Green and sustainable production, the key to expanding the market for agricultural products

Reduce output pressure

The trend of green, clean consumption is creating a potential market for agricultural products. To seize the opportunity, many farmers and cooperatives have made efforts to apply VietGAP, GlobalGAP, etc. standards to production. This not only helps increase the value of agricultural products but also protects the environment and crops.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Member of Truong Khuong A Fruit Garden Cooperative (Phong Dien District, Can Tho City) - shared that agricultural materials used to care for star apple gardens are all of organic origin. Although the cost is high, the yield and longevity of the crop are both better.

Milk is produced according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards and is purchased by enterprises for export at a price 15,000 - 20,000 VND/kg higher than domestic consumption. Thanks to that, the yield of each crop is also higher than that of traditional farming, said Mr. Thanh.

In the context of a volatile export market, especially at the beginning of this year, China tightened criteria for importing durian, Mr. Tran Van Chien - Director of Truong Khuong A Fruit Garden Cooperative - is increasingly aware of the importance of quality and food safety in agricultural production.

Mr. Chien said that not only internationally but also domestic consumers are increasingly favoring clean agricultural products. Therefore, green, clean and environmentally friendly production helps the cooperative's agricultural products to be consumed more easily in both domestic and export markets.

Along with cultivating according to food safety standards, the cooperative also recommends that people reduce the cost of input materials and have a reasonable production process. Therefore, when the export market is in difficulty, people can consume domestically at a lower cost but still make a profit, said Mr. Chien.

Quality comes with food safety

According to Mr. Le Thanh Tung - Vice President of the Vietnam Gardeners' Association - agricultural exports in general or fruits in particular always have factors that need attention. First is the issue of agricultural product quality. This always comes with the plant variety and the needs of the importing country.

In addition to quality, food safety is also an important factor that determines the import of agricultural products of a country. "Whether it is an international or domestic consumer, when eating a watermelon, tangerine... what they care about is food safety in addition to quality. If that fruit is delicious but unsafe, they are willing to refuse, said Mr. Tung.

From there, the Vice President of the Vietnam Gardeners Association emphasized that when producing a fruit, if they want to sell it to the domestic market, in unit markets, in supermarkets; or want to export, farmers need to meet the requirements of quality and food safety.

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