Find solutions to increase the value of Vinh oranges

(Baonghean) - In the reality of strong competition between orange products of localities across the country, the advantage in quality and design is that Vinh oranges are still favored by consumers. However, if timely solutions are not proposed to protect and enhance the brand of Vinh oranges, this agricultural product with endemic characteristics and high economic value of the province will gradually lose its position.

Vinh oranges with their sweet, aromatic flavor are popular with consumers.

Application of science and technology

When conducting surveys and studying the current status of Vinh oranges according to geographical indications and key orange growing areas in the province, it is a fact that orange growers are struggling to find technical solutions and cultivation processes in the way they think is the most correct. From choosing orange varieties; how to cross-graft varieties; using pesticides, fertilizers... everything is almost done very emotionally. With the current "overheated" development of orange growing areas, if there is no consistency in the technical process, it will create consequences for the environment and the quality of Vinh oranges in general. In search of answers to this issue, we have more or less resolved our concerns after having field trips to Quy Hop district, where there are about 2,500 hectares of oranges, accounting for more than 50% of the Vinh orange growing area in the whole province.

In Quy Hop district, a resolution and project on developing Quy Hop orange material areas towards commodity production in the period of 2016 - 2020 and the following years have been issued. The goal of the resolution and project is to build an orange material area with the brand name "Quy Hop Orange" with an area of ​​3,000 hectares. Of which, 70% of orange products when sold will have a brand name and label; 50% of the orange area is produced according to VietGAP process. Quy Hop district determined that it must find a leading enterprise. And the person chosen to pioneer the "orange revolution" is Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai - Chairman of the District Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Oranges are sold at Sang Le intersection (Quy Hop).

With favorable conditions, Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai received nearly 20 hectares of land at Lin Hill, Minh Hop Commune and planted 8 hectares of Xa Doai oranges with golden hearts. With the belief that if Vinh oranges want to have a true position in the market, they must create a value chain from production to consumption, so right from the stage of selecting varieties, Mr. Hoai had to ask for help from the Central Institute of Crops. The orange garden is irrigated with Israeli drip technology; fertilized with organic fertilizer treated with microorganisms provided by the Center for Application of Scientific and Technical Advances (Department of Science and Technology). During the development process, the orange trees are closely monitored, if there are clinical signs of disease, the images and samples will be sent to a unit operating in the field of cultivation in Japan to determine the cause, and take timely measures...

Up to now, Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai's orange garden is 3 years old, has produced fruit and has been recognized by orange growers in the area as "beautiful". As for Mr. Hoai, he thinks that he must invest in building a testing center specifically for oranges, so that customers can directly test orange samples to be assured of food safety. At the same time, he must attach a brand, label, and geographical indication to the oranges, so that consumers have a basis to trace the origin of the oranges grown in which lot and which garden. Mr. Hoai also considers preserving the oranges so that Vinh oranges are always present on the market. To do this, he has cooperated with the provincial Center for Science and Technology Application to be provided with a safe enzyme compound to coat the peel, ensuring that the oranges will be preserved for 6 months...

Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai said: “For a long time, orange growers have been like “arrogant soldiers”, satisfied with the five to seven hundred million VND that 1 hectare of oranges brings. But in reality, Cam Vinh will be much more successful if it knows how to combine stages and processes to create a value chain...”. Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai’s opinion is completely reasonable. Because in reality, the total area for orange trees in Nghe An is large but very fragmented; and all are in the hands of owners with a small-scale farming mindset in both production and business. Therefore, the way Mr. Nguyen Giang Hoai has implemented the model orange garden, and the plans he is nurturing are very necessary for orange growers to study and apply.

Build your own brand

In the province, in addition to the localities growing oranges listed in the Geographical Indication, there are currently a number of other localities growing oranges. This, in addition to "enriching" the province's orange regions, has increased the underground competition between regions and gardeners in consuming oranges in the market. Every garden owner and every locality affirms that their oranges are the best quality, invisibly creating a race to "drown" each other's products, affecting the Vinh Orange brand, making consumers, who are already confused in choosing Vinh Oranges, even more confused with information.

Oranges in Yen Thanh have been grown for a long time with the lemon orange variety of the Van Du orange line.

Some orange growers have realized this. For example, Mr. Duong Minh Tan - Director of Tan Thanh Orange Cooperative shared that because of the “mixture of gold and copper”, he and 8 other orange growers had to gather to establish a cooperative, build their own production process and register their own brand for the oranges they produced. Mr. Tan said: “The concern is that good oranges as well as bad oranges, good and bad care processes are all labeled Vinh Oranges to bring to the market. Therefore, we are the producers who take the quality of oranges as the top criteria, but are negatively affected by short-term methods, eating too early…” In Quy Hop, in addition to Tan Thanh Cooperative, 3 more orange growing cooperatives have been established, gathering dozens of participating households. Each cooperative has registered its own orange brand.

