Nghe An: More than 100 agricultural products have strengths

(Baonghean) - With the support of the "Technical Cooperation Project on Agricultural Development Planning in Nghe An", the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center organized a workshop on "Introducing agricultural products of localities in Nghe An province". There were more than 100 typical agricultural products of districts in the province on display such as Quynh Luu and Cua Lo fish sauce; Cua Lo grilled mackerel; Thanh Chuong hill chicken and pickled vegetables; Tuong Duong tomato wedges; Quy Chau incense; Quy Hop oranges; Hong Quang Tien grapefruit...

Some of these products have been granted collective trademark protection certificates by the Intellectual Property Office, such as Hai Giang 1 fish sauce, Cua Lo grilled mackerel, Thanh Chuong hill chicken, etc.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quy Linh - Director of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, this is the first "rehearsal", not many typical products with strengths of localities have been introduced to consumers, but through that, some products have been introduced, helping producers connect with businesses, organizations in the area and consumers. Through that, farmers and localities with typical agricultural products have the conditions to publicly and fully introduce their products to businesses as well as consumers.

Raising free-range chickens in Thanh Chuong. Photo: Phuong Thao

As one of the typical agricultural products participating in this workshop, before the approval of the Project "Building and developing collective brand, Thanh Chuong hill chicken", this is a product known and favored by consumers.

Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee - Mr. Le Dinh Thanh shared: "Thanh Chuong chickens are raised by the people in the traditional way, free-range in the gardens and hills. The main food is from agricultural products such as rice, corn, cassava and other agricultural by-products and food that the chickens find in nature such as worms, termites...

The branding of this traditional product of farmers was carried out from the decisions of the Provincial People's Committee on approving the Project Description "Building and developing the collective brand of Thanh Chuong chicken". Accordingly, the brand was granted an Intellectual Property (IP) certificate by the Department of Intellectual Property and most recently, the Certificate of the Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality and the Right to use the Barcode of Thanh Chuong chicken (December 30, 2016).

Currently, Thanh Chuong district is focusing on directing 45 households to raise free-range chickens to serve collective brands, including 5 households raising breeding chickens, 40 households raising commercial chickens/17 communes; Thanh Xuan commune is the focus with 30 households.

At the same time, the district's Poultry Association is coordinating with the JICA Project (Japan) to direct bio-safety chicken farming models in Thanh Xuan commune, combining with restaurants and supermarkets such as Maximark Supermarket, Tam Nong Nghe An Service Store system, Thanh Chuong chicken restaurant and some service units in Vinh city to consume products; in 2016 alone, more than 2 tons of chicken were consumed in Thanh Xuan commune. The Association is also implementing the printing of product labels and packaging. Currently, Thanh Chuong chicken products have been known and favored by consumers inside and outside the province, many restaurants in Vinh city have hung Thanh Chuong chicken advertising signs, attracting a lot of diners.

Most participating businesses highly appreciate local products in terms of both diversity and quality, and at the same time wish to purchase and supply them to the market. However, apart from a few certified products with brands that can be traded directly, other products are mainly consumed in small quantities in markets, and have difficulty "entering" large and systematic supply chains because they have not been certified for safe products and production areas. At the same time, consumers do not really trust and are not aware of producers applying clean food processes.

Hong Quang Tien grapefruit. Photo courtesy.

To contribute to solving this problem, in the immediate future, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center is building 3 product chains: A chicken egg product chain for Vinh City (granting certificates of safe production areas, issuing labels to be able to enter supermarkets); a safe vegetable production chain for Cua Lo Town to serve tourists during the tourist season and neighboring areas and a Hong grapefruit production chain for Thai Hoa Town; at the same time, promoting in the coming time to continue building a product chain for Thanh Chuong pickled vegetables and Nam Dan soy sauce.

“In the coming time, in addition to calling for and attracting many businesses to participate in fairs and booths, especially those representing retail chains, we hope that the province and localities will create conditions for manufacturing businesses to access and introduce their products. We will also pay attention to organizing forums planned in 3 clusters: National Highway 48, National Highway 7 and the area around Vinh City, with the aim of unifying the strong products of each locality to focus on directing production and consumption.

Phu Huong