Producing fruits according to VietGAP standards reduces input costs by 20-30%.

AN GIANG: The An Giang agricultural extension service is developing a model for growing fruit trees according to VietGAP standards, helping farmers improve product quality and gradually form a sustainable fruit value chain.

Standardizing fruit production

In recent years, along with the shift in agricultural structure towards increasing added value and sustainable development, An Giang province has identified fruit trees as one of its key sectors. From specialized areas for mangoes, durians, oranges, pomelos, and longans to local specialty fruits, the application of VietGAP standards is considered key to improving quality and meeting the requirements of both domestic and export markets.

The An Giang Agricultural Extension Center, in coordination with local authorities, has supported many cooperatives in developing fruit production models according to VietGAP standards. Photo: Trung Chánh.

Accordingly, the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center has been assigned by the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with localities, cooperatives, production groups, and businesses to implement various production models according to VietGAP standards. These models focus on areas with advantages in soil, water resources, and traditional farming practices, linking production households to ensure scale of implementation.

A key feature of these models is the standardized production process, from land preparation, seed selection, fertilization, irrigation, pest management, to harvesting and post-harvest product preservation. Farmers receive thorough training in safe farming techniques, the use of organic fertilizers and biological products, the application of IPM (Integrated Pest Management), production logkeeping, and traceability.

In many localities, the model has shown clear effectiveness. Orchard productivity is stable, fruit quality is uniform, appearance is improved, and the percentage of first-grade fruit has increased significantly. VietGAP-certified fruit typically sells for 10-20% higher prices than traditionally produced fruit, contributing to increased income for farmers.

Along with technical support, An Giang's agricultural extension service also plays a connecting role for the "four stakeholders" (farmers, businesses, scientists, and the government), supporting the development of planting area codes and traceability labels, creating conditions for local fruits to gradually participate in modern distribution chains. This is an important step in the context of an increasingly stringent market regarding product quality, safety, and origin.

Towards a sustainable horticultural economy.

Beyond simply standardizing production within individual orchards, An Giang's agricultural extension sector aims to establish a fruit value chain encompassing production, harvesting, preliminary processing, and consumption. In this chain, production models adhering to VietGAP standards are considered a crucial link at the input stage.

Through demonstration models, farmers are gradually shifting their production mindset from small-scale to production based on market orders. The linkages between farmers and cooperatives are strengthened, helping to consolidate production, standardize technical processes, and improve their negotiating position with purchasing businesses.

With technical support from agricultural extension services, the Hoa Loc Hon Dat Mango Cooperative has successfully built a VietGAP-standard model, helping to improve the yield and quality of mangoes. Photo: Trung Chanh.

The Hoa Loc Hon Dat Mango Cooperative (Hon Dat commune, An Giang province) was established in 2018 with 13 members and an initial total area of ​​21 hectares. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Do, Director of the Cooperative, said that since its establishment, the Cooperative has regularly received training and support from the agricultural sector and extension officers in applying new techniques to production, helping to improve the yield and quality of mangoes.

The cultivation process adheres to VietGAP standards, encompassing everything from fertilization and the use of biological pesticides to fruit bagging, harvesting, and traceability, ensuring the mangoes meet quality and food safety requirements. To date, the cooperative has 240 hectares with registered planting area codes, making it eligible for direct export to China. Furthermore, the cooperative has developed an OCOP (One Commune One Product) product from Hoa Loc mangoes, which has been certified with 4 stars. Currently, the cooperative purchases approximately 12,000 tons of mangoes annually for sale to wholesale markets and supermarket chains, providing many households with hundreds of millions of VND in income each year.

Several fruit-growing areas in An Giang have now established strong links with businesses, gradually building brands for local agricultural products. These products are not only enjoying stable domestic consumption but are also targeting demanding markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

From practical implementation, An Giang's agricultural extension service has drawn many lessons learned: for VietGAP to be truly effective, it must start with changing farmers' perceptions, be done thoroughly and not just follow trends, and especially, have businesses partner in product consumption. If it only stops at certification without a stable market outlet, the model is very likely to collapse.

In the coming period, the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center will continue to expand VietGAP models associated with digital transformation in agriculture, applying water-saving irrigation, managing orchards using electronic logs, and tracing origins using QR codes. Simultaneously, it will integrate these efforts with the OCOP program, developing cooperative economics, and the agricultural restructuring plan towards modernization and sustainability.

Producing according to VietGAP standards helps farmers in An Giang gradually establish safe, branded fruit growing areas with stable markets. VietGAP models implemented by agricultural extension services not only yield economic benefits but also open up a sustainable path for the province's fruit industry in its new development phase.

According to the An Giang Agricultural Extension Center, applying VietGAP not only helps reduce input costs by 20-30% but also limits pesticide residue, ensuring food safety and protecting the ecological environment of the orchard. In particular, VietGAP-certified products have a clear advantage when participating in consumption chains with supermarkets, processing businesses, and exporters.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/san-xuat-trai-cay-vietgap-giam-tu-20--30-chi-phi-vat-tu-dau-vao-d788438.html