Increase competitiveness of agricultural products

(Baonghean) - The agricultural sector of Quynh Luu district has many typical products, converging all the advantages for development. However, most of the products are still fragmented, backward in technique and technology, the connection between farmers and enterprises is loose, and the brand has not been built. Therefore, the competitiveness of agricultural products in the market is low, the added value is not high. That is also the problem that Quynh Luu district is determined to overcome, creating a breakthrough in the coming time.

Looking back at the past term, the district's agricultural picture has many highlights in both quantity and quality. By 2015, the total production value of the sector was estimated at over 3,500 billion VND. Food output was estimated at over 103,000 tons, the production value per unit of cultivated area increased rapidly, reaching nearly 88 million VND/ha. The district has also formed concentrated raw material areas with large areas such as: 1,300 ha of peanuts, 550 ha of pineapples, 830 ha of sugarcane. Vegetable production areas on a commodity scale have also been formed in Quynh Luong, Quynh Minh, Quynh Bang, Tan Son... Livestock farming has been developed in the direction of concentrated farms far from residential areas. The district's fishing fleet is also among the most powerful in the province with 1,322 vessels, of which 742 have a capacity of over 90 CV. The aquaculture area is 2,382 ha, industrial shrimp farming is 642 ha. Produce more than 140 million tiger prawn seeds, over 100 million white-leg shrimp seeds, 3 million crab seeds, 700 million clam seeds and tens of millions of fish seeds of all kinds.

However, if we analyze the industry and each specific product, we can clearly see that there are still many weaknesses that make the growth rate not commensurate with the potential and unsustainable. That is the situation of fragmented production, lack of connectivity; diverse products but mostly still in the form of preliminary processing. The obvious consequence is that the competitiveness of products on the market is low and unstable. The clearest evidence is that in recent years, there have been times when Quynh Luu farmers have had "bitter" vegetable seasons when the price of the products dropped, and the income was not enough to cover the production costs. On the other hand, the application of science and technology in chain production, according to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu, said: "If we evaluate it properly, the entire agricultural and fishery sector has almost no complete model, but has only stopped at applying one or a few steps in the production process such as: seeds, use of biological products...".

From that reality, in the 2015 - 2020 term, one of the major key programs of the District Party Resolution is: Applying high technology to promote the development of agriculture, forestry and fishery associated with modern processing industry and building product brands. Accordingly, currently, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is building a Project to apply high technology to promote the development of agriculture, forestry and fishery associated with modern processing industry. The goal is to apply technology in all production fields. Quynh Luu will build mechanisms, policies, and infrastructure to attract investors to use high technology or cooperate with farmers in agricultural production associated with purchasing, processing, and consuming products.

Model of high-quality rice production linkage in Quynh Dien commune (Quynh Luu).

In the field of cultivation, the district is currently coordinating with the North Central Agricultural Science and Technology Institute and the Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute to call for projects from Korean investors to build clean, high-quality vegetable material areas, associated with the consumption of these products to Korean enterprises operating in Vietnam. At the same time, encourage linkage models between enterprises and farmers to transfer advanced farming methods and high-quality plant varieties to build material areas and guarantee output for products. In fact, right in the 2015 production season, this linkage production trend has been and is taking shape in some production areas. This summer-autumn crop, in Quynh Dien commune, a purely agricultural locality, in addition to building a model field of more than 51 hectares, the commune has linked up with Vinh Hoa enterprise to trial planting two high-quality rice varieties: 5-hectare herbal rice and 7-hectare AC5. According to the assessment, both of the above rice varieties have high yield, delicious rice, especially the enterprise commits to purchasing the product at a price much higher than other rice varieties being cultivated locally. According to information from the People's Committee of Quynh Dien commune, Vinh Hoa enterprise will buy herbal rice varieties at a price of 800 thousand VND/quintal, and AC5 rice will be purchased at a price of 750 thousand VND/quintal.

Mr. Tran Van Dien's family has 10 sao of rice land. This summer-autumn crop, he decided to switch to trying to grow herbal rice varieties. Taking us to visit the rice fields with heavy flowers, firm grains, and black husks, which are typical of herbal rice varieties, he could not hide his joy: "Farmers grow rice and sell it to traders, so when the harvest is good, the price is low, and when the price is good, the harvest is bad. In general, if not counting labor costs, farmers do not make much profit. However, currently, rice production is linked with the company, the purchase price is high, and the output is stable, so we are very excited." Talking to us, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Lan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Dien commune, said: "In 2016, the commune plans to link with enterprises to develop the production of high-quality rice varieties on an area of ​​200 hectares out of a total area of ​​305 hectares of wet rice production. From there, it will increase the value of agricultural production, contributing to increasing farmers' income."

Or Manh Cuong Company Limited, headquartered in Quynh Luu district, specializing in agricultural business, is working with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and several communes to implement a model of cooperation with farmers to grow about 40 hectares of chili, long beans and pumpkins for export. Ms. Ho Thi Thuy Thuy, Director of Manh Cuong Company Limited said: "We will invest in lending farmers seeds and fertilizers from the beginning of the season to build concentrated raw material areas and support farming techniques; at the same time, sign contracts to consume products right from the beginning of the season". In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade is also completing projects to build brands for key agricultural and fishery products such as deer antlers, pineapples, squid, fish sauce, etc.

Quynh Luu district has identified the necessary direction to build a sustainable agriculture based on the potential and strengths of the locality. However, to do this, it requires high determination and active participation of all levels, sectors and people. It is not only the mechanism, policy, environment, infrastructure to attract investment but also the selection of capable and dedicated investors to accompany farmers. At the same time, it is necessary to effectively apply scientific and technological advances to production. On the other hand, farmers must also have a market-oriented production mindset, respecting commitments in the process of linking production with enterprises. Only then can we overcome challenges and difficulties, and move towards sustainable agricultural development.

Nhat Le