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Safe vegetable production area according to VietGAP standards of Tu Xa safe vegetable cooperative in Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province. Clip: Hoan Nguyen

"Historical turning point" bringing safe vegetables into big supermarkets

On an October morning in the safe vegetable production area of Tu Xa (Tu Xa commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province), the vegetable fields are straight and lush green, stretching as far as the eye can see. Under the bright sunlight and gentle wind, the land of Tu Xa appears as beautiful as a vivid countryside painting.

While shaking our hands warmly and smiling brightly to welcome us, Director of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative Nguyen Van Nghia happily said: "Right at this time, the members are harvesting mustard greens, water spinach, sweet potatoes, cabbage, Malabar spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, dill, coriander, lettuce..., it will definitely look beautiful in the photo."

After introducing the vegetable processing workshop, the Director of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative was busy listening to phone calls from customers to close vegetable orders.

Hợp tác xã ở Phú Thọ liên kết nông dân sản xuất thành vùng chuyên canh rau an toàn - Ảnh 1. — Director of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative Nguyen Van Nghia emphasized that the cooperative attaches special importance to each stage in the production process. Photo: Hoan Nguyen

In the processing area, the bundles of vegetables still glistening with dew and fresh green are being sorted by the quick hands of the farmers, completing the final stages of packaging, labeling, and loading into boxes for shipping. All stages are done smoothly and professionally, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic working atmosphere.

Taking us to see the specialized field for safe vegetable production, Mr. Nghia said that in the past, this land only had a small area for growing vegetables, the majority of the low-lying fields were for growing rice.

"The land is fertile, the people are hard-working, but plowing and harrowing twice a year is just enough to eat, wasting resources... while the market is lacking clean, safe vegetables, tubers and fruits. So in 2015, I was determined to pool my capital, along with 26 farming households who are relatives and family members in the commune, to establish the Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative to produce clean vegetables together in a chain" - Mr. Nghia said.

Talking about the difficulties in the process of producing safe vegetables, Mr. Nghia said that determining the direction of producing clean vegetables according to VietGAP standards with more than 20 criteria was a big challenge for the members of the cooperative who were used to traditional farming , heavily dependent on the weather, and did not calculate the demand of the consumer market. In addition, the cooperative when it was first established also "lacked everything", with few members, little capital, no experience in producing safe vegetables, while the production land was only less than 3 hectares...

Hợp tác xã ở Phú Thọ liên kết nông dân sản xuất thành vùng chuyên canh rau an toàn - Ảnh 2. — Bustling working atmosphere in the processing area of Tu Xa safe vegetable cooperative. Photo: Hoan Nguyen

"The biggest difficulty is the output for clean vegetable products. To produce clean vegetables, we have to spend more on production investment, so the price of finished products is also more expensive than normal vegetables. But if the price is high, it is difficult to sell, clean vegetables are also unsold, the cooperative is also operating very poorly, there were times when we thought we had to give up" - Mr. Nghia said.

According to Mr. Nghia, in the midst of the most difficult time in terms of clean vegetable output, in 2017, through research and learning about the program "Accompanying, supporting and promoting Vietnamese agricultural production" through linking with 1,000 cooperatives and production households to supply clean and safe agricultural products to the market, implemented by VinEco. And Mr. Nghia immediately registered to participate in the program.

"It is very favorable for Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative that when comparing with the standards, we have a foundation in terms of scale, area, safe vegetable production direction... meeting the given conditions. And from here, we officially cooperate with VinEco to produce safe vegetables. When cooperating, VinEco supports the Cooperative financially, completes procedures to obtain VietGAP certification; guides Cooperative members on the process of safe vegetable production, purchases and consumes products... This is a historic turning point for our Cooperative's activities, because the most difficult and intractable problem of clean vegetable output has been solved" - Mr. Nghia said with a smile.

Hợp tác xã ở Phú Thọ liên kết nông dân sản xuất thành vùng chuyên canh rau an toàn - Ảnh 3. — Currently, Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative supplies the market with 6-7 tons of various products every day. Photo: Hoan Nguyen

Safe vegetable production cooperative "puts on a new coat" for the homeland

Aiming to form a large-scale, sustainable safe vegetable growing area, Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative has focused on the efforts of its members and taken advantage of all support resources from the local government to put into operation a large-capacity clean water pumping station, specializing in irrigation for clean vegetable production.

