Enhance the competitiveness of traditional products in Xiangyang

Replicating effective models

Identifying science and technology as the driving force for rapid and sustainable economic development, associated with the goals and orientations of socio-economic development of each locality and district.Xiangyanghas directed the construction and replication of many highly effective farming models.

A typical example is the model of applying science and technology to safe vegetable production in Phong village, Thach Giam town, supported by the Department of Science and Technology. After many years of implementation, it is still effective, bringing a stable source of income to the people. Initially, the clean vegetable production project in Phong village only had 23 households participating, then expanded to 45 households on a total production area of ​​more than 3.5 hectares. On average, each day, the vegetable growing households here supply about 200 - 400 kg of safe vegetables to the market in Tuong Duong district.

Safe vegetable production in Phong village, Thach Giam town. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Ms. Lo Thi Dien - a vegetable grower said: "We fertilize vegetables here with green manure, bio-fertilizer, do not use chemical fertilizers, do not use pesticides. In addition, people also invest in building houses covered with plastic to limit adverse environmental conditions and prevent pests, so vegetables are safe and of good quality." With an area of ​​only about 350 m2/household, the income after deducting expenses can reach 50 million VND/year. In particular, with the support of the JICA Project, people have established a Cooperative Group to produce clean vegetables and fruits in Phong village, successfully building the brand "Phong village citrus tomatoes", serving as a bridge to promote local products.

The fruit tree growing model of Mr. Tong Van Chien's household in Bai So village, Tam Quang commune, brings in hundreds of millions of dong in income each year. Photo courtesy of DN

In Bai So area, Tam Quang commune has been successful with the red-fleshed dragon fruit model. According to the commune's leaders, up to now, the whole commune has about 50 households growing red-fleshed dragon fruit on a large scale with a total area of ​​about 6 hectares. Tam Quang commune also chose this fruit tree as a key economic model for development with the goal of not only agricultural production but also eco-tourism from large dragon fruit gardens. Currently, Tam Quang commune sells more than 120 tons of red-fleshed dragon fruit each year, mainly from Bai So. Currently, many mountainous communes have come to Tam Quang commune to learn and replicate the model.

Harvesting passion fruit in Tuong Duong district. Photo: Le Quang Dung

In the period of 2016-2020, Tuong Duong district has built 10 highly effective cultivation models. The district has directed and coordinated with Tay Nghe Agricultural and Trade Cooperative to successfully build 2 greenhouses specializing in growing high-tech melons, consulted and designed by ATESO Agricultural Solutions Company Limited; replicated over 69 hectares of passion fruit. Forming agricultural production according to the value chain, creating a concentrated commodity production area with high economic efficiency such as: passion fruit, ginger, red turmeric, raw cassava, and biomass corn.

Deploying the application of drip irrigation, spray irrigation, and water-saving irrigation technology for fruit trees in communes with concentrated fruit tree growing areas such as Tam Quang, Xa Luong communes, Thach Giam town, Nhon Mai. In particular, implementing Decision No. 2083/QD-UBND of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee on approving the project description "Application of scientific, technical and technological advances to build a model for restoring and developing native mango varieties in Tuong Duong". After nearly 2 years of implementation, the mango area in the area is currently about 24.2 hectares, equivalent to 4,852 mango trees.

Large cattle farming model of Mr. Vi Van Hai's household in Chan village, Thach Giam town. Photo courtesy of D.C.

The application of mechanization in production and science and technology in farming methods have also been promoted. Currently, the total number of agricultural machines supplied in the district is 383 machines of all kinds, including 256 small plows for households, 122 large plows with a capacity of 30 CV or more, 5 combine harvesters, and 1 transplanter. In particular, in the process of rice production, science and technology have been applied, mechanization has been applied in the stages of land preparation, harvesting with combine harvesters, and a number of new rice varieties with high yield and good disease resistance such as NA2, NA6, SL9, J02 have been gradually introduced and tested.

