Step by step improving the value of Bao Lam rose garden honey - Lang Son Newspaper

Members of Hoa Phat Green Environment Cooperative check bee colonies

Bao Lam Commune, Cao Loc District is famous as the "cradle" of seedless persimmon trees. Accordingly, currently, the area of ​​seedless persimmon trees in the commune is about 20 hectares, persimmon trees usually bloom in the 5th, 6th, and 7th lunar months every year. This is an advantage for people in the commune to develop beekeeping for honey. However, in previous years, beekeeping households were scattered and small-scale. To promote the potential, in 2019, Hoa Phat Green Environment Cooperative was established with 8 members, and at the same time linked production with 25 households in the commune to gradually build a brand for the commune's honey products.

Mr. Ha Van Thong, Director of the Cooperative, said: Previously, people and members of the Cooperative did not have much experience and did not know how to apply science and technology to care, so the bee colonies developed slowly, the honey yield and quality were not high. At the same time, the consumption of products still encountered many difficulties. In order to improve the quality and build a brand for the products, in early 2024, the Hoa Phat Green Environment Cooperative received attention from the Provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine to support the Cooperative in developing beekeeping according to VietGAP standards.

Accordingly, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine has coordinated with the FAO Certification and Testing Joint Stock Company to train people and cooperative members on beekeeping techniques according to VietGAP standards. Specifically, the unit has organized training, supervision, and guidance for people on principles and processes for caring for and harvesting safe honey products, ensuring the health of producers and consumers. At the same time, the unit has taken samples of soil, water, honey, and nectar to test the safety and quality of the products. After being trained, beekeepers have chosen locations for beehives near food sources, clean water, and shade, while ensuring regulations such as being far from crowded places, wastewater drainage systems, pesticide spraying areas, and pesticide storage facilities.

Mr. Au Viet Duc, a member of the cooperative, said: My family has been raising bees for a long time, but the number of colonies is small and the productivity is low. By 2024, when the cooperative developed a beekeeping model according to VietGAP standards, I was instructed on the process and techniques of beekeeping, how to build beehives, etc. Accordingly, my family has gradually converted from traditional round beehives to square beehives and applied the care process according to VietGAP standards. Thanks to that, the rate of bees staying in the hive and the honey yield are also higher. My family currently has 17 bee colonies, last year's honey yield reached about 50 liters/year, bringing the family an income of 25 million VND/year. My family is currently preparing to harvest honey for the first time this year. Through observation, it is expected that this year's honey yield will double compared to last year.

In addition, in order to build a brand in the market and bring products to meet OCOP standards, in 2024, the Cooperative invested in packaging design and product models. Currently, the Cooperative's honey products are bottled, fully labeled, traceable and ensure food safety. Thanks to the focus on developing and improving product quality and value, in 2024, the product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product at the district level. Currently, the Cooperative has a total of 600 bee colonies, with an average annual honey output of about 1,800 - 2,000 liters. With a delicious, sweet taste, the Cooperative's Bao Lam rose garden honey products are sold at prices ranging from 400 - 500,000 VND/liter (twice as high as before VietGAP). On average, the Cooperative has a revenue of over 800 million VND per year.

Mr. Dong Minh Quy, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Cao Loc district, said: Currently, Hoa Phat Green Environment Cooperative is the only cooperative in the area applying VietGAP honey bee farming. This contributes to increasing the value, increasing the competitiveness of products in the market, and increasing income for honey bee farmers. In the coming time, we will continue to select products to participate in many fairs and conferences in and outside the province, thereby introducing and promoting Bao Lam rose garden honey products to consumers.

It can be seen that the development of beekeeping in the direction of VietGAP and the development of products meeting OCOP standards have contributed to improving the quality and building the honey brand of the commune. In the coming time, Hoa Phat Green Environment Cooperative will continue to expand its scale, cooperate with households in the commune to produce and raise honey bees according to VietGAP standards, thereby continuing to develop sustainable beekeeping, contributing to increasing income for beekeeping households in the commune.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tung-buoc-nang-cao-gia-tri-mat-ong-vuon-hong-bao-lam-5041907.html