Reality shows that the model of intensive farming of longan in the direction of VietGAP is the right way to help hundreds of Hung Yen farmers increase their income....

Reality shows that the model of intensive farming of longan in the direction of VietGAP is the right way to help hundreds of Hung Yen farmers increase their income....

Harvest Vietgap longan in Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province

On these days, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh in Binh Kieu commune, Khoai Chau district (Hung Yen province) spends most of his time in the garden to look after and harvest ripening longan. Thanh's family currently grows longan under VietGap process; in which more than half have been harvested since 2018. According to Mr. Thanh, each stage and step in the production process is strictly controlled. During the growing process, use of fertilizers and plant protection products is applied the principle of "4 rights" (right in medicine, right in dose, right in time and right in method); the organic fertilizer is recommended. In addition, Hung Yen Agricultural Extension Center also instructs people to make use of agricultural by-products to reuse as fertilizers which not only protect the environment but also limit the spread of pathogens during cultivation. As a result, longan trees taken care under VietGap process have good resistance, yeild big fruit, nice appearance and are more expensive than traditional longan.

Like Mr. Thanh, the family of Mr. Tran Duc Hieu, a member of Duc Thang New Agricultural Cooperative in Minh Tan commune, Phu Cu district (Hung Yen province) is also entering a new harvest of longan. Mr. Hieu happily shared: “While many other longan gardens do not produce any fruit or produce very few, mine is still fruitful. This year, with the purchase price at the garden is from VND  40,000 to 45,000 VND per kg, my family is expected to earn over VND 300 million”

In recent years, Hung Yen Agricultural Extension Center has cooperated with localities in the province to successfully implement many models of intensive farming of longan in the direction of VietGAP. The purpose of these models is to support the development and expansion of the area of ​​"clean longan" under Vietgap standards; thereby, create high quality products to ensure food safety, meet market requirements and protect health of producers and consumers. Up to this year longan crop, the total area involved in these models has reached over 130 hectares of all types, concentrated mainly in Nhat Tan commune (Tien Lu district), Vinh Xa commune (Kim Dong district) and Ham Tu commune, Binh Kieu commune (Khoai Chau district), Minh Tan commune (Phu Cu district) and Hong Nam commune (Hung Yen city). According to preliminary statistics in intensive farming models under VietGAP, the average yield is about 14 tons per ha, higher than longan taken care under the traditional way by 4 to 6 tons per ha. With the average purchase price of over 40,000 VND per kilo, this model has been considerably raising household’s income.

  The intensive cultivation of longan under VietGAP is helping many farmers in Hung Yen to increase their income. (Photo: MH)

Mr. Nguyen Van Dat, Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Division of Khoai Chau district (Hung Yen province) said that the intensive farming model of VietGAP developed by Hung Yen Agricultural Extension Center is the basis for farmers to carry out production of safe longan. Households participating in the model have been trained cultivation techniques and longan planting techniques in accordance with VietGap process. Agriculture extension staff at all levels also regularly check and instruct farmers in care techniques and pest prevention for longan under VietGap process along with the requirements on safe product conditions; recommend the list of plant protection poducts used in the area of longan production. Therefore, farmers in the district voluntarily comply with the production regulations to improve productivity, quality and economic value of longan.

Up to now, in the process of implementing the model, Hung Yen Agricultural Extension Center has also established 3 new cooperatives and 7 VietGAP fruit production cooperatives where focus on longan. In particular, all kinds of longan produced in the intensive farming model towards VietGAP have been certified by the Quality center of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Region I Hai Phong to meet the requirements of food hygiene and safety.

Mr. Nguyen Van Kien, Director of Hung Yen Agricultural Extension Center, said that every year, right after the end of the longan harvest, the center conducted model planning, evaluated the quality of arable land, water, age of the crop, yields of newly harvested fruit on the tree, weather changes, regional hydrology ... as a basis to make the fertilizer formula for longan trees so that they produce fruit as desired. At the same time, the center guides the households to record gardening diaries and develop internal monitoring regulations of good agricultural practice on longan trees ... Therefore, the intensive longan models in the direction of VietGAP ensure quality and efficiency.

The implementation of the long-term intensive farming model towards VietGAP in Hung Yen province recently shows that one of the biggest successes of Hung Yen Agricultural Extension Center is step by step changing the mindset and production habit of farmers. By participating in the model, longan growers must strictly follow the regulations on clean longan production under VietGap process from seedling selection, care and harvest. However, in order that this model becomes stable, the agriculture of Hung Yen province needs to coordinate with localities to implement well the management of seedlings, transfer techniques to care for longan trees, make plan for the development region of VietGap longan varieties and avoid spontaneous development which will affect the quality and value of longan in the market.

Expansion of long-term intensive farming model towards VietGap will be the "solution" for the agriculture and Hung Yen farmers in developing longan trees efficiently and sustainably.

Nguồn trích dẫn: baohungyen.vn