At the same time, to ensure the quality of safe vegetables for all production areas, freeing up labor for members, the cooperative has focused on investing in building synchronous infrastructure, applying modern science and technology to production. Accordingly, the cooperative has built a clean and beautiful concrete traffic system within the fields, allowing motorbikes to enter and exit right at the edge of the fields; a system of workshops serving preliminary processing, ensuring food safety; a modern clean water irrigation system that evenly waters the entire vegetable production area. In addition, there is a multi-purpose net house system that flexibly meets the plan for producing clean vegetables all year round, both in the main season and off-season...

Hợp tác xã ở Phú Thọ liên kết nông dân sản xuất thành vùng chuyên canh rau an toàn - Ảnh 4. — The average income of members of Tu Xa safe vegetable cooperative is from 15-17 million VND/month, typically some households reach 50 million VND/month. Photo: Hoan Nguyen

Along with applying scientific advances in production, all cooperative members regularly participate in advanced training sessions on food hygiene and safety knowledge, are trained in clean production, environmental protection, etc.

"From farmers who only knew how to grow vegetables for retail sale at traditional markets, now members of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative have clearly changed their mindset, becoming more and more passionate about green agricultural production. From there, they are more aware that careful investment, planned cultivation and strict compliance with food safety requirements are the key" to increase value, affirm the cooperative's clean vegetable brand in the market" - Mr. Nghia happily said.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hao (member of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative) said: "The most beneficial thing about joining a safe vegetable production cooperative is that it adapts to clean production, following the chain; all products are guaranteed at a committed price regardless of whether the market is up or down. Every year, my family earns up to 200 million VND from clean vegetables. In addition, all farmers absolutely do not use chemical pesticides, so the soil, water, and environment are very clean and fresh" - Ms. Hao said.

Hợp tác xã ở Phú Thọ liên kết nông dân sản xuất thành vùng chuyên canh rau an toàn - Ảnh 5. — The safe vegetable production area of Tu Xa safe vegetable cooperative seen from above. Photo: Hoan Nguyen

Along with the development process, the associated members of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative have also continuously expanded. From 26 initial member households established in 2015 with nearly 3 hectares of land, it has now expanded to more than 150 members, with more than 20 hectares; vegetable production capacity increased from more than 100 tons to more than 1,000 tons; consumption output increased from 2 quintals/day to 6 tons/day.

Currently, the cooperative's vegetables and fruits of all kinds are available at most major supermarkets and many collective kitchens of units and agencies throughout Phu Tho province. Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative has 5 safe vegetable products achieving 3-star OCOP (asparagus, celery, Malabar spinach, spinach and melon).

"The vegetable products of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative are being sold by many famous branded enterprises including Winmart, BigC, Coopmart, Smart, and more than 30 clean food store chains with an output of more than 1,000 tons of various types, reaching a revenue of about 15 billion VND per year. The average income of members is from 15-17 million VND/month, typically some households reach 50 million VND/month. Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative is also creating stable jobs for nearly 40 local workers with a salary of about 10 million VND/person/month" - Mr. Nghia added.

Hợp tác xã ở Phú Thọ liên kết nông dân sản xuất thành vùng chuyên canh rau an toàn - Ảnh 6. — Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative produces nearly 60 types of vegetables, tubers, and fruits all year round. Five products have been awarded the OCOP star. Photo: Hoan Nguyen

With a stable source of income, it has helped improve the material and spiritual life of the people, actively contributing to the construction of a model new-style rural commune as well as the construction of an advanced new-style rural area in the locality...

"In the coming time, the cooperative will continue to implement the clean vegetable production plan to meet the increased consumption output during the Lunar New Year; research and introduce new crop varieties to diversify vegetable products. Aim to build a deep processing area to create a reserve source of goods, flexibly meeting the increasing demand of the market. From there, increasingly increase the value of agricultural products produced, increase income for people" - Mr. Nghia shared.

Vice President of Phu Tho Farmers' Association Le Thi Quynh said that, up to now, after nearly 10 years of establishment, Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative has affirmed itself as a sensitive collective, accurately grasping the market trends of clean vegetable production.

"In particular, the activities of Tu Xa Safe Vegetable Cooperative have promoted production linkages according to the value chain, not only helping farmers feel secure in production but also moving towards green, sustainable agricultural production from clean agricultural products. Thanks to promoting the role of the collective economy, the rural areas here have put on a new coat, forming a specialized area according to VietGAP standards, ensuring clean irrigation water and becoming a typical safe vegetable production area of Phu Tho in particular and the whole country in general" - Ms. Quynh emphasized.