This is considered the basic foundation to promote the application of high technology in rice production in the coming time. In addition, the district also directs the gradual introduction of new crop varieties with good productivity and quality into production such as: Japonica rice; NA2; NA6; SL9, glutinous rice 97, glutinous rice 87, Sumo; corn varieties CP888, CP511; CP111; peanut varieties L14, L26 and livestock breeds such as: Zebu bulls, laisind cows, Thai cows, foreign pigs, crossbred pigs. The application of CNC and technical advances in all stages of livestock farming contributes significantly to promoting the livestock industry to improve productivity, quality and efficiency.

Fruit tree growing model of a household in Xa Luong commune. Photo: D.C.

Many new technical advances and CNC applications have been applied by households and individuals in production, especially advances in breeds, feed, vaccines, veterinary medicines for disease prevention and treatment, high-yield super-lean pig breeds, super-meat and super-egg poultry breeds; 5% of livestock households apply technology to treat livestock waste using biogas tanks, biological bedding, and microbial preparations. Thereby, many high-quality products are created, contributing to increasing income and expanding the consumption market for people.

Building products that meet OCOP standards

As a locality with mainly agricultural products, Tuong Duong district also determined to apply science and technology to diversify products, build sustainable new rural areas associated with community tourism development - which is to effectively implement the Project "One Commune One Product" (OCOP).

According to the results of the 2021 District-level OCOP Product Evaluation and Classification Conference recently held, there are 6 products achieving 3 stars including: sweet eggplant of Xa Luong commune, citrus tomatoes of Phong village, Muong Cha Lap rice, red-fleshed dragon fruit of Tam Quang commune, dried bamboo shoots of Tam Hop and Chinese sausages recognized by the District OCOP Product Evaluation and Classification Council as achieving 3 stars or higher. In particular, the sticky rice wine product of Ha Phuong clean product production and trading establishment was upgraded to 4 stars.

Tuong Duong mangoes are popular in the market and bring high income to people. Photo courtesy of TD

Previously, Tuong Duong district has also built a number of high-quality, large-volume, competitive products in the domestic and foreign markets. In particular, 2 products have been recognized as 3-star OCOP (Tuong Duong beef jerky and red turmeric starch), certified intellectual property protection rights for 1 product (Tuong Duong beef jerky), gradually building a product value chain.

Sticky rice wine - an indispensable drink during Tet holiday of people in the highlands. Photo courtesy of Dao Tho

The development of intellectual property and the conservation and development of gene pools have also received attention and focus. The district has directed and guided businesses and individual business households to register labels for local specialty products such as honey, red turmeric starch, Tuong Duong beef jerky, eggplant candy, mushrooms, Chinese sausages, fruits and other OCOP products...

In particular, the collective trademark "Tuong Duong cow" has been recognized by the Department of Intellectual Property since May 15, 2018 and is popular in the national market. Every year, in addition to coordinating with the Department of Science and Technology to organize intellectual property training for production establishments in the area, Tuong Duong district also directs surveys and proposes local specialty plant and animal varieties to send to the Department of Science and Technology to include in the list of gene pool conservation for the period 2020 - 2025 such as some medicinal plants in Mai Son, Nhon Mai (sâm cau, ba kích, xuyen da...).

Tomato wedges Room meets 3-star standards. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Although there have been positive changes, investment in science and technology development in Tuong Duong district is still low (mainly from the State budget), not strong enough to create breakthroughs in research and application; quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of some products are not high. Implementation of some programs and projects is still slow; agricultural production of goods is not strong, effective economic models are few...

From that reality, the leaders of Tuong Duong district believe that: Science and technology tasks must come from the needs of local socio-economic development. The results of science and technology activities must have a strong impact on production and life; science and technology products must be marketized to ensure both economic efficiency and social and environmental efficiency.

Tuong Duong district leaders visited the passion fruit production model of Huoi Co people, Nhon Mai commune. Photo courtesy of DT

Therefore, science and technology tasks in the district must prioritize promoting the application of scientific and technological advances, replicating effective models and researching the application of advanced science and technology in improving the competitiveness of traditional local products to become competitive commodities in the market.