"Passport" for local specialties

Khau Nua Pai has just been recognized for special circulation by the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection.

Nine specialty crop varieties in the northern communes of the province have just been recognized for special circulation by the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), including: Khau Nua Lech, Khau Nua Pai, Nep Tai, Khau Nua Luong, oranges, tangerines, seedless persimmons, Toang peaches, and turmeric. This is the result of the implementation of the scientific and technological task "Research to propose special circulation recognition of some specialty crop varieties in Bac Kan " carried out from July 2024 to June 2025.

The Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (the host unit) has assessed the production status and determined the growing areas for 9 crops; identified 9 descriptions of the agrobiological characteristics of the varieties; completed 4 technical cultivation processes according to VietGAP standards for specialty glutinous rice varieties and 5 technical processes for organic cultivation of some fruit tree varieties and turmeric.

Dr. Ha Quang Thuong, Northern Mountainous Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute, said: Being recognized for special circulation is not only a "passport" for specialty plant varieties to enter the market, but also creates a scientific and legal basis for long-term conservation and development. Once there is a description of the variety and a standard cultivation process, farmers can confidently expand production, and at the same time, businesses and cooperatives (HTX) can boldly invest in linking consumption.

Seedless persimmons are listed in the list of 100 famous brands and trademarks (2013). In the photo: Seedless persimmons of a household in Ba Be commune.

Seedless persimmon is a perennial crop, scattered in the northern communes, concentrated in Dong Phuc, Quang Bach, Cho Ra communes... In 2024, the total area of this crop will reach more than 800 hectares. Seedless persimmon is the first product of Bac Kan province (old) to receive a certificate of geographical indication protection in 2010. By 2013, it was on the list of 100 famous brands and trademarks voted by the Intellectual Property and Creativity Magazine - Vietnam Intellectual Property Association.

Currently, Tan Phong Cooperative, Quang Bach commune maintains 17 parent trees to provide grafting buds for propagation to serve the expansion of seedless persimmon area in the locality.

Mr. Chu Van Ty, Director of Tan Phong Cooperative, Quang Bach Commune, shared: The Cooperative and some households can graft themselves or provide grafts to research facilities for propagation. We will be able to use quality, guaranteed plant varieties and receive training and technical guidance, so farming will be more convenient.

Like the persimmon tree, the recognition of special circulation of tangerine varieties will create conditions for people to sustainably develop this strong crop. In 2012, Bac Kan tangerine was granted a Geographical Indication certificate. In 2015, it achieved the title of "Golden Brand of Vietnamese Agriculture ".

Tangerine trees not only help people escape poverty but are truly a “tree that enriches” many families. Therefore, people have expanded the area, and by 2024, the total area of tangerine trees will reach over 1,800 hectares.

Mr. Luu Dinh Tuyen, Bach Thong commune, said: We farmers always want to have tree varieties with clear origins and guaranteed quality, to avoid planting for several years and then discovering that the tree is not a native variety, and having to cut it down, causing waste. The recognition of special circulation of tangerine varieties helps farmers feel secure in expanding production.

Bac Kan tangerines are popular with many customers.

Not only persimmons and tangerines, but also some fruit trees, turmeric or special glutinous rice varieties such as Khau Nua Lech, Nep Tai, Khau Nua Pai, Khau Nua Luong also bear a strong local mark and have potential for future development. Being recognized for special circulation will pave the way for these varieties to be restored, propagated, and produced on a commercial scale, associated with the OCOP brand and VietGAP and organic standards.

The highlight of the Project implementation is to build a safe cultivation process for many specialty plants. This is an inevitable trend in the context of consumers' interest in safe agricultural products with traceable origins. In fact, when the varieties have been recognized and the standard cultivation process is available, the remaining task is to organize production in a chain, form large commodity areas and have businesses and cooperatives to join forces.

At that time, farmers will no longer have the situation of "good harvest, low price", but will have stable consumption contracts, and economic value will be increased.

“Previously, we only planted based on experience, so the yield was low. Now the variety has been recognized, there is a standard process, people have been trained and guided on techniques, so we continue to expand the area,” said Mr. Trieu Tien Long, Nam Cuong commune.

Turmeric raw material area of Tan Thanh Agricultural Cooperative.

In addition to these 9 varieties, previously, the northern communes had 2 varieties recognized for special circulation: fragrant green squash and yellow apricot.

Licensing plant varieties is not only a matter of science and technology, but also a strategic step to affirm the position of specialty agricultural products in the market. This is also the foundation for local OCOP products to be increasingly high-quality, reaching further into the domestic and international markets.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tin-moi/202508/tam-ve-thong-hanh-cho-dac-san-dia-phuong-5e85c91/