Quang Tri promotes high-quality farm produce for export

In recent times, a growing number of enterprises in Quang Tri Province have made investments in equipment and working closely with local farmers to enhance processing capabilities. This concerted effort aims to elevate product quality, align with the standards of both the domestic and export markets, build a strong brand reputation, expand market reach, and gradually establish stability in agricultural product outputs.

High-quality rice processing chain from Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company. Photo: HN

As a result of these endeavors, various agricultural products from the province are now being exported to high-demand markets.

Ensuring quality

Following the successful export of two shipments of An Xa medicinal extract to the US and Canadian markets, which underwent rigorous assessments to ensure compliance with standards, quality, and consumer preferences, Cam Lo District has shifted its focus towards expanding the cultivation areas of medicinal plants.

These efforts adhere to the correct technical procedures and prioritize organic growth, while targeting foreign markets for consumption. Each hectare of An Xa tree cultivation now generates annual income ranging from VND180 to 200 million (US$7,371-8,190) for local residents. Presently, Cam Lo District is preparing to export approximately 10 additional tons of An Xa medicinal extract to the US and Canadian markets.

In its socio-economic development strategy, Cam Lo District has identified the development of medicinal plants as a key direction and is planning to establish a concentrated raw material area. Currently, the entire district boasts over 200 hectares of various medicinal plants, ensuring a stable supply of raw materials for local processing facilities. Consequently, the district is encouraging enterprises to invest in advanced processing machinery, enabling medicinal products to firmly establish themselves in foreign markets.

Tran Hoai Linh, Vice Chairman of Cam Lo District People’s Committee, stated that with the approval from the Provincial People’s Committee to invest in the An Xa medicinal herb processing factory, the district has facilitated businesses in acquiring technology lines worth more than VND22 billion ($900,000).

This closed-chain system spans from drying the input products and extracting them into extracts to drying and packaging for export. Thanks to this approach, the product meets export standards. The district’s aim is to swiftly become the province’s medicinal center.

The province currently hosts more than 55 facilities for the deep processing of medicinal herbs, encompassing products such as rice, rubber, coffee, passion fruit, and more. The province is actively implementing a range of solutions to support and encourage businesses to progress in the right direction, from organizing production, export processing, and investing in machinery and equipment, to conducting research and producing high-quality products that adhere to global standards.

To ensure the stability of exported agricultural products in demanding foreign markets, many businesses in the province are actively collaborating with local farmers in the cultivation, processing, and consumption of these products. In 2022 and the first months of 2023, the entire province has exported more than 50,000 tons of cassava, 50,000 tons of bananas, 10,000 tons of rubber, 600 tons of passion fruit, 100 tons of pepper, 50 tons of roasted coffee, specialty green coffee, and medicinal herbs like An Xa to various markets in Europe, America, and other regions.

Building brands for Quang Tri’s farm produce

In recent years, Quang Tri Province has been actively promoting the cultivation of clean agricultural products and high-quality organic produce, such as organic rice, organic pepper, medicinal herbs, and coffee associated with carbon credits. The province has encouraged businesses to collaborate with local farmers, progressively increasing the added value per unit area and thereby stabilizing the livelihoods of farmers on their own land.

In early 2023, 15 tons of organic rice from Quang Tri province will be exported to the European market at a price of $1,800 per ton. Consequently, each month, around 30 to 50 tons of organic rice from Quang Tri are exported to Europe. To meet the stringent export standards for organic rice, requirements are set right from the planting phase, encompassing care, harvesting, and the packaging of finished products.

Pham Thi Diem Le, the Director of Quang Tri Organic Agricultural Products Joint Stock Company, mentioned that following the successful export of the first batch of organic rice from Quang Tri to the European market, the company plans to expand the cultivation area for rice within the region.

“The focus is on stringent quality management throughout the entire production process, from farming to processing, ensuring compliance with the quantity and standards necessary for the export of organic rice to foreign markets,” Le stressed.

Currently, Quang Tri Province has approximately 200 hectares dedicated to organic rice within an overall rice cultivation area of nearly 28,000 hectares throughout the province. By 2030, the province intends to increase the organic rice cultivation area to over 3,000 hectares.

This represents a promising prospect for the expansion of rice production and the export of organic rice. The Provincial People’s Committee has designated Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company as the investor for the organic rice development project, with the aim of gradually establishing a specialized rice production area that produces organic rice for both local consumption and export, contributing to an increase in the income of local residents.

Le Van Tuyen, the Deputy General Director of Quang Tri Trading Corporation Joint Stock Company, revealed that the company has invested approximately VND30 billion ($1,228) in the acquisition of modern rice milling equipment to meet the stringent requirements of the export market.

In addition to investing in equipment and expanding production, the province has organized multiple investment promotion programs and actively marketed its agricultural products, enabling domestic and international customers to become more familiar with the valuable agricultural products originating from Quang Tri.

“This initiative has created opportunities for businesses in the region to access and actively participate in numerous demanding global markets,” said Tuyen.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Ha Sy Dong emphasized that, in addition to government support policies, the locality has also devised support policies from various sources to aid organizations, businesses, and farmers in adopting a closed-chain production process. Accordingly, the province has entrusted relevant departments and branches with the task of conducting training programs aimed at enhancing the knowledge and capacity of individuals, cooperatives, and businesses.

“The focus is on understanding technical regulations and ensuring food safety, as well as establishing connections with product branding to enable these products to reach both domestic and international markets for consumption,” Dong said.

Ngoc Mai - Hoang Nhien