Building growing area codes - the key to improving agricultural products

In the context of increasingly deep and wide international economic integration, the market is increasingly strict with requirements for traceability and food safety, the establishment of growing area codes (MSVT) has become a mandatory condition for Vietnamese agricultural products, including Tay Ninh, to enter the global "playground".

The inevitable step to integration

Tay Ninh has advantages in many key crops such as dragon fruit, durian, mango, lemon, longan, jackfruit, custard apple, etc. Among them, some agricultural products have established a foothold in the domestic and foreign markets, but most of them are still consumed through unofficial channels, lacking sustainability. Therefore, in recent years, the province has focused on building MSVT and packaging facilities as a fundamental solution to expand the export market.

The dragon fruit packaging process is closely monitored, ensuring traceability requirements before export.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, up to now, the province has had 396 MSVT with a total area of ​​16,343 hectares, exporting to many different markets. In addition, the province has 179 operating packaging facility codes, along with 13 packaging facility profiles waiting for code issuance and 97 other growing area profiles in the process of completing procedures to be recognized.

Of these MSVTs, 166 MSVTs are issued for export to China - a market with high demand but also with frequent changes in quarantine and food safety regulations. In addition, Tay Ninh also has 11 MSVTs for export to other demanding markets such as the US, the European Union (EU), South Korea, etc. These figures show the province's efforts to meet the increasingly high demands of the world market.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoi, a dragon fruit farmer in An Luc Long commune, shared: “Previously, my family's dragon fruit was mainly sold to traders, with unstable prices. Since joining the coded growing area, the products have been guaranteed by businesses, prices are more stable, and income is also higher. Most importantly, farmers are guided on techniques and produce according to a systematic process, avoiding fragmented and spontaneous production.”

The foundation for sustainable production

Building MSVT is not just a matter of administrative procedures but also a process of changing farmers' thinking and production habits. When participating in coded growing areas, farmers must strictly comply with regulations: use fertilizers and pesticides according to instructions; keep field diaries; ensure food safety and hygiene; protect the environment and land and water resources.

Up to now, Tay Ninh has 396 growing area codes with an area of ​​over 16,300 hectares, expanding export opportunities.

Mr. Bui Van Khap, a lemon grower in Binh Thanh commune, said: “At first, when we heard that we had to keep a production diary, we found it very troublesome. But after getting used to it, I saw the advantage of being able to control the cultivation process, know what the plants need, and avoid overusing pesticides. Customers are also more secure because everything is transparent.”

This change also creates a foundation for sustainable production. Many cooperatives and cooperative groups have been established, bringing together farmers to comply with production processes, sharing benefits and responsibilities. This is also the basis for forming concentrated raw material areas, meeting the requirements of processing and exporting enterprises.

Despite the remarkable results, the MSVT development process in Tay Ninh still faces many challenges. Many farmers are hesitant because they do not see immediate benefits, while the investment and maintenance costs of the process are still quite high. Some cooperatives lack technical staff and lack the capacity to manage records, leading to slow progress.

The fragmented, small-scale production also makes it difficult to form a standard raw material area. Not to mention, the supervision and maintenance of MSVT after being granted is limited, which can affect the reputation of local agricultural products.

Faced with these difficulties, the Tay Ninh Department of Agriculture has been implementing many solutions. Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh said: “We focus on supporting farmers and cooperatives in completing documents and procedures for code issuance, while organizing training and guidance on standard cultivation techniques; building an electronic monitoring system, applying digital technology to transparently manage growing areas and minimize risks”./.

Minh Tue

Source: https://baolongan.vn/xay-dung-ma-so-vung-trong-chia-khoa-nang-tam-nong-san-a203207.html