Nghe An: Will stick origin traceability stamps on Vinh oranges

(Baonghean.vn) - Vinh oranges have become a strong brand of Nghe An. So how to improve the value chain of Vinh oranges in the fierce competition of many orange products today is the issue discussed by the People's Committee of Nghe An province on April 12.

Still confused in management?

Opening the meeting, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong emphasized: Oranges are a typical product, a strength of Nghe An and were exported to many countries in the 20th century and now many households and regions have become rich thanks to growing oranges. So the question is how to increase the value of oranges? This requires the active participation and close coordination of departments, branches and People's Committees of districts and towns with orange growers.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong chaired the meeting. He requested all levels of industry, cooperative enterprises, and orange growers to join hands to promote the value of Vinh oranges. Photo by Nguyen Son

According to the Department of Science and Technology, since 2007, the geographical indication of Vinh orange has been certified by the Intellectual Property Office with nearly 1,700 hectares, but in reality, there are currently more than 6,400 hectares with many locations and orange varieties. Up to now, the province has planned an orange area of ​​8,270 hectares by 2020. The management of planning and improving the value chain has not been coordinated.

Delegates attending the meeting pointed out the reality of brand promotion, the essential factor is each orange growing region, based on the characteristics of climate and soil to build a brand (within the general Vinh orange guide) as well as the way to introduce the product. But who is in charge of organizing? Although the Vinh Orange Production and Trading Association was established in 2010, there are no specific regulations on functions, tasks and operating mechanisms and they are not improved annually.

Vinh oranges are popular in the domestic market, with prices twice as high as those in other provinces. Photo by Nguyen Son

At the same time, the people have not paid attention to the labeling of goods, and there are no strong enterprises working with growers to organize production and consumption of products. In orange growing, the application of science and technology has been improved by people in the direction of increasing productivity and quality. Regarding this issue, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Lap - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province needs to closely direct the implementation of quality management, possibly establishing a consulting team on issuing product labels and labels, and managing varieties which are the strengths of Nghe An.

Regarding policy mechanisms, the Provincial People's Committee has issued many policies to support the development of orange trees such as managing and developing geographical indications for Vinh oranges, building a VietGAP orange production model, supporting preservation technology, promoting trade, promoting products, increasing the value and consumption of oranges.

Due to the popularity of the Vinh orange brand, in recent years, most orange growers in Nghe An are "doing it their own way". Part of the reason is that up to now, orange products in the area have sold out as much as they have, and there have even been times when they are out of stock. Typically, last year, near the Lunar New Year, a kilogram of oranges cost up to 100,000 - 120,000 VND in the garden, but few people have any left to sell. Is that why orange growers are still "proud" of not needing to advertise, introduce products, or link up in production and consumption? Or is it due to a lack of attention and promotion from the government, cooperatives, and businesses?

Overview of the meeting to discuss solutions to increase the value of Vinh oranges. Photo by Nguyen Son

Solutions needed for sustainable orange development

Attending the meeting, a number of businesses and cooperatives producing oranges in the area spoke up and proposed that departments and branches need to have solutions to control the quality of orange products to ensure sustainability, because the Vinh orange brand is favored by the domestic market. At the same time, it is necessary to strictly manage and have regular recommendations for orange growers in the use of pesticides, thereby ensuring increased productivity and quality towards safe products.

Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai - Director of Phu Quy High-Tech Agriculture Company said that in order to manage the quality of Vinh oranges, along with labeling and stamping oranges, the province needs to organize for households to register and stamp according to the technology of tracing the origin of production to each garden by mobile phone.

Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai - Director of Phu Quy High-Tech Agriculture Company said that it is necessary to stick stamps and labels to trace the origin of orange production. Photo: Nguyen Son

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tung - Chairman of Quy Hop District People's Committee, although some provinces have many policies to encourage orange growing, management work has encountered many difficulties, from establishing associations, to managing planning and bringing people into those associations to ensure brand sustainability. It is worth mentioning that orange growers have not contributed to the state budget, have not connected with businesses, and have not been responsible for their own products when some households buy oranges from other places to mix with Quy Hop oranges.

There are currently over 6,400 hectares of oranges with high quality varieties grown in Nghe An. Photo courtesy

A matter of concern is that currently, many households invest in growing oranges outside the planning, overlapping with other crop planning, but localities cannot manage and adjust. Orange trees bring high economic efficiency, but are very strict in terms of land and climate conditions, technical requirements for care and pest control. Therefore, along with building brands and promoting products, strictly managing orange tree planning also contributes to protecting and enhancing brand value.

Concluding the meeting, comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong requested the Departments of Science and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade and districts to actively work with businesses, cooperatives and orange growers to continue applying technical advances to improve the quality and productivity of orange products. Because this is one of the province's specialties.

At the same time, strengthen the quality control work from production to preservation and consumption. That process needs to focus on printing stamps and product labels for oranges in an easy-to-understand direction, easy to trace the origin of production and widely promote Nghe An orange products. The province will organize a number of festivals and fairs, creating favorable conditions for orange products to spread their brands, this work is associated with the activities of the tourism and cultural sectors.

Video of conclusion of Chairman of Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong

The Provincial People's Committee will also decide to establish a steering committee for developing the Vinh orange brand, thereby actively implementing effective solutions in the coming time. The Department of Science and Technology and other sectors will coordinate to advise the Provincial People's Committee to adjust a number of policies to encourage the development of orange trees, and at the same time, reorganize and perfect the Orange Production and Trading Association. The agricultural sector needs to closely coordinate with districts and towns to conduct more specific surveys and propose adjustments to the orange planting plan to suit the development situation.

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Nguyen Son