Growing pennywort - why not?

(Baonghean) - In agricultural production, many times the main products are not large-scale products with economic value of ... export! But, it can be the products from simple crops, close to farmers. The model of pennywort production in Quang Tho commune - Quang Dien district - Thua Thien Hue province is a necessary lesson worth referring to.

Quang Dien district is a district in the North of Thua Thien Hue province, which has long been considered the rice granary and the main agricultural area of ​​this province. This is an area with an early population density, and life is mainly based on traditional agricultural economy. Many vegetable growing areas have appeared in the communes of the province. Among them, Quang Tho commune is a "point" to, one of the localities with the largest vegetable growing area in Quang Dien district with nearly 90 hectares. And in particular, the profession of growing pennywort has appeared for a long time and is quite popular with the people in the commune, until now a pennywort growing area has been formed with an area of ​​40 hectares.

From spontaneous production, Gotu Kola in Quang Tho has been organized into a Cooperative called Quang Tho Cooperative. It can be said that this is a positive step for Gotu Kola growers in the area. The Cooperative organizes production for the people, advises and supports them on techniques, disease prevention and product consumption. The Cooperative has actively sought support from specialized agencies and authorities at all levels.

In order to develop pennywort sustainably and produce products that meet standards, in 2010 the Cooperative here was established and recognized to meet VietGap standards with an area of ​​1.6 hectares, opening up a new direction for the Cooperative to develop pennywort sustainably. That is from the entire process of research and survey in localities specializing in vegetable cultivation in districts and towns of Thua Thien Hue province; the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management has selected Quang Tho 2 Cooperative to support the construction of a production model applying VietGAP standards in the cultivation of pennywort products. This is an activity within the framework of the National Target Program to ensure food hygiene and safety in agricultural, forestry and fishery production in Thua Thien Hue province.

To be recognized as meeting VietGap standards, the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management has coordinated with the consulting unit, Quang Tho 2 Cooperative to carry out the following activities: Developing and promulgating the Regulations on the operation of production households, implementing the signing of commitments on compliance with the VietGAP pennywort production model for participating households; developing and promulgating the technical process for safe pennywort production; developing and promulgating the dossier for safe fresh vegetable and fruit production meeting VietGAP standards including assessment forms on production conditions (soil, water, fertilizers, etc.), tables recording activities of the production process (sowing seeds, fertilizing, spraying pesticides, etc.) and tracing the origin of products and agricultural materials used, etc. It can be said that participating in VietGap has changed people's awareness and actions. With the efforts of the Cooperative and the people, on December 22, 2013, Globalcert Certification Joint Stock Company granted VietGAP Certificate to Quang Tho 2 Cooperative for fresh pennywort products, area: 30ha, expected output 1,500 tons/year.

According to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tri - Chairman of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative, from having to fend for the people by himself, now the Cooperative has received support from all levels and sectors, so it is really secure. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has supported the issue of varieties and plant diseases. The Department of Industry and Trade supports investment in processing machinery and equipment. The Department of Science and Technology supports the Cooperative in registering trademarks, building product brands... In particular, the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Product Quality Management has supported the Cooperative in building a model that meets VietGap standards for 30 hectares, and at the same time inspects and grants certificates of qualified food safety facilities to the Cooperative. This is the key for the Cooperative to develop its products strongly and sustainably. Thanks to that attention, the profession of growing pennywort from a spontaneous, monotonous product of only fresh pennywort and dried pennywort has now been tightly organized, and product quality is guaranteed. The cooperative has successfully processed pennywort tea bags. The product has been well received by consumers and is available in the domestic and foreign markets.

Regarding economic efficiency, according to Mr. Nguyen Luong Tri - Chairman of the Cooperative, pennywort products have brought the Cooperative and local people much higher economic efficiency than other crops in the area. Specialized production of pennywort in Quang Tho commune has brought high income value to local people, estimated at 120 million VND/ha/year. If counting pennywort alone, the added value when carrying out the production stage of pennywort filter bags, he said, is 3 times higher than the production of purely dried pennywort and fresh pennywort products.

Compared to rice, closed production of pennywort from production to the final stage of pennywort tea is 10 times more valuable than rice cultivation. Supply meeting market demand is a prerequisite for the strong development of Quang Tho pennywort. Quang Tho pennywort is famous not only in Thua Thien Hue but also in all the Central provinces from Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam and some Central Highlands provinces. Currently, the Cooperative is promoting the sale of this product line in the supermarket system nationwide and in neighboring countries of Laos and Thailand.

Present at the headquarters of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative at the time when the Cooperative was organizing product processing. The director received us with a very enthusiastic attitude, with a cup of pennywort tea bag, the product of his own Cooperative, he happily informed us about the development situation of the Cooperative with pride. He directly took us to see and introduce each stage of production. The Cooperative has equipped a closed system from the drying yard, preliminary processing area, product processing and packaging. It has invested in a filter bag packaging machine, the total investment in machinery and equipment is up to 600 million VND, of which the state budget supports about 1/3 of the equipment value. It cannot be denied that the role of agencies, levels, and sectors that have supported and invested in building the Cooperative today, but above all, it is the consensus of the people, especially acknowledging the dedication of the Cooperative staff who directly accompany the Cooperative's development every day.

Thai Tuan (Contributor)