The Da Mi Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative (SVP-DVNN) in La Day village, Da Mi commune (Ham Thuan Bac) has just been granted VietGAP certification by the FAO certification organization for fresh fruit products on 40 hectares. This is the result of the efforts of member households, along with the support of the Agricultural Extension Center and local authorities over the past year. Up to now, the cooperative has met the export standards of some demanding markets, aiming for sustainable development.
Support and companionship of agricultural extension programs
Although Binh Thuan is not a major durian growing area in the country. However, in recent years, facing the "wave" of crop conversion in localities, many households have expanded their durian acreage. Up to now, the whole province has 3 typical areas that can grow durian effectively and with high quality: Ham Thuan Bac, Tanh Linh and Duc Linh. According to statistics, the whole province is estimated to have over 3,300 hectares of durian; of which, Ham Thuan Bac district alone currently has nearly 2,000 hectares and one of the largest growing areas is Da Mi commune.
Because they have grown it, farmers are also worried about the saturation of the area and the fierce competition in the agricultural market for many years. Especially in the context of competition between durian produced from countries such as Thailand and Malaysia with durian from Vietnam will become more fierce. Therefore, Vietnamese durian exported to China must comply with relevant laws, regulations and standards.
From that reality, with the orientation of producing durian in the province to achieve high efficiency and sustainability, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has proposed to build a model of "Intensive cultivation of durian meeting VietGAP standards according to chain linkage" with a scale of 40 hectares at Da Mi Production and Business Cooperative - Agricultural Services.
Mr. Ngo Thai Son - Deputy Director in charge of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center said that from August 2023 to June 2024, from the funding source of the Agricultural Extension Program approved by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Center will coordinate with Ham Thuan Bac district and Da Mi commune, and cooperatives to deploy this model. In which, organic and biological production processes will be applied, using electronic production diaries to trace the origin of products in detail. The purpose is to transfer technical advances according to VietGAP standards towards safety according to chain linkages, adapting to climate change. At the same time, increase economic efficiency compared to conventional production by 15-20%. At the same time, the center hopes to propagate and mobilize farmers to change their awareness and farming practices. Thereby, expanding the durian intensive cultivation model according to VietGAP standards every year in key areas of the province. When participating in the model, farming households in the cooperative are supported 40% of fertilizers and pesticides, with a total support cost of more than 441 million VND (farmers invest 16.6 million VND/ha). In addition, the cooperative is also supported 100% of consulting costs, VietGAP certification for 40 ha/11 households with a total cost of 238 million VND; supported 200,000 traceability stamps.
Ms. Do Thi Ly - the officer in charge of the model at the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center commented: After 1 year of implementing the model, the durian trees grew and developed quite well, bearing fruit evenly in all 11 participating households. In addition, the rate of harmful pests was insignificant. During the care process, households did not use herbicides but used organic microbial fertilizers, increased the use of biological drugs, limited the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and strictly followed the quarantine period before harvesting the product. Through technical training, households have mastered the durian production process according to VietGAP standards. Production households initially applied the form of electronic diary on the App page: Binh Thuan Digital Agriculture to trace the origin by scanning QR codes.
From Da Mi durian brand
In mid-July 2024, the Da Mi durian growing area had a bumper harvest, with good harvest and good prices, making everyone happy. Farmer Dao Kim Tuan, a member of the Da Mi Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, led us to visit a 3-hectare durian garden, grown entirely organically, and shared his joy: This durian garden has been planted for 4-8 years, and currently has 350 trees being harvested. Looking at the lush durian trees, heavy with fruit on the branches, Mr. Tuan said that this year's harvest is about 70 tons, an increase of 20 tons compared to last year, plus the higher selling price, so the people have a good profit.
Mr. Tuan added that thanks to participating in the cooperative, with financial and technical support from the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, his family's durian garden has received a VietGAP certificate. This is also an opportunity to open up the market, as the growing area and quality of agricultural products have met the export standards of some demanding markets, aiming for sustainable development. Currently, durian products from the model are purchased by the cooperative at market prices ranging from 50,000 - 60,000 VND/kg for the Ri 6 variety (profit of about 1 billion VND/ha) and 80,000 - 90,000 VND/kg for the Monthon variety (profit of 1.754 billion VND/ha). Compared to gardens outside the model, producing 1 hectare of durian in the model has a higher profit of 55 million VND/ha.
Mr. Tuan is one of 11 member households of Da Mi Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, which recently received VietGAP certification on an area of 40 hectares. Looking back at the achievements, Mr. Trinh Van Chat - Director of Da Mi Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative said that previously, farmers encountered many difficulties due to the high costs and techniques of growing durian. Fortunately, thanks to financial support and technical guidance from the Agricultural Extension Center, farmers participating in the model have had access to support policies from the state.
According to the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, from the effectiveness of the model, with the support of farmers producing VietGAP durian, the chain linkage of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center has created a positive change in the awareness, thinking and actions of farmers. Thereby, helping them understand that in production and business, product quality is a prerequisite and vital condition for maintenance and development. Not only that, producing durian according to VietGAP standards also promotes the connection between production and the market, bringing benefits and higher income to producers, gradually building a brand for VietGAP durian, contributing to protecting the health of the community.
It is encouraging that not only durian growers in Da Mi benefit from the agricultural extension program. Previously, from 2022, from the funding source of the Agricultural Extension Program, the Center coordinated with Duc Linh district and local authorities of the commune, cooperative groups to build a model of "Intensive cultivation of durian meeting VietGAP standards according to chain linkage" in Da Kai commune, with a scale of 14 hectares/14 households and support consulting on VietGAP certification for 15 hectares (Thanh Thanh Cong Cooperative is the linked consumption unit). In 2024 alone, the Agricultural Extension Center has been implementing many training activities on advanced technical measures in the production of other crops. Including techniques for rice production according to sustainable standards and the application of electronic production diaries and traceability. In addition, the Center promotes the production of other subjects such as fruit trees, rice, vegetables, etc. to achieve VietGAP certification and equivalent. At the same time, continue to expand and deploy the durian production model meeting VietGAP standards in the province.
Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/sau-rieng-vietgap-va-co-hoi-cho-cac-nong-san-khac-121591.html
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