Good season, good price thanks to VietGAP standard

Farmers in Xuyen Moc district of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province have never been more excited than the start of this year’s longan harvesting season, when they just had a good season, an award and certification for the local longan growing area. Direction. Since early morning, growers have been gathering eagerly to prepare for VietGAP certification for their Edor Longan growing area.

After more than two years of implementing the organic production process of VietGAP longan, Edor Longan Cooperative Group in Phu Quy Hamlet (Hoa Hiep Commune, Xuyen Moc District) is the first cooperative group in the project “Building a Model” of Organic VietGAP Longan in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province” received the VietGAP production certificate.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tuy, a member of the Edor Longan Production Cooperative in the hamlet of Phu Quy, in the past people grew longan mainly according to traditional experiences, but thanks to the support of scientists they have followed the right process and through the VietGAP certification so far yield and value of longan also changed.

“People are very happy today when they attend the ceremony of awarding this certificate to the cooperation group. “I believe the local longan will be widely distributed from here and exported to more countries,” Mr Tuy said excitedly.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, a member of the Edor Longan Cooperative Group in Phu Quy hamlet, also expressed: “The certification by VietGAP makes me really very proud and happy.” To achieve this, our relatives have also tried new technical ones Maintaining standards to enable Edor fruit to be exported to the world while also improving people’s incomes.”

According to Mr. Hieu, since joining the cooperative group, he has been exposed to many new technologies that have helped him to use him effectively in gardening and to change production thinking. Thanks to the initiative in water supply and the application of science and technology, his family’s long-term harvest brought false fruits, large berries and sweet fruits.

With the selection of varieties and the application of science and technology, and people’s experience from many years of intensive farming, many longan growers in the cooperative group are still actively choosing the appropriate timing for flowering and fruiting. The successful application of treatment techniques for early-fruiting longan not only helps to increase yield, reduce risks and extend harvest time, but also brings with it very high profitability.

The head of Edor Longan Cooperative Group in Phu Quy Hamlet, Mr. Pham The Phong said: After two years of organic production, with technical support, fertilizers, biological products and many materials from the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (IAS). ) the cooperative group produced longan that met the original requirements.

“The cost of using organic fertilizers has decreased by more than 20% compared to the traditional production of inorganic fertilizers, the yield has also increased by 10%, with the average selling price being VND 25,000-28,000/kg, which contributes to the increase in profits. “People,” said Mr. Phong.

Wide export route

In order to improve the quality and economic value of longan fruit, to contribute to sustainable development and ecological orientation in accordance with the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province High-Tech Agriculture Development Policy, the project “Construction of a VietGAP Longan Organic Production Model Model” conducted in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province” is supported and implemented by Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology for 3 years, from 2021 to present.

Master Chu Trung Kien, head of the Plant Protection Department (Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology) and project manager, said, “We have planted 20 hectares of organic VietGAP longan in two areas of the province: Dat Do and Xuyen Moc districts. It utilized 10 hectares of Edor Longan in Xuyen Moc District, from the basic phase of organic construction to the application of information technology to traceability of products and geographical indications.

In addition, training in cultivation techniques, longan tree care, application of microbial organic fertilizers as root fertilizers and use of probiotics in disease control of longan plants such as Trichoderma, BioLacto EM preparations. Use yellow fly traps properly and effectively, and only use organic pesticides when absolutely necessary. The project also trains, transfers technology and builds a link chain from production to consumption…”

In addition, the Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology provides technical advice and support for seedlings of legumes such as wild peanuts and three-leaf cassava when planting in and around the longan garden to support soil cover and renewal as a source of cover crops as well as use from organic compost to rooting… This is a solution to restore and stabilize “soil health” based on the return of organic matter and natural organic nutrients to the soil. After two years of implementing the VietGAP Longan production process, the Edor Longan Cooperative Group in the hamlet of Phu Quy has qualified for certification.

“After Edor Phu Quy label production cooperative obtained VietGAP certificate, Southern Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology will continue to support the cooperative group to create the traceability code and logo to meet the requirements. At the same time, the project will “Assist the team in contacting exporting companies to increase the production of longan products,” said Master Chu Trung Kien.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Huy, director of Hoang Phat Food Company, shared, “In early 2023, Vietnam exported the first batch of longan to Japan, with more than 10 tons of fresh longan from Long An province. This is the fourth fresh fruit from Vietnam to be exported to this market. At present, our company also continues to export longan to the Japanese market, so finding sources of goods that meet export standards is very important.”

According to Mr. Huy, in order to export longan fruit to the demanding market, the place must first establish a growing area code while producing in accordance with VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards to ensure longan food safety under the regulations of the Japanese market. It is necessary to have uniform, beautiful and quality fruit products…

Tran Duy Tam Thanh, deputy director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Science and Technology Department, said the demands of domestic and overseas markets are increasingly demanding safe and organic agricultural products. Improving the quality and economic value of longan fruit, contributing to sustainability Longan development is the provincial agricultural development policy in parallel with the application of high technology. Following the success of the Edor Longan Cooperative Group in the hamlet of Phu Quy, Ba Ria Province – Vung Tau, it will continue to support communities to emulate this model.

According to Mr. Thanh, many farmers not only have the support of scientists and authorities, but also know how to apply high technology in agriculture, focusing on improving the quality and design of local longan products, and thus partially with some imported fruit compete.

“Next time we will be there to learn more about longan cooperative groups that guide and support farmers to produce products that meet export standards for the Japanese market. If the company meets the market standards, it will be willing to sign products and always buy at prices 20% to 30% higher than non-standard products,” said Mr. Nguyen Huu Huy, director. Director of Hoang Phat Food Company confirmed this.