Ba Ria - Vung Tau promotes the development of growing area codes and traceability

In the context of international integration and the increasing demand for clean and safe agricultural products, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has implemented a program to build codes for growing areas combined with traceability. Along with industrial development, tourism, and biodiversity conservation, the province is implementing a synchronous strategy to improve the quality of agricultural products and services, while protecting the environment and maintaining sustainable development.

Ensuring quality and increasing the value of agricultural products

In recent years, the application of product growing area codes has become one of the top priorities in Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

According to a report by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, by the end of 2023, the province will have about 15 production areas that meet standards and have been granted growing area codes with an area of ​​about 1,000 hectares, including key products such as pepper, coffee, dragon fruit and some types of seafood. This is an important step forward to meet market requirements, especially export markets such as the US, EU, Japan and South Korea, which require high standards of food safety and traceability.

Green-skinned grapefruit in four growing areas in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has been granted growing area codes to export fresh grapefruit to the US market. (Photo: Hong Dat)

The farming area code system not only helps farmers control product quality but also helps increase product value in the market. Each farming area code is connected to the traceability system, helping consumers and businesses easily check the origin, farming process and applied technical standards. This helps ensure that products from Ba Ria - Vung Tau meet quality standards, thereby enhancing competitiveness and contributing to building the province's agricultural product brand.

Along with the development of farming area codes, Ba Ria - Vung Tau has promoted the development of agricultural processing industry, utilizing high-quality raw materials from standard growing areas.

By 2023, the province will have more than 20 large-scale agricultural processing factories and many small-scale processing facilities, mainly concentrated in large industrial parks such as Phu My and Tan Thanh. These factories play an important role in increasing product value, helping local agricultural products not only be sold in raw form but also processed into value-added products, such as ground pepper, roasted and ground coffee, and packaged products for export.

According to statistics from the Department of Industry and Trade, the agricultural processing industry contributes about 8% to the total industrial production value of the province, with an average growth rate of 6% per year. Products from the province's processing plants are present in more than 50 countries, helping to create jobs for thousands of local workers and bringing in important foreign currency revenue.

To further promote the processing industry, the province has also implemented policies to support businesses, especially in investing in modern technology and equipment to improve product quality and minimize environmental impacts.

Combined with the development of agricultural tourism and eco-tourism

In addition to industrial development, Ba Ria - Vung Tau also aims to combine farming area codes and traceability with the development of agricultural tourism and eco-tourism. Some standard agricultural areas, such as pepper farms, dragon fruit gardens, and vineyards, have been exploited to serve tourists. Tourists visiting these farms not only experience the agricultural production process but also learn about product quality control processes and traceability standards.

Forest protection patrol activities of forest rangers in Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve. (Photo: Nguyen Luan)

Agricultural tourism helps increase farmers' income and creates a new source of revenue for the province's tourism industry. According to statistics from the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Department of Tourism, in 2023, the province will welcome about 500,000 agricultural and eco-tourism visitors, bringing in an estimated revenue of about 200 billion VND. This is a stepping stone to develop new tourism products, create highlights for local tourism and attract more international visitors.

In order to ensure sustainable development, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province also focuses on biodiversity conservation, especially coastal ecosystems and mangrove forests. Conservation areas such as Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve and coastal mangrove ecosystems have been protected and restored, playing an important role in maintaining ecological balance and protecting natural resources.

In developing farming areas and establishing growing area codes, the province has set strict environmental protection standards and requires farms and production areas to comply with environmental protection and biodiversity regulations. This ensures that agricultural activities do not harm natural ecosystems and contribute to climate change mitigation.

In addition, applying sustainable agricultural production methods also helps preserve land, water and other natural resources for future generations.

Despite many achievements, the implementation of farming area codes and traceability in Ba Ria - Vung Tau still faces a number of challenges. Challenges include high initial investment costs, especially for small-scale farmers; technical and technological requirements in the production and management process; and difficulties in maintaining consistent product quality according to export market requirements.

To overcome these difficulties, Ba Ria - Vung Tau has been implementing a series of solutions, such as: Technical and financial support for farmers. The province has coordinated with functional agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide training and technical support to farmers. Financial support programs and preferential loans have also been implemented to help farmers invest in new equipment and technology.

OCOP products of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province.

In addition, the province encourages the use of information technology applications in managing growing area codes and traceability, helping to increase transparency and reduce risks. Applications such as QR codes and Blockchain are also being tested to create trust for consumers.

To ensure consistency and efficiency in implementing the growing area code, the province has strengthened cooperation between the agricultural, industrial and tourism sectors. This coordination helps ensure that traceability and environmental protection standards are strictly adhered to.

The establishment of product cultivation area codes associated with traceability is an important step forward for Ba Ria - Vung Tau in developing sustainable agriculture and creating added value for local products. Combined with processing industry, eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation, the province not only creates a stable source of income but also actively contributes to environmental protection and improving the quality of life of the people.

Successful implementation of these plans will help Ba Ria - Vung Tau become a model in agricultural development, tourism and nature conservation in the region and the whole country.

Hoang Tho

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ba-ria-vung-tau-day-manh-xay-dung-ma-so-vung-trong-truy-xuat-nguon-goc-ar906912.html