Consumption of safe vegetables: Lack of sustainable linkages

(Baonghean)To date, Nghe An province has developed 500 hectares of safe vegetable and fruit production using technological processes. This figure is still quite modest compared to the province's potential. To expand safe vegetable production areas, the key issue is to establish a sustainable link between businesses and farmers.

Farmers in Khanh Son commune (Nam Dan district) grow chili peppers under a model of linking with businesses that guarantee product purchase. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

The models that have been recorded

Currently, several safe vegetable growing areas have been established in the province, such as: Quynh Luong (Quynh Luu), Luu Son (Do Luong), Nghi An (Vinh City), Hung Phuc, Hung Loi (Hung Nguyen), Nam Xuan (Nam Dan)... Among them, some safe vegetable growing areas have linkages between localities, farmers and businesses to develop production and product consumption, and are proving effective.

In Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau district), there is a tradition of vegetable production, but previously it was mainly self-sufficient, resulting in low efficiency. However, since 2015, farmers in hamlets 9 and 10 have cooperated with businesses to develop a safe vegetable farming model on an area of ​​2 hectares. With the support of businesses in terms of technology, fertilizers, disease monitoring according to safe farming procedures, and guaranteed product purchase, the average revenue has reached over 200 million VND/ha; and the output is more stable than before.

According to Mr. Le The Hieu, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Dien Chau district: "To attract investment in safe vegetable production areas in the locality, in addition to the provincial support policies, the district has also allocated 180 million VND to support businesses in investing in equipment for initial processing, a clean water system, etc. In the coming time, the district will continue to expand the model of linking businesses to develop safe vegetable production areas in Dien Lam commune with an area of ​​5 hectares."

In Khanh Son commune (Nam Dan district), since the beginning of 2016, farmers in several hamlets have implemented a model of growing bird's eye chili peppers on a total area of ​​nearly 5 hectares. Unlike before, with the production of bird's eye chili peppers, farmers don't have to worry about sales because a company will buy them directly from the fields during harvest season. The price of bird's eye chili peppers is higher than other chili varieties (11,500 VND/kg), so each plot yields an income of over 8 million VND (double that of other chili varieties). Mr. Nguyen Trong Hong – Vice Chairman of Khanh Son commune, said: The commune has partnered with businesses to support production and purchase from farmers, thus ensuring a market for the product.

Over the past three years, Nghi An commune (Vinh City) has collaborated with businesses to develop a model for growing chili peppers on an area of ​​4 hectares. With this production linkage model, businesses have supported farmers from production to product consumption. As a result, crop yields have increased, and output is stable, giving farmers peace of mind. Mr. Pham Van Son, from Kim Binh hamlet (Nghi An), cultivates 400 m2 and earns 20 million VND per crop (5 months).

Farmers in Khanh Son and Nam Dan districts deliver chili peppers directly from the fields to purchasing businesses. Photo: Quang An

To attract investment in safe vegetable production projects, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 08/2015/QD-UBND promulgating a number of specific policies to encourage businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas in the province during the 2015-2020 period. Accordingly, investors with safe vegetable production projects following Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) will receive support and investment from the provincial budget.

Specifically, the support includes up to 1 billion VND per project (covering 20 hectares) for investment in factory construction, machinery and equipment purchase; and 100 million VND for hiring a certification body to obtain a Certificate of Safe Products… Thanks to this, the entire province has now developed 2-3 areas for producing vegetables and fruits using technological production processes, covering an area of ​​over 500 hectares, with a production volume of over 50,000 tons, ensuring food safety and quality.

A close collaboration is needed.

Although some localities have already partnered with businesses to develop quite effective safe vegetable production models, the number of safe vegetable production areas with production support, product distribution, and brand building remains small and does not match the potential. Currently, besides the Dien Thanh safe vegetable production area in Hoang Mai town, there are scattered areas in the province that have production linkages with businesses such as: Doan Ket Mushroom Production Cooperative (Yen Thanh), Phu Luong Cooperative (Quynh Luu); mushroom models in Hung Loc, chili pepper cultivation in Nghi An (Vinh City), Nam Dan, Anh Son…

Overall, the scale of vegetable growing areas is still small and efficiency remains limited. According to Mr. Le The Hieu, Head of the Agriculture Department of Dien Chau District, "farmers are facing many difficulties in the production of safe vegetables. Specifically, due to the weather conditions, farmers can only produce vegetables for about 7 months each year, so they can only supply vegetables and fruits to businesses during the winter season. On the other hand, because they do not yet have a brand for safe vegetables, the value of safe vegetables is not much higher than vegetables produced using normal processes."

Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau district) is building a model of linking with businesses to invest in infrastructure for the production and consumption of safe vegetables. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

“Furthermore, maintaining and expanding the safe vegetable production model in specialized vegetable growing areas in the province faces other difficulties, such as: The area for safe vegetable production is fragmented, making management difficult. The products produced do not meet both quantity and quality standards, and funding for infrastructure development in safe vegetable growing areas is limited. As a high-risk sector, businesses are reluctant to participate in the production process, while the mechanisms to attract businesses to invest in safe vegetable production are not truly attractive. On the other hand, most vegetable products are unprocessed, resulting in less product diversity and difficulty in consumption…” – Mr. Nguyen Dinh Huong, Deputy Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Nghe An province, added.

Dinh Nguyet