Improving the rambutan value chain

Processing rambutan for export at Phu Phung Agricultural Cooperative (Cho Lach district).

Handling off-season fruit

Rambutan trees have long been associated with the people of Cho Lach district, especially in communes such as Long Thoi, Son Dinh, Phu Phung, Vinh Binh... Previously, most of the people produced natural fruits, so they often "collided" with rambutans in other provinces, so the price was cheap. Recently, many gardeners have used techniques to produce off-season fruits and linked production, contributing to improving the rambutan value chain. Since then, people's income has been stable and they continue to stick with rambutan trees.

At Phu Phung Agricultural Cooperative (Phu Phung Commune, Cho Lach District), there are about 10 workers busy packing and boxing rambutan products for export. This year, Thai off-season rambutan costs 70 - 80 thousand VND/kg, so the cooperative members are very excited. This is a highly effective linkage model in building the rambutan value chain. Mr. Vo Tan Truyen, a member of Phu Phung Agricultural Cooperative, who cultivates ^8,000m2 of rambutan, said: “Previously, farmers grew rambutan and sold it to traders at unstable prices, making it difficult to sell their products, especially in the favorable season. Since joining the cooperative, they have been trained in growing techniques according to VietGAP standards, have been given a growing area code for export, and have had their output purchased by the cooperative at a stable price, 2,000 - 5,000 VND/kg higher than the market price, so farmers are very excited. Most farmers have applied the treatment to produce off-season fruit, so profits are 2 - 3 times higher than producing rambutan in the favorable season as before.”

Currently, the cooperative has 125 members and has been granted 2 codes for rambutan growing areas and has achieved 4-star OCOP standards. The cooperative is completing documents to grant 1 code for durian growing areas. Director of Phu Phung Agricultural Cooperative Pham Hong Tung said: "The cooperative's rambutan products are exported to the US, China, Canada, Russia, Middle East markets... On average, the cooperative exports 10 - 20 tons per day, so it ensures the output of rambutan products for members at stable prices, higher than the market price". According to Mr. Tung, in the past time, the cooperative has been supported with technical training to help farmers grow rambutan to export standards. The cooperative needs the State to support land and warehouses for purchasing, processing, and packaging to reduce costs and create higher competitiveness in the market.

According to Vice Chairman of Phu Phung Commune People's Committee Nguyen Hoang Trieu, the whole commune has 494 hectares of rambutan including varieties such as Java, longan, Thai. In recent years, people have applied the technique of covering with tarpaulins and tightening water to make rambutan produce off-season crops, so prices have been stable. In the past time, people growing rambutan in cooperatives have been supported with capital for production investment, science and technology in growing rambutan according to VietGAP standards. At the same time, the cooperative consumes the products of the people for domestic consumption and export, so people are very secure.

Meet 4-star OCOP standards

Tran Huu Nghi, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Cho Lach District, said: There are 14 cooperatives in the area, including 2 fruit cooperatives that operate very effectively. The Phu Phung Agricultural Cooperative model produces according to a closely linked chain in production and consumption, bringing high efficiency to its members. This is a typical cooperative in the locality with rambutan products meeting 4-star OCOP standards and is developing OCOP-standard durian products to serve the domestic and export markets.

Harvesting rambutan in Phu Phung commune, Cho Lach district.

Currently, the province has 145 agricultural cooperatives and 1 Union of Agricultural Cooperatives with 33,781 members, with a total charter capital of VND 56,714 billion. Of which, 75 cooperatives participate in building production areas associated with the value chain of key agricultural products. The province has 17 domestic growing areas with an area of ​​over 808 hectares, 43 export growing areas with 93 operating codes with an area of ​​over 705 hectares, and 6 enterprises with export packaging facility codes. The proportion of the value of key agricultural, forestry and fishery products produced according to good manufacturing practices (GAP) and equivalents reaches 25.6% (24,640 hectares). The area of ​​linkages reaches 20.6%.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Huynh Quang Duc said that in recent times, agricultural cooperatives in the province have continuously increased in both quantity and quality. Cooperatives are in the process of transforming and developing new cooperative models in a positive and diverse direction, suitable for farmers' production needs. Currently, cooperatives are gradually overcoming shortcomings, innovating management and operation, improving the qualifications of management staff and orienting activities, organizing new industries and services, being more proactive in the market mechanism, and increasing production and business efficiency.

In recent years, the agricultural sector has focused on supporting cooperatives in applying high technology and producing good agricultural practices. The support includes: Supporting and training human resource development (management and professional staff) to meet the requirements of applying high technology in production at cooperatives. At the same time, supporting the implementation of product promotion and introduction, promoting connection and developing markets for consuming high-tech agricultural products, agricultural products producing good agricultural practices; supporting the construction of high-tech application models in production of agricultural cooperatives such as: VietGAP, GlobalGAP, organic...

Article and photos: Thanh Chau

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/nang-cao-chuoi-gia-tri-trai-chom-chom-11042025-a144999.html