Lam Dong builds a map of organic agriculture development

Expanding organic production area

According to the Agriculture Extension Center of Lam Dong province, up to now, the agricultural sector has supported people, farmer organizations and businesses in the area to implement organic agricultural models. By the end of 2021, the locality has supported and built models such as organic macadamia with a scale of 5 hectares at Viet Macadamia Company Limited (Di Linh district, Lam Dong); organic coffee with a scale of 5.6 hectares at Do Tung Organic Coffee Cooperative Group (Hoa Bac commune, Di Linh district); organic asparagus production model at Langbiang Asparagus Cooperative (Lam Ha district) with a scale of 4.8 hectares...

In addition, the agricultural sector of Lam Dong province also supported and built a model of organic rice with a scale of 10 hectares in Cat Tien district, a model of organic root vegetables on a scale of 1 hectare in Da Lat City and a durian production model. organic farming at Ha Lam Agricultural and Tourism Cooperative (Da Huoai district) with a scale of 10 hectares.

Mr. Tran Van Tuan, Director of Lam Dong Agricultural Extension Center, said that in addition to building new models, Lam Dong continues to develop organic agriculture in certified models. In which, including 137 hectares of organic dairy cows with about 2,000 dairy cows at Organic Organic Dairy Farm Dalat; 10ha of vegetable production at Thien Sinh Farm (Don Duong district); 14 hectares of vegetables at Univer Farm Don Duong Co., Ltd; 20 hectares of cashew production in Mr. Nguyen Cong Nhuong's family garden (Da Teh district)...

To develop organic agriculture, over the past time, Lam Dong has conducted a survey and assessment of the current status of organic production in the whole area. Thereby identifying areas eligible to expand organic production.

Mr. Tran Van Tuan, Director of Lam Dong Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, said that, along with mapping, surveying and evaluation, the unit has developed a draft of 17 organic processes for key crops and livestock.

The Center also organizes training classes, training and transferring organic agricultural production processes for agricultural staff, businesses, and farmers. The training content introduces an overview of the Organic Agriculture Development Project in Lam Dong province; regulations and standards in organic agriculture; organic farming and husbandry processes that are suitable for each locality," said Mr. Tran Van Tuan.

Aim for 1,600 hectares of organic agriculture

Regarding the advantages of developing organic agriculture, Mr. Tran Van Tuan said, Lam Dong province is diverse in crops and livestock and has a large scale of agricultural production area applying high technology. This is an advantage in developing organic agriculture that few localities have.

In addition, farmers have high farming skills, quickly absorb new technologies and have formed the habit of using organic fertilizers, biological pesticides, and herbs in production. "These are advantages, premises and a great opportunity for Lam Dong to develop organic agriculture," said Mr. Tran Van Tuan, director of Lam Dong Agricultural Extension Center.

In the year 2020 - 2021, organic products are heavily affected by disrupted supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There is fierce competition in the domestic and foreign markets and Vietnam's organic certification has not been recognized internationally, so expanding the market for organic products is still tricky.

With potential and advantages, in the coming time, Lam Dong's agriculture industry aims to develop about 70 hectares of organic crops with a total output of about 690 tonnes of products, 500 dairy cows meeting organic standards with a total production of about 690 tonnes of products. Milk volume is about 1,500 tonnes.

Particularly in 2022, Lam Dong Agricultural Extension Center organizes support to build and issue 6 certificates to organizations and individuals investing in applying production according to organic agricultural standards.

"Currently, the market for organic products is a big problem. Therefore, we will focus on supporting people to build 2 brands of organic products. We will support organizations and individuals that produce organic production in 3 trade promotions through supporting freight costs, renting booths to open fairs and exhibitions at domestic and international fairs," shared Mr. Tran Van Tuan.

According to the Scheme for organic agriculture development in Lam Dong province in the period 2020 - 2025, by 2025, the cultivation area of organic agriculture in the whole province will reach about 1,600 hectares for key crops such as vegetables, tubers, fruits, fruit trees, rice, coffee, tea, macadamia, medicinal herbs, mushrooms. The herd of organic livestock includes 2,000 organic dairy cows, 400 beef cows, and 20,000 organic chickens for eggs.