Ha Tinh farmers catch up with organic agricultural production trend on fruit trees

Organic agriculture is an inevitable direction for developing safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly agriculture. Therefore, Ha Tinh people are gradually converting fruit tree cultivation to this safe production direction.

In 2020, Ms. Dang Thi Nguyet's family (village 6, Huong Thuy commune, Huong Khe) converted 0.3 hectares of grapefruit from inorganic production (using fertilizers and pesticides) to organic production. This is one of the pilot models of "Intensive cultivation of Phuc Trach grapefruit gardens meeting organic standards associated with product consumption linkage" implemented by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center.

Since the conversion, the soil environment has been improved, the grapefruit trees have grown, the leaves are lush green, and there are few pests. Ms. Nguyet's family has also protected their health by not having to come into contact with pesticides. Producing organically, Ms. Nguyet also uses green manure and processed animal waste to fertilize the trees, helping them to be healthy, grow well, and ensure the ecological environment.

Growing Phuc Trach grapefruit organically helps Ms. Dang Thi Nguyet's family (village 6, Huong Thuy commune) increase the value of the product.

Ms. Dang Thi Nguyet shared: “Organically produced grapefruit is favored by the market, so clean agricultural product stores buy it at a price of 20,000 - 26,000 VND/fruit, about 20% higher than traditionally produced grapefruit. Grapefruit is not sprayed with pesticides, so it is much sweeter and crispier.”

In village 6, Huong Thuy commune, there are currently 5 adjacent households participating in the Cooperative Group (THT) producing organic Phuc Trach grapefruit in Huong Thuy commune with an area of ​​2 hectares. After 3 years of implementation, grapefruit of the members of the THT has been recognized as meeting the National Organic Agricultural Standards TCVN. Through evaluation, organic production compared to conventional production brings higher profits of 10,000,000 VND/ha/year. Not only bringing higher economic efficiency, organic production also creates quality products, easy to consume and safe for users, thereby gradually increasing the value of the products.

Phuc Trach grapefruit that meets TCVN organic standards is purchased at a price 20% higher than regular grapefruit.

From the success of the pilot model in Huong Thuy commune, Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center has received the organic production process; gradually perfected the organic production process on Phuc Trach grapefruit trees to apply and transfer to households. Accordingly, Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center continues to replicate the intensive cultivation model of Phuc Trach grapefruit gardens meeting organic standards in the period of 2023 - 2025 in Ngoc Boi village, Huong Trach commune with 11 participating households, on a scale of 4 hectares.

Mr. Tran Kim Dong - a member of the Phuc Trach organic grapefruit production cooperative in Ngoc Boi village, Huong Trach commune, said: “After nearly 1 year of implementation, I realized that organic agricultural production is actually production in the direction of nature that farmers have done before, without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, in the long process, due to haste in harvesting and “burning the stage”, many farmers have abused inorganic fertilizers, which have had a rough impact on soil resources and crops. Therefore, the plants quickly degenerate, productivity decreases rapidly, economic efficiency is low and has a great impact on the environment as well as the health of producers.

Currently, according to organic standards, we completely use natural water sources and utilize processed organic fertilizers... However, to be certified as meeting organic standards, we must follow more systematic and professional processes. This process is closely monitored by members of the THT.

Compost pit of treated organic fertilizer of people in Huong Trach commune.

In the first year of implementation, households participating in the cooperative producing organic grapefruit in Ngoc Boi village, Huong Trach commune were granted the first-year organic conversion certificate for the grapefruit product. The grapefruit trees grew and developed well; the yield was equivalent to the mass yield but the selling price was 5-7% higher.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ngoc - Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center said: "In reality, agricultural production of farmers has long been to produce what they want, following the majority without paying much attention to market demand. Therefore, building an ecological agriculture - organic agriculture is an inevitable direction to serve the market. In recent times, the center has implemented many intensive models of growing fruit trees in an organic direction for people: Huong Khe, Vu Quang, Can Loc... Successful models are gradually changing awareness and production habits from traditional to organic; contributing to soil improvement, environmental protection and consumer health".

Organic production is an inevitable trend of agriculture in the current period.

Currently, the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province is assigning the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a project on organic agriculture development in Ha Tinh province for the period 2023 - 2030 to form a concentrated organic agricultural production area in the direction of goods with products certified to meet organic standards, bringing high value, safety, sustainability, friendliness to the ecological environment, associated with circular agriculture serving domestic consumption and export.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development strives to complete the project by the end of November 2023 to turn Ha Tinh into a locality with an organic agricultural production level equal to that of other provinces and cities in the country.

Phan Tram

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nong-nghiep/nong-dan-ha-tinh-bat-nhip-xu-huong-san-xuat-nong-nghiep-huu-co-tren-cay-an-qua/255028.htm