From the success of factories in Ninh Binh and Gia Lai, Dong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company (Doveco) launched its third factory in Son La in May 2023.

According to Mr. Dinh Cao Khue, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Doveco, the Northwest region and Son La in particular have massive potential in vegetables and fruits. Thanks to the significant difference in day-night temperature, the quality of agricultural products here is different from that of other regions. According to Mr. Khue, when he enjoyed mango and longan in Son La nearly ten years ago, seeing the fresh and rich flavor, he cherished the dream of filling the gap in agricultural product processing in this area.

Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Center project is located in the central location of Mai Son district, Son La province, with an area of nearly 9 hectares and an expected scale of 52,000 tons of products per year. The total investment capital is about VND 400 billion; this is a closed fruit and vegetable processing center that includes production links, raw material purchasing, fine processing, deep processing, and domestic and export sales business systems.

Speaking at the visit and working session at Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Center (Hat Lot commune, Mai Son district, Son La province) at the end of May 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh repeatedly emphasized the importance of applying science and technology in agricultural product processing to improve productivity, labor quality as well as enhance investment value. Accordingly, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Center is one of the typical units in pioneering agricultural processing factories in large raw material areas.

Initially, Doveco plans to deploy three lines, including concentrated fruit juice and puree processing lines, design capacity of 20,000 tons per year, Italian technology and equipment; Frozen fruit and vegetable processing line, design capacity of 10,000 tons of products per year; Japanese technology and equipment; Canned fruit and vegetable processing line, design capacity of 20,000 tons of products per year, technology and equipment from Italy and Germany.

To date, the company has installed an additional iron can processing line, with a capacity of 300 cans/minute, and a label freeze-drying line, with a capacity of 120 tons per day to suit the raw material area and product structure in Son La province. The product results from Doveco's research process contribute to changing the face and agricultural economy of the Son La ethnic group and the Northwest provinces. The second is to create jobs for agricultural and service workers. The third is to change the production practices of farmers.

Before coming to Son La, the Doveco people struggled in many difficult lands. Older people must still remember the song: "Whoever passes through Quan Chao, Dong Giao - Pink cheeks are left behind, pale ones follow" to talk about the difficulties of the raw material area where Doveco Ninh Binh was standing for more than half a century ago.

With initiative, flexibility, and daring to think and do things, from the initial Dong Giao State Farm, Doveco people boldly changed crops from coffee to pineapples in the 1970s, followed by constructing the first IQF freezer house in 1978. The green of vegetables and fruits and the voices and laughter of generations of workers and employees increasingly enrich thousands of hectares of fertile red soil.

Continuing to move forward, in 2019, Doveco inaugurated a processing center in Gia Lai, with a capacity of 52,000 tons of products per year. This is the first agricultural product processing enterprise to appear in the area. At the same time, it opened a boom period in the development of high-tech agriculture associated with the processing industry of agricultural products. To date, 43 processing factories have followed in Doveco's footsteps and appeared in Gia Lai, promoting rural industrialization and improving the lives of local people.

From the success of factories in Ninh Binh, Gia Lai, and Son La, it is not an exaggeration to say that Doveco's presence helps significantly change the face of the land where they set foot. Not only does it create jobs, Doveco also contributes to building and forming the agricultural economy, promoting related service industries, and changing the production practices of farmers towards goods on a large scale.

To ensure sustainable production of linked raw material areas, the company also makes initial investments for farmers participating in the link, such as providing seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides at preferential prices or allowing deductions for products when harvested. During farming, the unit will send staff to help people monitor, supervise, and guide the production process according to proper techniques, ensuring food safety and hygiene.

Therefore, Mr. Dinh Cao Khue affirmed: "Wherever we arrive, whether it is Ninh Binh, Gia Lai or Son La, we are committed to purchasing all qualified products produced by local people. When the market price exceeds the signed price, the company will purchase at the market price."

Author: Tung Dinh

Translated by Huong Giang