Support the consumption of agricultural products in ethnic minority areas

On average, each year, through many distribution channels, more than 200,000 tons of agricultural products produced in the two mountainous districts of Huong Hoa and Dakrong are consumed in the market. This result is the effort of all levels, sectors and the companionship of businesses in the province.

Farmers harvest cassava - Photo: LM

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the annual agricultural output in the two mountainous districts of Huong Hoa and Dakrong reaches 200,000 tons. Of which, grain crops including wet rice, upland rice, and corn are more than 20,000 tons, cassava is more than 120,000 tons, bananas are nearly 50,000 tons; coffee is 4,200 tons, peanuts are 1,500 tons, rubber is nearly 1,000 tons, pepper is 230 tons, and oranges are nearly 55 tons. The above agricultural products have reached domestic and foreign markets through purchasing, processing, and consumption enterprises of a number of enterprises in the province.

The main product of the communes in Lia area is cassava, which has brought many advantages to the people here in the process of poverty reduction and getting rich. Director of Huong Hoa Cassava Starch Factory Le Ngoc Sang said that in Lia area, there are more than 5,000 households, mostly ethnic minorities, participating in cassava cultivation with an area of ​​about 4,500 hectares, with an average yield of 17-20 tons of fresh cassava roots/ha. Every year, the factory purchases from Lia area about 80,000-110,000 tons of fresh cassava roots, with a purchase turnover equivalent to 200-290 billion VND.

In the 2023-2024 crop year, the cassava output in Lia region is about 80,000 tons, the current average purchase price is about 2,850,000 VND/ton, the highest price is 3,200,000 VND/ton of fresh cassava roots. The products of the processing factory for domestic consumption and export include cassava starch and other cassava by-products such as cassava pulp, organic fertilizers, etc.

Cassava processing - Photo: NK

To create sustainable output for cassava in Lia area, the factory has implemented Decision No. 80/2002/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on linking 4 parties (state, business, scientist, farmer), committed to consuming products at profitable prices through contracts, providing fertilizers, seedlings, training, and guiding planting techniques for people. At the same time, cooperated with scientists to research and propose solutions to increase output, quality and reduce costs through the application of high-tech farming techniques.

Thanks to cassava, many households of Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic groups have not only escaped poverty but also become rich. Currently, Huong Hoa Cassava Starch Factory has established the 100 million Club with nearly 100 members growing cassava with an annual income from growing cassava of 100 million VND or more in one crop or a quantity of 70 tons of fresh cassava roots or more in one crop.

In order to promote the consumption of products in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the Department of Industry and Trade has implemented the program "Supporting the development of a two-way trade model to promote the consumption of products in ethnic minority and mountainous areas and supply essential goods to the locality". During the implementation process, Hung Anh Agricultural Service Cooperative, located at Hamlet 2, Krong Klang town, Dakrong district, was selected to implement the model.

Director of Hung Anh Agricultural Service Cooperative Nguyen Van Hung said that the cooperative was established in 2020 with the aim of guiding and supporting people in applying scientific and technical advances to build a production process, processing rare herbs in the area into delicious teas that can be preserved for a long time; control product quality and then develop packaging labels so that the products can be commercialized and brought to market.

After participating in the two-way trade model, each year the unit purchases about 60 tons from local farmers, including 50 tons of spices and medicinal plants such as ginger, lemongrass, medicinal plants and about 10 tons of grain crops such as peanuts, green beans, and black beans. From the purchased agricultural products, the cooperative has processed, packaged and consumed them in accordance with regulations on product quality. In particular, the unit has produced 4 medicinal tea products certified to achieve 3-star and 4-star OCOP levels at the provincial level, such as Thach Thien Thao, Tia To, Trinh Nu, and Diep Thao Dan teas.

Huong Hoa cassava starch products - Photo: NK

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Huu Hung said that other agricultural products are purchased by enterprises inside and outside the province with very stable prices and output. The Department of Industry and Trade has organized the connection of specialty products, typical of ethnic minority and mountainous areas such as bananas, bamboo shoots, herbal teas, coffee, chicken, chili, fish, pork, beef... to stores selling specialty products, typical of the province belonging to establishments, enterprises, cooperatives such as Trieu Nguyen Agricultural Service Cooperative, Ta Lu Khe Sanh Coffee Company Limited, Lien Giang Production Facility, Vinh Phat Quang Tri General Trading Company Limited Branch, Khe Sanh Agricultural Products Cooperative, Trieu Phong Clean Agricultural Products Store, Nhien Thao Quang Tri Company Limited...

In particular, coffee products are introduced and consumed by coffee chains in Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, there are 4 roasted and ground coffee products of two enterprises, Ta Lu Khe Sanh Coffee Company Limited and Khe Sanh Agricultural Cooperative, which are implementing the process of promoting and introducing products to the US market.

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Huu Hung said that recently, agricultural product consumption activities have achieved positive results, however, to promote in the coming time, there needs to be a mechanism to support businesses and establishments in ethnic minority and mountainous areas from production, processing to consumption.

In particular, it is necessary to support testing to evaluate the standards, quality and food safety of products; support the production process of products to ensure cleanliness, safety and quality to meet the requirements of distributors as well as the needs of consumers; support the building of brands and trademarks of establishments and enterprises. At the same time, promote, advertise and introduce products. Only then can the output for agricultural products in general and mountainous areas and ethnic minority areas in particular develop sustainably.

Le Minh

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/ho-tro-tieu-thu-nong-san-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-190271.htm