Multiplying economic value from organic agricultural production in Thanh Chuong

Farmers who dare to change

Coming to Thanh Chuong district in the right season of ripe oranges. At Tap Lam Organic Orange Farm (in Suong hamlet, Thanh Duc commune), the organic orange crop is being harvested. A farmer working in the garden shared: "I have been attached to this orange garden for many years, witnessing each tree mature, flower, and bear fruit is the hard work of both the garden owner and workers like us. Because to make organic oranges, in addition to the cost being more than twice as high as traditional production, the effort is also greater, meticulously following each orange tree, weeding by hand, without using herbicides".

From a farm worker, attached to tea trees, in 2017, Mr. Trang Ngoc Tap boldly received a contract of 5 hectares of barren land to grow oranges. In the third year, Mr. Tap began researching changes to the organic production process, completely avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Along with 5 hectares of 7-year-old oranges, Mr. Tap also planted 5 more hectares of oranges, now 4 years old and applied organic production from the beginning.

After 3 years of persistently applying organic production processes, from using clean water to irrigate crops, to using completely organic fertilizers and sprays for plants; in September 2024, Mr. Tap Lam's family's 10-hectare orange farm was tested, evaluated and granted a certificate of organic standards according to regulations by ISOCERT International Certification and Inspection Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Trang Ngoc Tap added: When the organic orange product was recognized, with the support of the locality in promoting and introducing organic orange products, the product value has increased, from 30 thousand VND (in 2023) to 45 - 55 thousand VND/kg and the market has been expanded with agents in Vinh city, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City... It is expected that with 5 hectares for mass harvest plus 5 hectares for fruit bearing, this year's orange crop, the farm will achieve a revenue of about 2.5 - 3 billion VND, with a profit of more than 1 billion VND.

Also in Thanh Duc commune, Ngoc Huong orange farm in Khe Tray hamlet has entered its second year of being recognized as meeting organic orange standards. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong - owner of Ngoc Huong orange farm shared: "This year, although the orange yield is lower and the investment cost is also higher, in return, the selling price has increased, from 40 - 60 thousand VND/kg, now up to 45 - 70 thousand VND/kg sold at the garden; revenue reached about more than 1.5 billion VND".

Previously, in 2022, Dr. Khanh's orange farm, covering 5 hectares with an output of about 70 tons of fruit, in Suong hamlet, Thanh Duc commune, also produced and was granted an organic product certificate according to Vietnamese quality standards. On Thanh Chuong land today, grapefruit models in Thanh My, Thanh Thinh communes and Thanh Duc tea are also applying organic farming methods.

In Thanh Lien commune, according to comrade Phan Ba ​​Ngoc - Party Secretary, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee: "The locality is focusing on propagating and mobilizing people to apply organic production to nearly 40 hectares of Dien grapefruit and raising Thanh Chuong chickens with a scale of more than 10,000 chickens/batch to improve the quality and brand of agricultural products in the area".

Comrade Le Dinh Thanh - Vice Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee said: The current organic agricultural models and products on Thanh Chuong land are associated with examples of farmers who dare to change and achieve many successes. Because to make organic products requires meticulousness, elaborateness and great labor, strict technical care process, must calculate the standard content, nutrients in organic fertilizers for balanced fertilization.

However, all those hardships and difficulties are rewarded, when certified organic agricultural models and products are trusted by consumers, bringing high economic value to growers, helping farmers directly involved in production to have good health and create a safe ecological environment.

Organic agriculture development

From the models, products that have achieved organic certification have contributed to affirming the appropriate direction in the midland mountainous district of Thanh Chuong.

Comrade Trinh Van Nha - Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district said: "To have this initial result is the process of directing and implementing methodically, based on research, survey, and overall assessment of the agricultural production situation of the district, the potentials, strengths, difficulties, and limitations. The research orients the agricultural development trend according to the consumption trend. The district organizes delegations to visit and study some other provinces to deploy the model. The District People's Committee has advised the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee to issue resolutions and projects to develop organic agricultural production associated with value chain linkages in the district; the focus is determined to be tea, orange, and grapefruit trees".

The direction of organic agricultural production affirms the next step in agricultural development in Thanh Chuong, creating a concentrated commodity production area with a total area of ​​over 460 hectares of oranges, nearly 350 hectares of grapefruit of all kinds and over 4,800 hectares of tea. Based on the area of ​​these commodity agricultural products, the district continues to transform the farming method, organic production associated with the value chain to create good quality products to supply the market.

According to the discussion of the Chairman of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee, the number of agricultural products that have been tested, evaluated and recognized by organizations to meet organic standards in the district is still small, only 30 hectares of oranges. This is what the district is concerned about and continues to set out its determination, persistently direct and mobilize people to implement in order to improve the quality and brand of Thanh Chuong's agricultural products. From there, providing the market with safe products, increasing economic value and income for farmers; contributing to protecting the health of producers and consumers, protecting the ecological environment, and building sustainable new rural areas.