Safe vegetable production: Still not out of the woods

(Baonghean) - Green vegetables are indispensable foods in every daily meal, but the situation of microbial pollution, toxic chemicals, heavy metals and pesticide residues on vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, has affected public health and the environment. Producing and supplying safe vegetables is a matter of concern for all levels, sectors and the community. However, producing safe vegetables still faces difficulties...

Changing perceptions of safe vegetables

In recent years, the safe vegetable production model has become quite familiar to local people in the province, such as Nghi Kim, Nghi An (Vinh City), Nam Anh, Nam Xuan (Nam Dan), Dien Thanh (Dien Chau), Quynh Luong, Quynh Minh, Quynh Luu)... The pilot implementation of this model has had a fairly favorable start, receiving attention and support from all levels and sectors; suitable land and climate conditions; people enthusiastically participate. Currently, the Department of Crop Production of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has granted certificates of eligibility for safe vegetable production to organizations and individuals, such as Nghi Kim, Nghi An, Hung Dong Safe Vegetable Production Management Board, each unit 5-7ha, Dien Thanh Agricultural Cooperative 8ha, Quynh Luong Agricultural Cooperative 10ha, TH Project in Nghia Dan with a scale of 166ha (including 25ha of greenhouse vegetables and 95ha of net house vegetables),...

Before 2000, Quynh Minh commune had converted more than 100 hectares of rice cultivation to commercial vegetable cultivation, bringing high economic efficiency. If the average annual income from other food crops was only 9-10 million VND/year/ha, when switching to vegetable cultivation, the income increased 5 times, even 7-8 times. The traditional vegetables grown by the people are kohlrabi, cabbage, mustard greens, scallions... Currently, Quynh Minh vegetables are widely consumed from Hanoi to Da Nang and Hue. Quynh Minh farmers are actively creative, always adopting new techniques and technologies in production, which is one of the bases for the North Central Agricultural Science and Technology Institute to choose to pilot the model of "Safe vegetable production according to VietGAP process" in the winter crop of 2012.

The model was deployed on an area of ​​15 hectares, including scallions, cabbage, leafy vegetables with 90 participating households. In addition to 100% support for seedlings, 30-50% of fertilizer materials (depending on the model), households were also equipped with knowledge about technical cultivation processes, integrated pest management for each stage and season; post-harvest treatment, field diary recording... Through the implementation process, the households producing in the model all had the same comment that the productivity and quality of the 3 types of vegetables increased significantly. In particular, taking care of vegetables according to the VietGAP process has reduced the amount of fertilizer and pesticides by 20%.

As one of the households participating in the VietGAP production model, Mr. Ho Van An (in Hamlet 2 - Quynh Minh) happily said: “We invested 2,500m2 of cabbage. When we first approached it, we were very confused, especially with the meticulous recording of the forms. But when we were guided and practiced right in the vegetable field, the work became more convenient and easier. Through the knowledge learned, we realized that it is impossible to grow high-quality commercial vegetables according to traditional experience, but must apply advances in science and technology.

Greenhouse vegetable project in Nghi An commune (Vinh city).

Difficult output

Currently, Kim Trung and Kim Binh hamlets (Nghi An commune, Vinh city) have 43 households growing vegetables in 48 net houses with a total area of ​​over 11,000m2. These are households specializing in vegetable cultivation that have been trained in production techniques, preliminary processing, and preservation of clean vegetables... Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong in Kim Trung hamlet has invested in 2 net houses to grow vegetables and shared: "Previously, vegetable growers often used a lot of chemical fertilizers, manure, pesticides; even nitrogen fertilizer was used near harvest to make the vegetables green. But in the past 5 years, we have not produced vegetables like before, but have invested in applying them in a safe direction, but the biggest difficulty today is still the confusion between clean vegetables and "dirty" vegetables on the market. Because safe vegetables do not have any specific signs of production units, facilities or authorities such as wholesale markets, product display booths, or product logos, it is impossible to prove the origin of the vegetables".

Mr. Ho Dien Chau in Hamlet 1, Quynh Minh Commune said: "This season, my family continues to grow green onions using VietGAP process. According to calculations, applying VietGAP process reduces production costs, but when cultivating, we have to spend more effort (the care time increases by 3-5 working days/sao compared to traditional production methods). Currently, with a consumption of nearly 500 kg of vegetables/day, after deducting costs, my family's profit is nearly 10 million VND/month. But uncertainty is still present, because safe vegetables are still only sold in traditional markets, and have not yet "squeezed" into supermarkets.

In fact, the demand for clean vegetables is very high, but if the consumer market does not open up to ensure profits, it will be difficult for us to apply clean and safe production standards." According to Mr. Ho Dien Vy - Head of Nong Diem Cooperative, Quynh Minh commune, the project of growing safe vegetables according to VietGap process in the commune ended at the end of 2012, but in the following seasons, people have been more aware and focused on producing safe vegetables. Many households, although not directly participating in the project, have gradually reduced the use of pesticides. However, the output and brand for clean vegetables are still a "difficult problem" that needs to be solved, because currently there is no distinction, clean vegetables are still equated with vegetables produced in the traditional way, and the selling price is no different.

The reason for the difficulty in output is that the brand has not been built yet, and there are no labels certifying protection. In addition, the vegetable growing areas of most households are fragmented and small, each household only has a few meters to a few sao, so they cannot meet the orders of supermarkets, businesses, and collective kitchens; small-scale production practices, not following technical instructions, arbitrary planting times; and vegetables grown without planning are still common.

Promote production and consumption of safe vegetables

Building a truly clean vegetable area and gradually increasing income for vegetable growers requires building a chain control model, moving towards the goal of all vegetable areas being grown according to clean processes, without using pesticides, before being put on the market for consumption, must be affixed with a clean vegetable certification stamp, and strictly controlled from production, preliminary processing to consumption... To meet the above requirements, in May 2012, the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management of Nghe An built a model of "Controlling VietGap vegetables according to the chain" in Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau) on an area of ​​10 hectares of vegetable production in hamlet 10, with 70 participating households.

The main contents include: signing a cooperation agreement on safe vegetable production and consumption according to the chain; exchanging and learning experiences from some localities; supporting agents participating in the chain; building a model for controlling safe vegetables according to the chain... Mr. Duong Van Hung - Head of the Department said: "The success of the model requires close coordination and support from departments, branches, localities and vegetable growers and consumers. Initially, vegetable growers are not familiar with safe vegetable production, but will gradually get into order. Once the consumption problem goes smoothly, this model is expected to be the premise for building a concentrated safe vegetable growing area according to the chain, gradually certified according to the prescribed standards".

In order to further develop and replicate the model, in December 2012, the Provincial People's Committee approved the planning of "High-tech vegetable and fruit production in Nghe An province until 2020". According to the planning, the total area of ​​high-tech vegetables and fruits by 2020 is 3,055 hectares; of which 2,805 hectares are on fertile land and 200 hectares are on low-efficiency rice land. The goal by 2015 is for the whole province to develop 2-3 areas for vegetable and fruit production applying high-tech processes with an area of ​​about 500-550 hectares, with an estimated output of about 50,000-55,000 tons. From 2016-2020, high technology will be gradually applied to the production, harvesting, processing and preservation of vegetable products according to the planning; Continue to expand production to reach the planned area and estimated output of 306,000 tons, of which strive to have over 80% of output meet food safety and hygiene standards...

Ngoc Anh