The safe agricultural and aquatic food supply chain is the linkage of control of all stages from initial production to product consumption, including cultivation, breeding, fishing, collection, preliminary processing, processing, packaging, transportation and distribution of products... All stages apply a quality management program according to controlling food safety hazards throughout the chain, ensuring traceability, with a commitment to safety..., thereby helping consumers feel secure when using the product.

In 2024, Son La province aims to maintain and develop stable supply chains of safe agricultural and aquatic products certified by competent authorities. Strive to develop the area and output of safe agricultural and aquatic products applying VietGAP, GlobalGAP and similar standards to increase by at least 10% compared to 2023. Maintain and develop the consumption of agricultural products in Hanoi and other provinces.

Strive for 100% of safe agricultural and aquatic products produced in the province to be consumed stably in the provincial, domestic and export markets. Strive to develop the province's agriculture in a modern and sustainable direction; produce large-scale goods, apply science and technology, process diverse products, innovate to increase productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness, while controlling food safety in the entire supply chain to be established, promote efficiency, and be proactive in protecting the health and interests of consumers of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products produced and processed in Son La province.

In the first 9 months of 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province issued 8 certificates of safe food supply chain products, bringing the total to 288 chains, including: 39 safe vegetable chains; 178 safe fruit chains; 05 coffee chains; 10 tea chains; 02 rice chains; 05 pork chains; 03 chicken chains; 07 honey chains; 21 seafood chains; 02 smoked meat chains; 13 agricultural and aquatic product processing chains; 02 agricultural product trading chains; 01 Cordyceps chain.

Son La province currently has 36 safe vegetable supply chains, with an area of ​​over 300 hectares, and an output of about 13,000 tons/year.

Of which, 36 safe vegetable supply chains, with an area of ​​over 300 hectares, yield about 13,000 tons/year. Safe vegetable and root products are strictly controlled from the stage of selecting seeds, irrigation water sources, to the use of fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring that they meet VietGAP standards, providing safe products to consumers.

Moc Chau is a locality with potential and advantages for developing safe vegetable growing chains. The district currently has 20 safe vegetable growing chains, with a total area of ​​over 150 hectares, and an output of about 8,000 tons/year. Cooperatives in the safe vegetable growing chain have implemented production linkages between farmers and cooperatives and cooperatives with cooperatives, and have signed contracts to produce and supply vegetable products to supermarket systems and safe store chains in Hanoi.

Son La province strives to have a safe vegetable growing area of ​​about 25,000 hectares by 2030, with an estimated output of over 300,000 tons. Of which, the area of ​​safe, concentrated vegetables with traceability is estimated at 7,500 hectares, with an estimated output of over 80,000 tons or more; strives for over 95% of inspected and tested vegetable samples to meet safety standards.

In the livestock sector, the province has 26 livestock facilities certified as safe against foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, H5N1 avian influenza, and Newcastle disease. In 2023, the provincial Department of Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries issued and reissued 3 certificates of disease-free facilities.

In 2024, Son La province is building 3 more concentrated livestock farms certified as safe from animal diseases; 1 animal disease-free zone for foot-and-mouth disease in buffaloes and cows at the commune level in Moc Chau district; 1 animal disease-free zone for rabies at the ward level in Son La city. By 2025, the whole province is striving to have 2 disease-free zones at the commune level for foot-and-mouth disease in buffaloes and cows; 2 disease-free zones at the commune level for rabies in animals.

The People's Committees of districts and cities have been and are continuing to support businesses and cooperatives in applying VietGAP good agricultural production processes, supporting the purchase of packaging, labels, introducing and promoting trade, and supporting investment in agricultural product processing in 2024. By the end of 2024, the whole province strives to achieve 308 safe agricultural and aquatic product supply chains according to the targets of Plan No. 214/KH UBND dated September 6, 2023 of the Provincial People's Committee.

Son La province promotes the issuance and management of codes for agricultural export growing areas. Photo: BSL.

In addition, in the first 9 months of 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued 10 growing area codes, bringing the total number of codes maintained to 216, including: 205 export growing area codes with a total area of ​​2,997.55 hectares; 11 growing area codes for the crop sector with a total area of ​​150.45 hectares.

Of the 205 export growing area codes, there are 120 export codes to China; 31 export codes to the United States; 39 export codes to Australia; 09 export codes to Newziland; 03 export codes to the EU; 03 export codes to other markets. The total number of crops granted export codes includes: Mango 69 codes, longan 108 codes, banana 16 codes, plum 05 codes, macadamia 01 code, dragon fruit 02 codes, passion fruit 04 codes. Agricultural product packaging facilities are maintaining 11 codes including: Son La City 04 codes, Mai Son 03 codes, Song Ma 01 code, Yen Chau 01 code, Moc Chau 02 codes. Packaged products include longan, mango, macadamia, passion fruit.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is continuing to coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology to build brands and geographical indications to protect agricultural products that the province is interested in implementing. Up to now, 29 agricultural products in the province have been granted protection certificates. Of which, 3 products are protected under geographical indications: Son La coffee, Moc Chau Shan Tuyet tea, and Yen Chau district's round mango. Currently, in the whole province, there are 101 establishments applying the effective VietGAP and GlobalGAP good agricultural production practices.

The “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) program in the province has attracted the participation of many enterprises, cooperatives, and production and business households. Up to now, the whole province has 154 products, of which 01 OCOP product has achieved 5 stars; 57 products have 4 stars; 96 products have 3 stars. In addition, brand promotion programs have been focused on implementing, contributing to gradually affirming the value of agricultural products, diversifying the province's safe agricultural products, helping Son La province's agricultural products affirm their position in the domestic and world markets.

In the coming time, Son La province will continue to support the construction, management and development of brands, geographical indications and registration of product codes and barcodes. Continue to support communication, promotion, trade promotion, and market development for safe food supply chain products on mass media and other appropriate forms.

Support cooperatives and enterprises participating in the safe agricultural and aquatic product supply chain to purchase packaging for products for consumption. Inspect and evaluate food safety conditions of establishments participating in the safe food chain, during the inspection process, take samples of agricultural and aquatic product supply chain products to test food safety indicators according to regulations.

At the same time, promote propaganda, promotion, introduction and development of safe agricultural and aquatic products markets: Support the development of reports, columns, news, articles, clips to propagate, introduce and promote safe agricultural and aquatic food supply chains in Son La province broadcast on mass media. Introduce and promote products at fairs and exhibitions; Guide and support cooperatives, cooperative unions, and enterprises to participate in markets, fairs, exhibitions, weeks, conferences, seminars to connect trade, introduce, promote and develop markets for safe agricultural and aquatic food supply chains.../.

Thuy Ngan