Bringing key agricultural products far and wide

In the process of integration and development, agricultural exports have become one of the important spearheads promoting the agricultural economy of Phu Tho province. With the advantage of natural conditions, abundant labor resources and the synchronous participation of all levels and sectors, the province has built many concentrated specialized areas, creating key products that are competitive in the international market. In particular, expanding exports to the European Union (EU) market - one of the markets with the strictest requirements on technical barriers but rich in potential - is opening up a new direction to increase the value of Phu Tho agricultural products.

Product diversity, brand enhancement

Phu Tho is blessed with a diverse terrain from plains to midlands and mountains. This diversity of land and climate has allowed Phu Tho to develop many types of crops and livestock. Over many years of agricultural restructuring, the province has formed concentrated commodity production areas associated with key products such as tea, grapefruit, bananas, sugarcane, safe vegetables, cage-raised fish, large-scale livestock farms and processed products from wood and cassava starch. These are the products that have great advantages in accessing the EU market.

In particular, tea is considered the "flagship" in agricultural exports of the province. The whole province has more than 14,500 hectares of tea, with an output of over 183,000 tons of fresh buds per year. Phu Tho tea has been present in many Asian and European countries, highly appreciated for its unique flavor and safe production process. Many businesses in the area such as Hoai Trung Tea Company Limited and Phu Da Tea Company have boldly invested in modern processing technology, meeting HACCP and ISO standards, and some products have been certified organic according to European standards.

Along with tea, Tan Lac red grapefruit, Doan Hung grapefruit is also a famous agricultural brand of the province. With a total grapefruit area of ​​over 11 thousand hectares, the output is over 182 thousand tons per year. Grapefruit products have become one of the potential export fruits. In 2022 and 2023, some batches of Tan Lac red grapefruit and Doan Hung grapefruit were exported to the EU market on a trial basis, opening up great opportunities for this fruit to affirm its brand in the international market. Up to now, Tan Lac red grapefruit is still accepted by the EU market.

Mr. Duong Tat Tinh, Director of Tan Huong 1 Cooperative, Tan Lac Commune, shared: To bring Tan Lac red grapefruit to the UK market, the Cooperative has made great efforts in the cultivation process to ensure the strict quality requirements of this market. The production process is strictly controlled in each stage. Grapefruit growers who want to create good products must know how to choose standard, disease-free seedlings. The stages of soil treatment, fertilization, vegetation treatment, and hole digging must be technically correct, appropriate for each time, with the experience of the cultivator, and the ability to update and apply scientific and technical technology to the cultivation process. Currently, the red grapefruit area of ​​the Cooperative has been granted a growing area code to ensure export to the EU market and other markets. It is expected that in 2025, the Cooperative will export 20,000 grapefruits.

Tan Lac red grapefruit products, Tan Lac commune have been exported to the EU market.

Up to now, Phu Tho has had 106 export growing area codes, with an area of ​​over 1,200 hectares, of which 24 are export growing area codes to the EU market with an area of ​​over 400 hectares. There are 3 packaging facility codes being maintained, of which 2 are fresh banana packaging facility codes for the Chinese market and 1 is black jelly packaging facility code for the Chinese market. In addition, the province, all levels and sectors have increased support for businesses and cooperatives to connect and participate in international trade fairs, learn about export markets, and promote digital transformation to promote products on e-commerce platforms.

Opportunities and challenges when accessing the EU market

The EU is one of the potential markets with a huge demand for high-quality agricultural products. After the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, many Vietnamese agricultural products enjoyed preferential tariffs, including Phu Tho products. This is an opportunity for tea, grapefruit, bananas and many other products to reach the European market, increasing export value.

In reality, many businesses in the province still face difficulties in accessing this market. Some products have not yet built strong brands, do not have international standard packaging and labels, or are still limited in deep processing. Many farming households still produce on a small scale and are not closely linked with businesses, making it difficult to control consistent quality; cooperatives have not yet been able to export official products...

Comrade Nguyen Hong Yen - Head of the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection said: The province has clearly identified the need to strongly restructure the agricultural sector towards concentrated commodity production, applying science and technology and digital transformation, encouraging businesses to invest in deep processing. A number of safe production models according to international standards (GlobalGAP), smart agriculture, and high-tech applications are being implemented in communes, contributing to creating a large quantity of agricultural products with high quality, competitive enough in the EU market.

In addition, international cooperation has been strengthened, connecting businesses with trade promotion organizations in Europe. Many conferences and seminars have been organized to provide information and guide businesses to grasp EU regulations, thereby having appropriate production and export strategies. This is an important foundation to help Phu Tho not only export raw materials but also build a sustainable brand in the international market.

Mango products are vacuum-packed and frozen before being exported to the Korean market.

Purple bud tea products of UT Tea Investment and Development Company Limited, Thanh Ba commune ensure food safety and quality, creating a solid position in the market.

With the determination of the entire political system, the consensus of the people and businesses, Phu Tho agricultural products are gradually asserting their position in the international market. Conquering the EU market not only helps increase export turnover, improve farmers' income but also contributes to building the Phu Tho brand to become one of the high-quality agricultural product centers of the Northern midland and mountainous region.

Hoang Huong

Source: https://baophutho.vn/dua-nong-san-chu-luc-bay-xa-239433.htm