Binh Phuoc durian granted a planting area code

(BP Portal) - Recently, Phuoc Tan commune, Phu Rieng district has selected two durian cooperatives to make records and online check for the granting of planting area codes. Up to now, Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative (Dong Tien hamlet, Phuoc Tan commune) has got approval of the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) for the durian planting area code VN-BPOR-0047 to be able to officially export its products to this market.

Planting area codes –a ticket to the world market

This is a new joy, new opportunity, new challenge for all durian growing areas in general and durian growing areas of Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative. Unable to hide his excitement, Nguyen Xuan Hoa, chairman of the board of directors and director of the cooperative shared: “I am very happy because after 4 years of making efforts, now I have got what I’ve expected. The cooperative members are excited because the durians that they have grown by themselves are officially exported to the Chinese market. That is the motivation for farmers to work together, determine to maintain sustainability.

The planting area code is a certificate of identification number for a planting area to facilitate monitoring of production, control of product quality, and the origin traceability of plants, while simultaneously ensuring that agricultural products put into circulation on the market must have the matching origin, avoiding the situation of being mixed with other products. Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative was granted a planting area code, which is important for the export of crop products of Binh Phuoc province in general and Phu Rieng district in particular. This not only meets the standards of new-generation free trade agreements, but also helps Binh Phuoc agricultural products have a "passport" to the international market.

Having peace of mind to expand the area

Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative was established on May 19, 2019 with 22 members. So far, it has grown to 35 members. The cooperative currently manages more than 70 hectares of durian trees, half of which has been put into business, and the rest trees are still too young to bear fruits, with an average yield of 20 tons/ha. Thanks to its efficient operation, over the past time, the cooperative has helped its members enhance the productivity of their orchards, improve family economy and limit business risks. Nguyen Thanh Tam, a member of Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative, said: Durian farmers will have many benefits when participating in the cooperatives. The cooperatives can buy fertilizer in large quantities, so the price is cheaper. The cooperatives sell durians in a concentrated and large-scale way, so prices are higher. Growers are provided with technical instructions on how to care for crops, supported by the State with loans, and installed sprinklers according to their needs.

With 75 hectares of durian trees which have been granted the planting area code of Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative this time, Tam's family only had about 200 durian trees, covering an area of 1.2 hectares. However, Tam affirmed that becoming a member of a cooperative is a right choice. Now that the cooperative has been granted a planting area code, he confidently increases the new planting area without worrying about outlet. 

During the approval rounds to be granted the planting area code, Phu Rieng district has propagated, guided and supported many establishments to make dossiers. However, through consideration, only Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative was granted the planting area code this time. According to Thai Van Hoa, head of the district's Agriculture and Rural Development Department, the biggest difficulty now is propagating for members of the cooperative to comply with the criteria and conditions to be granted a planting area code. Because there are still some cooperative members who are not fully aware of it, so the consensus is not high. In the coming time, the unit will continue to coordinate and support the facilities to complete the application for granting the planting area code.

Keeping the planting area code with high determination

The 4-year process of making documents for Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative to be granted planting area codes makes members clearly understand the importance of granting planting area codes. However, maintaining and upholding it is also a challenge for the members. 

According to the guidance of the Plant Protection Department, in order to maintain the planting area code, 30 days before the harvest period, the cooperative must complete the dossier to re-evaluate all production activities according to VietGAP standards, clean agricultural production in the area of planting area code to uphold the validity of the planting area code. Therefore, the cooperative members must clearly understand the process, comply with the implementation and cooperate with the authorities to maintain the planting area code. Nguyen Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative said: “When we were given the planting area code, we were delighted because the work paid off. But besides that, there is still a concern about how to get members to agree and work together to fulfill the requirements of the Chinese market. Only then will it be sustainable." 

The construction of planting areas associated with granting the planting area codes is an inevitable trend of import markets. This is also an important criterion to enjoy tax incentives from new-generation free trade agreements. Up to now, Phu Rieng district has more than 700 hectares of durian trees, of which more than 200 hectares are in the business period, the rest trees are still too young to bear fruits. In the near future, durian trees will be one of the advantageous crops of Phu Rieng district in particular and Binh Phuoc province in general, contributing to local socio-economic development. However, up to this point, only Nong Thanh Phat Fruit Cooperative in Phu Rieng district is granted a planting area code.

The granting of planting area codes contributes to improving the value of agricultural products, changing the mindset and new management methods, creating a driving force to promote agricultural development in a sustainable way. Therefore, in the coming time, the propaganda work should be strengthened extensively. In addition, it is necessary to have the support and companionship of the agricultural sector in guiding production and business establishments in need of being granted the planting area codes according to regulations./.