For fruit trees to develop sustainably and be worthy of the title of a "billion-dollar" industry, improving product quality and promoting sustainable production and consumption links are currently the key steps.

Changing the mindset in agricultural production, including fruit trees, is an inevitable direction today.

*Get rid of the "quick fix" mindset

In fact, the province has recognized the difficulties and shortcomings in fruit tree development and is focusing on overcoming these limitations.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) of Tien Giang province, in order to have sustainable exports, in the coming time, the agricultural sector will continue to effectively implement the work of granting and managing growing area codes (MSVT), packing facility codes (CSĐG) to ensure that cultivation complies with the requirements of importing countries. At the same time, strengthen supervision of growing areas and CSĐGs that have been granted codes; control of plant quarantine objects in growing areas and packing facilities. The agricultural sector will monitor to ensure food safety conditions according to the provisions of the Law on Food Safety and regulations on growing areas and CSĐGs. To ensure the quality of exported agricultural products, the agricultural sector will strengthen inspection, examination and strict handling of acts of using chemicals for improper treatment; closely inspect and supervise the linkage of purchasing in growing areas for export, not carrying out export packaging for growing areas that do not ensure food safety.

At the same time, the Department of Agriculture will guide organizations and individuals who need to export fresh fruits on the process of establishing growing areas and CSĐG; requirements and standards of importing countries on plant quarantine, food safety and traceability. At the same time, organize the implementation of the plan to issue and manage MSVT, CSĐG and control food safety in growing areas and CSĐG for export in Tien Giang province in 2025 after being approved by the Provincial People's Committee.

According to Mr. Luu Van Phi, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang province, to overcome the current limitations in fruit production and consumption, in the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade and the Department of Agriculture have calculated a number of solutions to promote fruit exports. First of all, maintaining traditional markets. Specifically, regarding fresh exports, up to this point, the focus is still mainly on the Chinese market. However, the Chinese market is also very large, not just the provinces bordering Vietnam. Besides, the province also needs to pay attention to calculating to export fruit to emerging markets. Regarding production organization, how to develop models of linking fruit production and consumption. One of the important factors is to strengthen cooperatives and cooperatives to do business more systematically, thereby ensuring a solid supply of goods for importers. Because the importing units are not for a month or a quarter but for the whole year. In addition, farmers must comply with clean production processes to improve quality. This is a long-term factor that businesses must consider. If they do not pay attention, it will be very difficult to do business later when they lose their reputation. In addition, the domestic market segment is also very important. The Department of Industry and Trade has also worked with large supermarkets on the consumption of fruits in the province. Up to now, there are also a number of cooperatives in the province that have met the standards to bring products to these supermarkets. This is a very important consumption channel. If the export market is difficult, we also have a domestic market to consume fruits for farmers.

For the fruit industry to develop sustainably, improving quality and promoting production and consumption links is necessary. need to be focused on.

*Promoting value chain linkage

According to Dr. Vo Huu Thoai, the Mekong Delta (MD) is the traditional and main fruit growing region of Vietnam for many years and at present. The area of ​​fruit trees in the MD has tended to increase over the past 10 years. In general, the potential for fruit tree development in the MD still exists, partly due to the scale of the growing area being expanded (renovated gardens, ineffective rice fields, etc.). Our country's fruits also have many opportunities for development. First of all, the free trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries have been implemented, opening up great opportunities for fruits in the country in general. Fruit exports have increased, positively affecting the improvement of fruit prices of gardeners. This is an important driving force for gardeners to invest in intensive farming, increase productivity and fruit quality, etc.

According to Dr. Vo Huu Thoai, to develop sustainable fruit trees, it is necessary to re-evaluate water resources in each area, plan and develop irrigation systems in each area. From there, re-plan the growing areas suitable for each type of fruit tree. One of the important solutions is to upgrade infrastructure (roads, electricity systems, etc.) to facilitate the transportation of agricultural materials, agricultural products and serve mechanized production. Farmers need to promote the application of digital technology, smart technology, green energy, and efficient use of water resources (saving irrigation, water-soluble fertilizers). One of the fundamental solutions is to study the water needs in the dry season for each type of crop, each ecological region, at the growth and development stages of the tree, especially the business stage. At the same time, assess the level of impact of crop varieties in high-risk areas (drought, salinity, flooding, acid sulfate soil) to propose appropriate directions for shifting crop structure. Besides, the state needs to strictly manage the production of fruit tree seedlings and provide good, disease-free seedlings to growers.

Dr. Vo Huu Thoai said: "The State needs to reorganize fruit production in the direction of linking value chains; producing according to GAP, organic, reducing emissions... Fruit production is associated with building MSVT and CSĐG in the direction of linking with businesses/product consumption markets. At the same time, promote the industry of manufacturing machinery and equipment for agriculture suitable for small and medium-scale fruit production in the Mekong Delta. The State needs to support and encourage businesses to invest in innovating advanced, modern and synchronous equipment and technological lines to increase the capacity of preserving and processing fruits; diversify processed products to solve the output of fruits".

Anh Thu - Thai An

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Lesson 1: Fruit tree area increases rapidly

Lesson 2: Forming concentrated production areas

Lesson 3: Many challenges, many risks