Concentrate on developing key plants, livestock and build up agricultural product brands

Forming intensive and concentrated cultivation areas

 In an overall report on the program of developing key plants, livestock and building up agricultural product brands for the period 2006-2010, during 5 consecutive years, the program has managed to form concentrated intensive cultivation areas for key plants such as Tan Trieu grapefruit (Vinh Cuu), La Nga Phu Ngoc mango (Dinh Quan); Xuan Hung, Suoi Cao mango (Xuan Loc); Long Khanh, Xuan Loc durian; Cam My, Xuan Loc, Long Khanh coffee; Xuan Tho pepper (Xuan Loc), etc. These key plants have improved yield and quality to meet local demands and some has been exported to global markets such as Donafoods cashew; Dona durian; Suoi Lon mango. Some key plants has gained the high rate of intensive cultivation such as 73.9 ha (equivalent to 107.8%) for mango; 155.2 ha (equivalent to 122.5%) for durian, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thom (Xuan Tay commune, Cam My district) pilots the cultivation of new coffee seed that is of high economic value.

With regard to livestock, total pigs are maintained at the number of 1.2 million heads, including 60% of them being bred in the farm; cows at the number of 800 thousand heads; poultry at the number of around 9 million heads with 474 farms, occupying 80% of total herds. At present, there are 42 units of parent breeds and commercial bred chicken which are claimed to be safe from disease. Particularly, provincial authority is now approving of the incentive policies for husbandry development and concentrated castle meat processing areas in 8 districts and Long Khanh town. Dong Nai becomes the leading province of the nation to develop husbandry and concentrated meat processing.

In terms of brand building, over 5 recent years, several agricultural products in the province has managed to enter into reliable export markets like Donafoods cashew, Suoi Lon mango, and Dona durian, etc. Till now, there are 3 VietGap-accredited products for export including Tan trieu grapefruit, Suoi Lon mango, Trang Dai vegetable (one of them receiving GlobalGap certificate). Additionally, Department of Science and technology is supporting the brand building for 16 organizations, individuals, including 14 units of fruit, mushroom and vegetable production and 2 units of pig husbandry.

Model of mushroom cultivation at Ma Da commune (Vinh Cuu district)

The program is however consisting of many problems and restrictions such as new areas for key plants are low (2.58% for grapefruit; 6.93% for durian and 17.65% for coffee, etc); the cooperation of 4 related classes is short of high effectiveness; post-harvest storage and processing remain limited; the planning of concentrated areas for key plants and livestock meat processing is low, especially infrastructure construction and development, etc.

Offering many favorable support policies

Given the achievements over 5 consecutive years, on 26 Sept 2011, provincial People’s Committee issued the Decision 2419 to carry out the program of developing key plants and livestock and building agricultural product brands for the period 2011 – 2015. Accordingly, the program will come up with many supports for these objectives. Specifically, new planting areas will be supported with all of expenses for buying new seed; 30% for buying fertilizer, pesticide and cost efficient irrigation for 4 years since they are planted. In respect of intensive cultivation areas, if the plants are grown before 2011, 30% expense of fertilizer and pesticide will be returned for 3 consecutive business years; from 2011 onwards, 30% expense of irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide investment will be returned within 4 years. As estimated, the investment capital of key plants is nearly 970 billion dongs.

Tan Trieu grapefruit (Vinh Cuu district) is the first product receiving GlobalGap certificate.

In respect of livestock, 30% expense will be donated to maintain original breed to ensure basic standards of disease safety with total budget of nearly 87 billion dongs. The program will guide farmers to grow high-yielded and quality plants; enhance various methods of intensive cultivation and production following Gap-directed process; perform proper harvest, processing and storage; guarantee safe husbandry, etc.

Particularly, the program will support the building of agricultural product brands. By 2015, the province is targeting to support the building of brands for 17 agricultural brands, including 3 GlobalGap-accredited brands. The program will brand such products as mango, grapefruit, rambutan, durian, Siamese custard apple, banana, vegetable, cashew, pepper, anabas and pig. The rate of support for brand construction and registration is around 50%, but not exceed 80 million dongs/unit. Besides, those units who are related to the brand construction and registration are offered a part of fund to promote their trading activities, participation into local or foreign expo and exhibition for product launch purpose. It is estimated that total budget for 17 units is more than 22 billion dongs.

Clearly, the program of developing key plants, livestock and building agricultural product brands is the strategic step from the provincial authorities to tie with the program of agricultural, rural and farmer development and new rural construction. However, in order to make most use of its effectiveness, except for support policies, the tight cooperation among departments, sectors and subdivisions plays as an important element to attribute to forming methods, road and solution to specific execution.

 Reported by Thanh Canh, Translated by Minh Minh