Increase agricultural product value according to VietGAP standards

Implementing the policy of restructuring the agricultural sector associated with building advanced new rural areas, many cooperatives in the province have actively built production models associated with quality standards, creating jobs and increasing income for people. In particular, Lien Hoa Chi Production and Trading Cooperative, Phung Nguyen commune is one of the typical units with lotus leaf tea products produced according to VietGAP standards, gradually affirming its position in the domestic and international markets.

The production and completion of cooperative products are carried out in a closed process, meeting food hygiene and safety standards.

Lien Hoa Chi Production and Trading Cooperative was established in 2022 in the context of the locality promoting the transformation of agricultural production models towards commodities, increasing the value of agricultural products. Realizing the potential of lotus - a traditional plant, suitable for climate and soil conditions, the Cooperative chose lotus as the main crop to build raw material areas, develop herbal health care products imbued with national cultural identity.

Label the product.

From the very first days of operation, the Cooperative focused on building a clean organic raw material area, ensuring the production process according to VietGAP standards. Up to now, the Cooperative has built a 5-hectare lotus growing area, applying advanced techniques from land preparation, seed selection, care to harvesting and processing. Lotus varieties are selected for uniform quality of leaves, flowers and lotus hearts, meeting the requirements of herbal tea production. Cooperative members cultivate in clusters, use organic fertilizers and biological pesticides according to regulations to protect the environment, help lotus plants grow stably, have few pests and diseases, and give high yields.

Carry out product packaging process.

In addition to proactively locating raw materials, the cooperative has invested in upgrading the modern tea processing and preparation system. Putting into operation a cold drying house combined with solar drying helps to preserve the medicinal properties and flavor of the product. Each drying batch reaches 120-180kg of raw materials, ensuring stable supply to the market. The processing and packaging area is scientifically arranged, ensuring food hygiene and safety criteria; production equipment and waste are treated according to the correct process, maintaining a safe and clean working environment.

According to Mr. Han Van Thong, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Lien Hoa Chi Production and Trading Cooperative, with the initiative in raw materials, the Cooperative currently creates stable jobs for more than 10 local workers with an average income of 5-10 million VND/person/month. Participating in the Cooperative helps people raise awareness of safe production, gradually transforming the mindset of small-scale production to production according to the value chain. The Cooperative's Red Ginseng Lotus Leaf Tea product has been certified to meet 3-star OCOP standards and is attached with a QR code to trace its origin, ensuring transparency from production to consumption.

Test products before releasing them to the market.

For many years, Ms. Le Mai Hoa, a resident of Viet Tri ward, has recently switched to using Red Ginseng Lotus Leaf Tea from Lien Hoa Chi Production and Trading Cooperative. The change in Ms. Hoa's consumption habits has demonstrated her trust in the quality of domestic products, especially products manufactured according to VietGAP standards in the province. Ms. Hoa said: "Red Ginseng Lotus Leaf Tea has many practical uses such as: Supporting blood fat reduction, body cleansing, sedation, improving sleep quality... Not only my family but also many colleagues trust and use the product regularly as a natural and safe health care method."

The Cooperative's Red Ginseng Lotus Leaf Tea products have been present in many provinces and cities across the country and have initially been exported to international markets such as China, Greece, and the United States with an output of about 60,000 boxes of tea per year. In addition to Red Ginseng Lotus Leaf Tea, the Cooperative has also developed herbal tea lines such as: Golden Lotus Leaf Tea, Perilla Tea, Gotu Kola Tea, Celery Tea, Fish Mint Tea... aiming to meet OCOP standards, meeting the increasingly diverse needs of consumers. The initial success of Lien Hoa Chi Production and Trading Cooperative affirms the right direction in developing organic agriculture, linking production with processing and consumption of products, contributing to increasing the value of agricultural products and improving people's income.

Thanh Nga

Source: https://baophutho.vn/tang-gia-tri-nong-san-theo-tieu-chuan-vietgap-237959.htm