Currently, most districts with orange acreage are also aware of this, and all believe that it is necessary to put their own brand names on orange products with the same geographical indication. For example, the orange area of ​​Anh Son district, in Dinh Son commune, is the place associated with the name of Bai Phu orange trees. The leaders of Dinh Son commune and the people here have recognized that orange trees are an agricultural product that brings economic efficiency, so they hope that Anh Son district will help to recreate the Bai Phu orange brand.

According to Mr. Phan Dinh Dat - Standing Deputy Secretary of Quy Hop District Party Committee, in order to divide different orange growing areas, implementing separate brands is necessary, thereby being able to monitor and track the planting and care process to meet standards, while forcing gardeners and orange growers to apply all measures to improve the quality of orange products, creating trust for consumers. Under the General Geographical Indication of Vinh Orange, there are brands: Quy Hop Orange, Yen Thanh Orange, Nghia Dan Orange, Tan Ky Orange, Hung Nguyen Orange... Based on that, consumers can choose Vinh Orange in any locality where they have a need.

The role of the association and the State must be clear.c

Until now, orange growers have not stopped discussing the Cao Phong Orange Festival which was held grandly in Hoa Binh province. And many people wish that “if only Vinh Orange had a festival like the Sunflower Festival which is about to take place in Phu Quy land”. The purpose of “if only…” is to hope that Vinh Orange would be better introduced and promoted.

The Xa Doai orange variety with yellow heart is grown a lot in Yen Thanh.

According to incomplete statistics, on average, Nghe An produces and markets tens of thousands of tons of fresh oranges each year. These tens of thousands of tons of oranges are mainly consumed by private traders. The reason is partly because farmers do not know how to market and do not have the ability to promote their brands; however, this activity can only be carried out with the participation of associations and state management agencies, however, the role of these "components" is still unclear.

Since 2008, the Vinh Orange Association has been established. Although there have been some achievements such as contributing to making Vinh Orange famous in the market; orange growers have increased production value, however, as the Chairman of the Vinh Orange Association, Director of Xuan Thanh Agricultural Company Limited - Mr. Hoang Minh said, the association is "having many shortcomings", "having a reputation but no reality".

To solve the problems related to Vinh Orange, according to Mr. Hoang Minh, the province needs to reorganize the association and issue specific decisions to arrange and assign responsibilities to specific members. In addition, it is necessary to form association organizations in localities with this agricultural product. Through the grassroots association, orange growers will have the opportunity to exchange and learn from each other, access and apply scientific and technological advances in production; form joint ventures and associations to create an end-to-end value chain. When the association ensures all the necessary factors, it will connect regions and orange growers to participate in production stages and processes; contribute with state agencies to solve the difficulties and problems that Vinh Orange is facing such as: market, brand promotion, etc.

Regarding the role of state management agencies, although there has been interest in orange trees, it is not enough to elevate the Vinh orange brand to its true value. Many people in the province have heard and seen about Cao Phong oranges and the orange festival organized by Hoa Binh province. And they all have the same opinion that, although the quality of Cao Phong oranges is inferior to Vinh oranges, they have had large enterprises purchasing the products, and their quality is guaranteed... The reason for this is because Hoa Binh province is interested in promoting the brand and finding markets. Through this, it can be understood that the role of state management agencies is extremely important. Therefore, state management agencies, especially at the provincial level, need to research to have solutions for market management, finding large and stable partners to consume products and implementing brand promotion strategies.

Orange growing areas in Nghe An can be associated with cultural and tourism events to enhance their value.

Regarding brand promotion, Nghe An often has historical and cultural events and major festivals. Here, it is possible to integrate and introduce local specialties, including Vinh oranges. Currently, the Center for Science and Technology Application (Nghe An Department of Science and Technology) has researched and transferred an enzyme active ingredient to preserve oranges that is harmless to human health and the environment; keeping oranges ripe in winter but ensuring deliciousness in the middle of summer. Therefore, Vinh oranges can be present at festivals and historical and cultural events that take place outside the orange ripening season.

Also related to the promotion of Cam Vinh brand, in addition to the economic aspect, Cam Vinh should be considered a tourism product; the orange regions are tourist destinations when the transportation system in the Western Nghe An region is now very convenient.

PV Group