San Tien pink plum - Clean production thinking and green credit flow from Agribank

Choosing his own path with the mutant pink plum variety and organic farming process, Mr. Tran Van Phuc, a farmer in Cu Lao Dung commune (Can Tho city) has successfully built the San Tien pink plum brand. The support from Agribank's green credit capital has added strength to help this specialty fruit reach the large market, bringing high economic efficiency.

* Transformed from a mutant pink plum variety

Agribank staff visited the San Tien pink plum garden of Mr. Tran Van Phuc.

Located at the end of the Hau River, between the Dinh An and Tran De estuaries flowing into the East Sea, Cu Lao Dung Commune (Can Tho City) is isolated with rivers and water all around. Thanks to fertile land and favorable climate, farmers here focus on growing fruit trees as a key economic direction. Sharing about the development journey of the specialty plum variety, Mr. Tran Van Phuc said: "Previously, I mainly grew Ido longan. However, when this longan variety was gradually expanded, the market became more and more difficult. Therefore, I had to find a way to switch to a more suitable crop. From a mutated plum variety in my home garden, I spent 3.5 years researching and testing the MST plum variety on a scale of 5,000 m2. After that, I continued to crossbreed to find a superior product and named this "brainchild" San Tien pink plum".

Mr. Tran Van Phuc introduces San Tien pink plum variety.

To create high-quality products, Mr. Phuc grows plums at a density of 40 trees/1,000 m² and uses organic fertilizers to gradually replace chemical fertilizers. In the San Tien pink plum garden, he applies a scientific and closed cultivation process. When the trees bear fruit, he covers the fruit twice to ensure isolation from pesticides. When harvested, the plums are stored in cold storage to ensure freshness. Thanks to meeting the standard sugar content and commitment to food safety, the San Tien pink plum variety has conquered demanding markets such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with a selling price of up to 230,000 VND/kg.

San Tien pink plum has eye-catching color, large fruit, firm, sweet flesh... and is popular in the market.

Currently, the San Tien pink plum brand has been protected by intellectual property and is on the way to completing the organic product certification dossier with a scale of 40 hectares. This is not only a sustainable direction but also contributes to environmental protection, balancing the garden ecosystem and ensuring long-term benefits for consumers.

Mr. Phuc shared: "Consumers are increasingly concerned about the origin and safety of food. I determined from the beginning that if I wanted to survive in the long term, the product had to be truly clean. Being organic is hard work, but I believe this path will bring Vietnamese agricultural products closer to high-end markets, both domestically and internationally."

* Unblocking green credit flows

Sharing about the process of accessing Agribank loans to convert production models, Mr. Phuc said: "Thanks to the support of Agribank's capital, I borrowed capital to invest step by step with the motto of slow but sure. When the agricultural products sold made a profit of 7 dong, I continued to borrow 3 more dong to reinvest, expand, and increase profits. Thanks to Agribank's support for agricultural loans with very preferential interest rates, I have the conditions to commit for a long time, effectively converting to the San Tien pink plum growing model, focusing on in-depth investment in cold storage, fruit washing systems...".

The economy of Cu Lao Dung commune mainly relies on agriculture, farmers are attached to sugarcane, fruit trees of all kinds and aquaculture. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dac, Vice Chairman of Cu Lao Dung Commune People's Committee, capital from Agribank Cu Lao Dung Soc Trang branch is an important driving force to help the commune's agricultural restructuring project achieve good results. This capital has provided timely support for cooperatives and people to invest in expanding production and developing key economic sectors of the locality.

With a key role in investing in "agriculture", Agribank Cu Lao Dung Soc Trang branch always accompanies and stands side by side with the local agricultural sector. According to Mr. Mai Van Thanh, Director of Agribank Cu Lao Dung Soc Trang branch, the current proportion of loans to the "agriculture" sector of the unit always accounts for about 99% of the total outstanding loans. In addition, the bank also continuously implements many practical interest rate incentive programs to reduce financial burdens, creating conditions for people and small businesses to boldly invest and apply science and technology to production and business.

The timely capital and meaningful support policies from Agribank have become a solid foundation, not only helping people improve their lives but also contributing significantly to building a more stable and sustainable local agricultural sector. The combination of farmers' clean production thinking and green credit capital from Agribank has created high-value, safe and competitive agricultural products in the market. This is not only the foundation for the sustainable development of farmers like Mr. Phuc but also an important driving force, contributing to the effective implementation of the agricultural restructuring project in the locality.

MINH KHUONG - MINH HUYEN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/man-hong-san-tien-tu-duy-san-xuat-sach-va-dong-von-tin-dung-xanh-tu-agribank-a188956.html