Efforts to improve fruit value chain

With the active support from the authorities and businesses, farmers in Can Tho City have formed many concentrated, specialized fruit growing areas, ensuring safety and meeting export standards. Thanks to that, many types of fruit are purchased by businesses at high prices, and gardeners have good incomes...

Actively support farmers

Fruit trees are a strong crop, contributing a significant value to the agricultural structure of Can Tho City. In order to develop sustainable fruit production and consumption, in recent times, the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) of Can Tho City, together with relevant agencies and localities in the area, has increased market information and provided technical training to farmers. Support connecting farmers with businesses and related parties to promote chain linkages to link the stages of fruit production, processing and consumption. Invest in developing irrigation systems and technical infrastructure for fruit growing areas, creating conditions for establishing growing area codes associated with the application of technical processes to ensure product safety, meeting domestic and foreign market demand.

Harvesting longan at a member household of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative in Thoi Hung commune

With the guidance and active support from the functional sector, farmers in Can Tho City have promoted the application of scientific and technical advances, new varieties, advanced farming processes... to improve productivity, ensure product quality and safety. Farmers have also joined together to establish cooperatives and fruit growing cooperatives associated with the construction of specialized concentrated fruit growing areas with growing area codes. Forming typical branded products such as mango, longan, ha chau strawberry, durian... creating favorable conditions for connecting with businesses to export products and consume domestically. Thanks to that, many types of fruits of farmers and cooperatives in the city have been successfully exported to many demanding markets, contributing to increasing the city's agricultural export turnover.

According to the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection under the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, the city has 102,194 hectares of fruit trees of all kinds, with an output of over 1 million tons/year. To date, 579 growing area codes have been granted for fruit trees and other crops, with a total area of ​​over 9,300 hectares on key crops such as mango, star apple, longan, durian, etc. In addition, the city also has 25 packing facility codes granted to 16 enterprises.

Strengthening production and consumption links

The linkage of fruit production and consumption between enterprises and farmers in many cooperatives and fruit growing cooperatives in Can Tho City has recently proven effective and needs to be promoted in the coming time. Thereby, creating conditions for enterprises to have raw material areas and quality fruit sources to be able to export at high prices; farmers can also sell fruit at better prices, thereby increasing their income.

Mr. Tran Phuoc Son, Director of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative in Can Tho City, said: “Thanks to the association with enterprises in production and consumption of products, the cooperative's longan fruit is purchased by Vina T&T Import-Export Trading Service Company Limited at a high price for export to the US and Australian markets. Recently, longan has entered the peak harvest season but is still sold by members of the cooperative at 50,000 VND/kg, while the areas of longan that bear fruit early and in the off-season are sold at 80,000-90,000 VND/kg. The enterprise not only participates in training and technical guidance but also supports the costs for farmers in the cooperative to build longan growing areas that meet Golobal GAP standards and purchase products at a price 2,000 VND/kg higher than the market price.” According to Mr. Son, the cooperative has 20 members, with 60 hectares of longan, of which 20 hectares are certified to meet Global GAP standards, 30 hectares to meet VietGAP standards, and 5 hectares are produced in an organic direction. In addition, the cooperative also has 95 hectares of Ido longan and durian and has growing area codes for export.

Recently, Vina T&T Import-Export Trading Service Co., Ltd. has cooperated with farmers in many cooperatives in Can Tho to export many types of fruit, notably longan, mango, star apple... which have been exported to many demanding markets. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Muoi, Deputy General Director of Vina T&T Import-Export Trading Service Co., Ltd., said: "In the coming time, the Company will not only strengthen its cooperation and support farmers at Trang Ti Garden Cooperative to develop production and export of longan fruit, but also expand its cooperation with many other cooperatives to build Global GAP standards for other fruits such as star apple. Fruits with Global GAP certification will have many opportunities to expand consumption to demanding markets and increase selling prices."

Despite many positive results, the connection between fruit production and consumption in Can Tho City still faces difficulties and limitations that need to be resolved promptly by relevant parties. Notably, the connection between farmers, cooperatives and enterprises in many places is not tight, the consumption market is still unstable, and the value chain is not sustainable. Farmers still face difficulties in connecting and linking with enterprises, especially enterprises with potential and reputation.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City, linking fruit production and consumption in a market-oriented manner and improving product quality according to international standards is an inevitable direction for developing the fruit industry in a sustainable and effective manner. In the coming time, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the city will continue to review the planning, construction and development of fruit material areas that meet the standards to meet the requirements of the domestic and export markets. Pay attention to building product brands, as well as inviting businesses to join in linking with farmers to build a chain of production and consumption of fruits and agricultural products. Coordinate with relevant units to deploy and implement solutions to develop production to meet market requirements and improve product value chains...

Article and photos: KHANH TRUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/no-luc-nang-cao-chuoi-gia-tri-trai-cay-a190430.html