Domestic growing area codes - standardizing agricultural products from within

The 12-hectare domestic soybean growing area of Nam Dong Soybean Production Cooperative, Nam Dong commune has 11 participating households.

Along with export growing area codes, the construction, issuance of codes, and management of domestic growing areas are essential to create consumer confidence in products of clear origin and good quality. This is also the basis for gradually moving towards the requirements of standardizing agricultural products from within, ensuring food security, high-quality food, meeting the requirements of improving the health and living standards of consumers.

In September 2023, the Dak Ha avocado production group in Dong Gia Nghia ward was granted a domestic growing area code. The group has an area of 4.2 hectares, an output of over 44 tons/year with 5 households participating in production. The current consumption market of the members is in the province and domestically, with customers highly appreciating the quality.

Mr. Vo Quoc Viet - owner of the avocado growing area of the group said that being granted a growing area code helps members to be more convenient in the consumption stage. Members applying the cultivation, processing and preservation process according to VietGAP standards have become soft values when approaching customers, and the selling price is also more competitive compared to the general market level. The growing area of the group is also being developed into an interesting destination for tourists on sightseeing and experience tours associated with other destinations in the province.

Similarly, in 2024, Nam Dong Soybean Production Cooperative, Nam Dong Commune was granted a domestic growing area code with an area of nearly 12 hectares, 11 households participating in production achieved an output of nearly 34 tons/year. The cooperative has managed to maintain the growing area by monitoring the members' diary, using fertilizers and pesticides according to the 4 correct principles. Since having a growing area code, the production of cooperative members has been more systematic, product quality has been improved. This has gradually helped cooperative members stabilize production and increase income.

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung - Director of the Cooperative said that currently, the synchronous growing area is cultivating soybeans according to VietGAP standards. All products are purchased by Vinasoy Company at stable prices. Currently, the unit has a linked area of 135 hectares, with 100 participating households. Mr. Trung added that in the near future, the unit will continue to register for additional adjacent growing area codes to create larger growing areas. "The cooperative produces soybeans with good seed sources and food safety and hygiene processes, greatly helping associated processing enterprises to have safe, non-GMO raw materials, contributing to improving the health of people in the country. "This is also a way to standardize agricultural products from within - that is, standardize from serving domestic consumption," Mr. Trung affirmed.

Currently, the agricultural product consumption market has increasingly high demands on quality, food safety and product origin. Accordingly, the requirement for registered and controlled growing areas by functional sectors and localities is a necessary condition to meet the market's requirements for traceability of agricultural products, helping farmers increase their value.

The domestic growing area code is a plus point for the province's agricultural products to have the opportunity to penetrate supermarket systems and large supply chains. However, according to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the number of codes and areas is not much at present. According to Lam Dong's functional sector, localities continue to aim to establish more growing area codes for key agricultural products with strengths, high competitiveness, potential and indigenous crops.

Lam Dong currently has 271 domestic growing area codes with a total area of 2,638 hectares for many crops including: vegetables, rice, durian, grapefruit, longan, mango, melon, apple, jackfruit, grape, dragon fruit, cashew, coconut, spice plants...

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/ma-vung-trong-noi-dia-chuan-hoa-nong-san-tu-ben-trong-387801.html