According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DONRE) of Can Tho City, the city has now built key fruit growing areas. Notably, branded products have been formed with concentrated raw material areas covering an area of over 40,000 hectares, achieving an output of nearly 500,000 tons. This includes key crops such as Ha Chau Phong Dien mulberry, durian, Hoa Loc river sand mango, longan, star apple, pineapple, etc.
With the available advantages, along with expanding the raw material area after the merger, many cooperatives and enterprises see this as both an opportunity and a driving force to build brands for agricultural products.
Mr. Tran Van Phuong - Director of Xom Dong 2 Agricultural Cooperative (Thoi An Hoi commune) - expressed: "The merger not only expands and connects raw material areas with each other, but is also an opportunity for farmers to share experiences in production processes according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards. From there, form a brand for key local fruits".
The construction of a brand for agricultural products has also been focused on by Trang Ti Garden Cooperative (Thoi Hung commune) for many years. According to Mr. Tran Phuoc Son - Director of Trang Ti Garden Cooperative - in the past, the Cooperative has cooperated with enterprises to consume export labels. The business side has supported the unit in building a brand as well as certifications such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP. Thanks to that, the output and value of longan fruit are always stable.
However, in the context of integration and development, to increase the value of agricultural products as well as profits for farmers, creating a delicious, quality product line and ensuring food safety and hygiene is inevitable. Therefore, the cooperative has been strictly following cultivation processes to produce quality agricultural products, meeting the requirements of the company and imported water.
Appreciating the expansion of raw material areas after the merger, Vina T&T Group has many orientations in increasing agricultural product purchases as well as developing export markets in the future.
"One of the major advantages of Can Tho agricultural products after the merger is the expansion of raw material areas. At that time, the output and quality of agricultural products will increase, helping us confidently purchase and consume for countries around the world. On the other hand, this also motivates our businesses to proactively develop new markets to increase consumption output, said Mr. Nguyen Dinh Muoi - Deputy General Director of Vina T&T Group.
With that goal, Vina T&T Group is aiming to cooperate and support cooperatives in making additional GlobalGAP certification for star apple in the old Soc Trang province and many other agricultural products. From there, Can Tho fruit will continue to go further into demanding markets.
In order to improve the value chain in agriculture, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Tho City has oriented many solutions that need to be implemented synchronously. Accordingly, in the direction and organization of fruit tree production, it is necessary to focus on the scale and location; minimize spontaneous development.
For brand building and market development, the registration of geographical indications and Vietnamese fruit tree brands in key export markets such as China, the United States, the EU, ASEAN, South Korea, Japan, etc. needs to be increased. At the same time, expand a smart logistics system for fruit tree exports; diversify the content and trade promotion programs in major markets.
