Building clean vegetable and fruit barns in the highlands

YEN BAI In recent years, Mu Cang Chai district has been turning climate and land disadvantages into advantages to produce clean off-season agricultural products, bringing high economic efficiency.

YEN BAI In recent years, Mu Cang Chai district has been turning climate and land disadvantages into advantages to produce clean off-season agricultural products, bringing high economic efficiency.

Many models of producing goods according to organic and VietGAP standards are being formed in Mu Cang Chai. Photo: Thanh Tien.

Mu Cang Chai is a mountainous district of Yen Bai province, with an average altitude of 1,000m or more above sea level, rugged mountainous terrain, and a temperate monsoon climate with cold winters and cool summers. The agricultural land area in the locality is mainly terraced fields, poor in nutrients. In addition, farmers often cultivate traditionally, without applying science and technology to production, so the productivity and quality of agricultural and forestry products are not high.

In recent years, Mu Cang Chai district authorities have proactively coordinated with functional sectors, enterprises, and cooperatives to build agricultural commodity models suitable for the climate and soil, gradually transferring techniques to the people.

The Palermo chili growing model in Nam Khat (Mu Cang Chai district) brings high economic efficiency. Photo: Thanh Tien.

In 2021, Mu Cang Chai issued two projects on developing fruit trees and medicinal plants for the period 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030. The district has taken advantage of resources from provincial policies and national target programs to have a mechanism to support farmers in developing production towards commodities.

This is the right move to turn the difficult terrain of high mountains, climate with many cold spells, frost and frost to create suitable, valuable products with local characteristics. Some temperate fruit trees such as seedless crispy persimmons and Tai Nung pears shed their leaves in winter and sprout in early spring, so they can avoid the impacts of the local harsh climate. Up to now, the whole district has developed nearly 450 hectares of fruit trees, of which over 100 hectares have produced products, with an output of nearly 400 tons/year.

Planting medicinal plants is also promoted and encouraged by the district's agricultural sector and has a support mechanism for the people. Currently, the whole district has a total area of ​​medicinal plants of over 2,600 hectares, with an output of over 2,350 tons/year with some main species such as cardamom, coix seed, codonopsis, cordyceps, panax notoginseng, morinda officinalis, various types of ginseng, etc.

Mu Cang Chai District Party Secretary - Mr. Nong Viet Yen (left cover) visits the Tai Nung pear model of the people. Photo: Thanh Tien.

In addition, with the advantage of a large forest area with many typical flowers such as Blong song flowers, wild peach, hawthorn, cardamom, etc., Mu Cang Chai district has mobilized people to develop honey beekeeping with over 6,000 colonies, honey output reaching 65 - 80 tons/year. Currently, the product "Mu Cang Chai Honey" has its own characteristics, is favored by the market and is becoming a famous brand. The product has been certified as a 3-star OCOP product, granted a certificate of intellectual property protection and geographical indication.

Currently, Mu Cang Chai has formed many commodity production areas such as: Rose growing area of ​​over 100 hectares, clean vegetable growing area and other products such as shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, chayote... over 50 hectares, high-quality rice production area of ​​over 700 hectares with Tan and Seng cu sticky rice varieties. Up to now, the whole district has 10 3-star OCOP products, it is expected that by the end of 2024, there will be 5 more products achieving OCOP, all products are typical key agricultural products produced in an organic direction, harvested and processed according to safe processes and have a stable consumption market.

Mr. Nong Viet Yen, Secretary of Mu Cang Chai District Party Committee, shared that the district is attracting businesses to invest in the agricultural sector, actively coordinating training and transferring science and technology to build a smart and professional agriculture.

Mu Cang Chai has favorable climate and soil characteristics for developing into an organic vegetable and fruit production area. Photo: Thanh Tien.

With the goal of turning Mu Cang Chai into a branded clean vegetable and fruit granary, the district government continues to direct the implementation of a number of solutions such as: Planning concentrated production areas to facilitate the application of scientific and technical advances, attracting businesses and cooperatives to invest in organic agricultural production in the locality.

At the same time, promote and mobilize businesses, cooperatives and people to raise awareness of the benefits of clean and safe production to create prestige, enhance competitiveness and build brands for agricultural products.

On the other hand, support the development and improvement of the quality of OCOP products, issue codes for growing areas and certify geographical indications for agricultural products. Create favorable conditions for businesses and people to invest in clean agricultural production, high-tech agriculture as well as access preferential policies on land, tax exemption and reduction, preferential credit policies, etc.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/xay-dung-vua-rau-qua-sach-o-vung-cao-d406084.html