Clean vegetable products meet market demand

Long An province has strived to have 2,000 ha vegetable areas by 2020 in accordance with the scheme of applying hi-tech agricultural development linking with agricultural restructuring.

Local farmers grow clean vegetables in accordance to hi-tech agriculture program

The province annually grows 13, 506ha vegetables with a total capacity of 164.1 million tons of products per ha, reaching productivity of 221,609 tons per year. To meet the demand of clean vegetables, the province at present sets up hi-tech vegetable production area. As per that, local famers have achieved positive results, gaining a high profit compared to normal production model.

As per scheme, the province strives to have 2,000 ha vegetable areas by 2020, concentrating the districts of Can Duoc, Can Giuoc, Duc Hoa and Tan An city.

Can Giuoc district has over 1,800 ha of vegetables with capacity of 20 to 22 tons per ha per crop, estimated productivity at 125,000 tons per year including 22 safe vegetable groups and six cooperatives; one cooperative alliances with 739 farmers.

To date, the district ha 341 ha of producing safe vegetables; 3 cooperatives granted VietGAP certificates. It is expected the district will gain 930 ha safe vegetable areas in line with the scheme.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nam, at Phuoc Hau commune shared his family has 0.8 ha of agriculture land, before he grew rice but got no profit therefore recent years, he has joined in the hi-tech agriculture production program and grown hi-quality vegetables. Currently, his family has 1,000 sq. meters of VietGAP vegetables.

Mr. Dong Quang Don, head of agriculture & rural development department said the district is calling for local farmers to apply hi-tech agriculture program, aiming to limit in using chemicals and fertilizers or plant protection products and veterinary medicines to greenhouse vegetables.

The Can Giuoc district’s secretary party committee Nguyen Van Thiep said the district is setting up cooperatives linking with local households to produce together hi-quality and safe farm products.

The provincial agriculture & rural development department Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh said the hi-tech agriculture program has lured the participant of cooperatives, manufacturers and businesses. The regulations of safe food chain, the progress of producing safe vegetables and checking safe farm products in line with the regulation have been implemented strictly and popularized province-wide.