Da Nang is planning to allocate a total area of 540ha in Hoa Vang District's 7 suburban communes to develop high-tech farms in order to supply more high-quality and safe agricultural products for local customers.

A local safe vegetable farm ( Photo: VNS)

Director of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Phu Ban remarked that the plan is part of the strategy to develop Da Nang as a safe tourism destination, as well as a centre of nano-industry and world-class high-tech farms.

Director Ban said the city has allocated 130ha for safe vegetable farming and 310ha for aquaculture and livestock.  “The city has granted certifications of safety and quality to 12 local farms, and recognised brand names in La Huong and Tuy Loan villages.  These farms’ products are now eligible for sale at major supermarkets in the city,” he said.

The city has a total of 50 farms but together they meet only 10% of the total demand for vegetables and agricultural products from local customers.  “We are unable to bring our products to local supermarkets because most farmers in the communes have yet to achieve the supermarkets’ required standards of packaging and quality,” said the Head of Hoa Tien Commune’s Mushroom Farm, Nguyen Thi Mai Hoang.

“Our farm has small productivity and limited investment.  Our products are only supplied to local residents at rural markets and through vendors,” she said.

A spokeperson for Co-op Mart said the supermarket has strict requirements for local agricultutral products, including quality, safety and hygiene standards, as well as registered labels.

All local supermarkets welcome 'made-in Da Nang' products, but local farmers have yet to supply sufficient quality products, including vegetable, seafood and quarantined poultry.  The city is helping local farms to get the Viet Nam Agriculture Practice (VietGAP) green label certificate.

The introduction of high-tech farm centres could supply enough safe food for local residents and visitors.  Currently, the majority of vegetables, roots and poultry are provided by businesses the provinces of Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Quang Nam, and other northern localities.

According to a report by the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, the city of 950,000 consumes need a total of 145,000 tonnes of seafood and 140,000 tonnes of vegetables per year.

At a meeting earlier this year, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung, remarked that only high-quality products with a clear source of origin are allowed to be on sale at wholesale markets and shopping centres in 2017.

(Source: VNS)