Thanh Chuong moves towards organic agricultural production
(Baonghean.vn) - With a large land resource, diverse soil conditions, and the diligence, hard work, and creativity of farmers, Thanh Chuong district has been focusing on directing the development of organic and safe agriculture with a number of key products that the locality has advantages in.
Hardworking, creative farmers
Ngoc Huong farm in Khe Tray hamlet, Thanh Duc commune (Thanh Chuong) grows oranges using organic methods instead of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Orange trees are fertilized with composted peanut shells and probiotics from ripe bananas and fresh fish and shrimp; banana stems are composted at the base of orange trees to increase potassium, nitrogen, and soil moisture; probiotics, antifungals, and green fungi from the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture are sprayed to prevent fungi and pests; each orange is wrapped in a cloth bag or covered with a screen to protect fruit-bearing trees from butterflies and fruit flies that bite the oranges.
Currently, Ngoc Huong orange farm has been tested, evaluated and granted organic orange certificate by TQC CGLOBAL Testing and Certification Center, under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, according to the provisions of Decree No. 109, dated August 29, 2028 of the Government on organic agriculture.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong - owner of Ngoc Huong orange farm said that organic farming is more difficult and costly; on the other hand, when it rains, more oranges fall than when sprayed with chemicals. However, the benefits are huge: the soil is well-improved, contributing to protecting the ecological environment and ensuring the safety of orange growers; providing the market with safe food products; the value of oranges increases, selling at the garden this year is 50 - 65 thousand VND/kg, while the price of oranges on the market is only 20 - 30 thousand VND/kg. It is expected that this year, the farm will earn more than 1 billion VND in profit from 5 hectares of oranges.
Also in Thanh Duc commune, in Suong hamlet, there is a 5-hectare Dr. Khanh orange farm, with an average annual yield of about 70 tons of fruit, produced using organic farming methods, completely without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and has been granted an organic product certificate according to Vietnamese quality standards.
In addition to the orange products in Thanh Duc commune that are certified for organic agriculture, in Thanh Chuong district, many farmers are struggling to create organic agricultural products; including Mr. Lam Van Tien, in Lam Thinh village, Thanh Thinh commune. Mr. Tien's family's grapefruit garden of over 4,000m2 is planted with the sugar grapefruit variety originating from Hoa Binh province, which he personally brought back.
Clearly identifying his responsibility for his own health, his family's and the community's, as soon as he planted grapefruit trees in 2018, Mr. Tien researched and applied organic production processes: Using homemade microbial fertilizers from manure and other plants; using homemade preparations from chili, tobacco, ginger, and perch to prevent pests and diseases for grapefruit trees and fruits.
With the advantage of round, even, juicy, sweet grapefruit, along with meticulous care and food hygiene and safety,... grapefruit products from Mr. Lam Van Tien's family garden are favored by the market.
Mr. Tien said that out of a total of 150 grapefruit trees, 100 trees bear fruit this season, the third season, expected to earn 250 million VND (after deducting expenses); the family's grapefruit not only supplies the local market, but also ships to Vinh City, Ha Tinh, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City...
Currently, in Thanh Chuong district, in addition to orange products with 10 hectares certified for organic agriculture, there are also Thanh My grapefruit and Thanh Thinh grapefruit products produced according to organic farming methods.
Direction of focus
With the large land resources, diverse soil conditions, along with the diligence, hard work and creativity of farmers, especially the locality has a number of advantageous crops with large areas such as tea with more than 4,800 hectares (the largest area in the province), orange and grapefruit trees with more than 800 hectares,... Thanh Chuong district has issued a Project to develop organic production associated with linking the value chain of tea, orange and grapefruit trees for the period 2023 - 2025, with a vision to 2030.
Comrade Trinh Van Nha - Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district shared: Developing organic production associated with linking the value chain of tea, orange and grapefruit trees must be consistent with the Project on developing organic agriculture in Nghe An province for the period 2022 - 2030; creating tea, orange and grapefruit products that meet the standards for domestic consumption and export. In addition to focusing on transforming agriculture from traditional to organic production, the locality will focus on directing development according to a closed value chain from production, processing to the consumption market, in order to increase the economic value of products, increase income for farmers; at the same time, meet market demand, ensure consumer health, and protect the ecological environment.
To realize the goal of developing organic agriculture in Thanh Chuong, comrade Trinh Van Nha also said that, in addition to focusing on directing, guiding, and supporting farmers to build models and create organic agricultural products, the Party Committee and authorities from the district to the grassroots level need to accompany farmers in connecting and bringing products to the market; spreading organic products in Thanh Chuong to domestic and foreign markets.
Along with focusing on directing and supporting farmers in building organic agricultural models; Party committees and authorities from district to grassroots levels will also accompany farmers in connecting and bringing Thanh Chuong organic agricultural products to domestic and foreign markets.
In practice, in recent times, some local quality agricultural products such as Thanh Duc organic oranges, Thanh My organic grapefruit, black canarium, Thanh Chuong pickled jackfruit, etc., have been introduced, promoted, provided information, and connected to product consumption by district leaders at conferences in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and fairs nationwide; products have been put on display booths, introducing quality, unique products.
The district is also planning to build and put organic agricultural products and OCOP products on the e-commerce platform to create more conditions to spread local products further.
