supplying the market with about 28,000 tons/year. The whole commune currently has about 240 households growing water spinach, of which half grow water spinach according to VietGAP standards.

Recently, local authorities have made efforts to apply VietGAP water spinach production process to ensure food safety and increase product value.

Old farmer Huynh Van Sang in Binh My commune said that in the past, growing water spinach did not follow any standards. People just used whatever fertilizer or pesticide was suitable for the vegetable.

Since being instructed on safe VietGAP production, water spinach growers in Binh My commune have been instructed by the agricultural extension sector on how to properly use organic microbial fertilizers, use pesticides in the permitted list, and comply with the quarantine period before harvesting.

Thanks to switching to VietGAP vegetable growing, the use of banned substances has been significantly reduced. "Vegetable growers must commit to the government that their products are absolutely free of colorants and toxic chemicals. If there are any mistakes, farmers will take full responsibility," said Mr. Sang.

Authorities inspect the production of water spinach in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Vy

According to Mr. Pham Tan Phat - Vice Chairman of Binh My Commune People's Committee, based on this commitment, the local government will inspect and supervise the entire production process. If any violations are detected, they will be handled according to the law.

Mr. Le Dinh Duc - Vice Chairman of Cu Chi District People's Committee said that the district strives for 100% of households producing water spinach to meet VietGAP standards.

In the coming time, the district will focus on mobilizing people to raise awareness and sense of social responsibility in participating in the production of water spinach, ensuring food hygiene and safety, meeting market demand.

Cu Chi district will also support production linkages and connect consumption of VietGAP water spinach through many commercial channels; strengthen inspection and supervision to ensure consumer health.

Source: https://danviet.vn/nong-dan-van-chuong-trong-rau-muong-theo-kinh-nghiem-20241023201042346.htm