This year, with the goal of controlling food safety throughout the entire chain from cultivation and livestock farming to preliminary processing, processing, and consumption, the Provincial Department of Agricultural, Forestry, and Fisheries Product Quality Management continues to expand safe food chains for many agricultural products.
Expanding VietGAP certified areas
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong, Director of the Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative (Cam Ranh City), said that in recent years, thanks to the application of advanced science and technology and safe production processes, the cooperative's apples have been well received by many consumers. The prerequisite for market acceptance is ensuring safe cultivation practices. Therefore, in 2023, the cooperative decided to expand the area of apples grown and cared for according to VietGAP standards from nearly 2 hectares to 18 hectares. “During the implementation process, we received support from all levels of government, especially the Provincial Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Product Quality Management. In addition to being equipped with knowledge and production and harvesting processes that meet safety standards, members were also guided by professional staff on keeping production logs and using safe fertilizers and pesticides. The Department also collected soil, water, and product samples to send to specialized agencies for analysis and assessment; supported the cooperative in building a quality management system according to VietGAP standards, and assisted in the evaluation and certification stages,” Mr. Cuong said.
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| VietGAP-certified green-skinned pomelos from Khanh Vinh participated in the 2023 Safe Agricultural and Food Products Fair organized by the Provincial Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management. |
Similarly, many durian orchards in Khanh Son are implementing the model of a safe fruit production, processing, and consumption chain that the local agricultural agency is currently developing. Specifically, this year, 109 hectares of durian orchards belonging to 3 cooperatives and 1 cooperative in Khanh Son, including: Doc Gao Durian Cooperative; Hong Phat Durian Cooperative; Khanh Son Organic Durian Cooperative; and Son Trung Organic Durian Cooperative, have applied good agricultural practices to obtain VietGAP certification. VietGAP-certified durian, along with other factors such as geographical indications and planting area codes, are passports for durian to be officially exported to foreign markets.
Mr. Chu Duc Hung, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Product Quality Management, said that this year, the expansion and development of the safe fruit supply chain model according to VietGAP standards in the province has been effectively carried out by fruit cooperatives and associations. Participating households have received training on food safety knowledge; applied VietGAP good agricultural practices; and implemented advanced quality management programs in preliminary processing and processing such as GMP, SSOP, HACCP... At the same time, the department conducts food safety monitoring and sampling at all links in the chain to ensure quality control and food safety of the products.
Focus on output
According to Mr. Chu Duc Hung, in 2023, in addition to 109 hectares of durian in Khanh Son and 18 hectares of apple in Cam Thanh Nam built according to VietGAP standards, the sub-department also supported organizations and individuals in re-certifying 283 hectares of durian in Khanh Son according to VietGAP standards (VietGAP certificates are valid for a maximum of 2 years, after which the entities must go through the renewal procedure). The awarding of VietGAP certification will be carried out in the near future. Thus, the entire province has established 9 safe food chains for agricultural, forestry and aquatic products.
According to the head of the Provincial Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Product Quality Management, replicating safe supply chain models according to VietGAP standards is significant for brand development and enhancing the value of agricultural products. Successful models help increase farmers' income, initially providing advantages for cooperatives and production groups in accessing markets, expanding production scale, meeting food safety requirements, and contributing to building a sustainable production and consumption process for key agricultural products in the locality.
However, producing agricultural products according to VietGAP standards requires higher investment costs for farmers, yet the products are sold at the same price as conventional products because selling at a higher price makes them difficult to sell. Therefore, in the future, the development of a production, processing, and consumption chain model for agricultural products needs to focus on product output. “Besides safe production, in the future, the chain development activities will focus on supporting farmers in post-harvest processing, packaging, and preservation to improve product quality. Furthermore, we must focus on supporting production areas and businesses in obtaining planting area codes and safe aquaculture certification codes… to meet the requirements of importing countries,” said Mr. Chu Duc Hung.
Over the years, the Sub-Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Product Quality Management has coordinated the development of 9 safe food chains for agricultural, forestry and fisheries products throughout the province. These chains include products such as: fresh vegetables, garlic, pork, poultry, lobster, conch, shrimp, mango, durian, green pomelo, and seedless lemons from the localities of Khanh Son, Khanh Vinh, Cam Lam, Nha Trang, Ninh Hoa, and Van Ninh.
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