Standardize theraw material areais the most important factor to expand agricultural exports. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has implemented a pilot project of 5 standard agricultural and forestry raw material areas with an area of ​​nearly 170,000 hectares. After more than two years of implementation in 13 provinces, it is now possible to clearly identify areas for growing coffee, rice, fruits or raw material forests that meet the standards.

Son La has been selected to form a standard fruit growing area in the North. Currently, the locality has more than 82,000 hectares with a yield of nearly 400,000 tons. Mango, grapefruit, and custard apple are currently the main crops associated with strict care processes. Particularly for custard apple, in the past two years, people have expanded to new varieties such as Taiwanese pineapple custard apple, helping the harvest season last from June to January of the following year.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Bang - Director of Co Noi Agricultural Cooperative, Mai Son, Son La said: "In the short term, we will work towards organic direction, promoting organic fertilizers. When we meet the conditions, we will register for Global GAP towards export".

In Mai Son district alone, 200 strong cooperatives have been formed in the raw material area, attracting 6 enterprises to invest in processing factories. 85-90% of the fruit materials meet the standards to meet the international market.

Ms. Nguyen Hang Nga - Director of Doveco Son La Factory shared: "Last October, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the People's Committee of Son La province to continue participating in the linkage chains, creating transparency and fairness for both sides".

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh - Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center commented: “Most of the Ministry’s agencies must participate. This is a new approach, we have a project to build a community agricultural extension team in this raw material area. From this community agricultural extension force, there will be close links, a bridge between businesses and producers”.

Along with the standardization of agricultural products, infrastructure serving raw material areas will also be invested. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, up to now, nearly 100 km of roads, three pumping stations and three combined warehouses and display houses have been completed in five raw material areas. The results from the five pilot areas that have met the standards are spreading strongly.

The standardization of raw material areas is targeted by the agricultural sector to become a regulation for any production area. That will be the way for agricultural products to increase their value, contributing to the goal of making Vietnam one of the 10 agricultural processing centers of the world.

News Department