Hanoi steps up organic farming for sustainable agriculture

Hanoi has expanded organic agricultural plantations, a development strategy for safe and sustainable agriculture that produces high-value goods with little negative impact on the environment.

Organic agricultural production, said Vu Thi Huong, Director of the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center under the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, would meet consumer demand by bringing delicious and clean products to the market and boosting farmers' incomes.

"Hanoi currently has 2,000 hectares of organic crops and about ten hectares of organic aquaculture. Many organic farming models have initially brought high economic efficiency, in line with the development trend of modern agriculture. Recently, the center has been actively supporting localities to build VietGAP and organic farming extension models as a prerequisite for high-quality products after 3-5 years," Huong said.

A model of hi-tech and organic vegetable production in Hoai Duc District, Hanoi. Photo: Tran Tam/The Hanoi Times

Located on the outskirts of Hanoi, Soc Son has 16 high-tech agricultural production models, including organic chicken farming, organic pork farming, organic mushroom farming, and others. Nguyen Van Thang, director of Trung Gia Agricultural Services and General Business Cooperative, said the cooperative has invested billions of VND to build a processing, packaging, and preservation house for organic and VietGAP-compliant vegetables on nearly two hectares of organic farmland. 

"Thanks to the quality of the products, the cooperative's organic vegetables are sold stably, with an income 10-15% higher than that of traditional vegetable production," Thang told The Hanoi Times.

"At the same time, it is necessary to ensure food safety and hygiene, create clean and safe agricultural products, and develop high-quality, sustainable, and environmentally friendly agriculture. Soc Son District is committed to providing maximum support to high-tech and organic production units from production to brand promotion and product consumption," Tuan stressed.

According to Nguyen Manh Phuong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the department will coordinate with localities to plan concentrated plantations of organic agricultural products in line with high market demand and local ecological conditions to achieve breakthroughs in productivity and quality.

To give farmers a competitive edge in the market, the city's agriculture department is helping them create and develop their brands for organic agricultural products, and linking these brands to the standards of the One Commune One Product Program (OCOP). In addition, the district government will organize more trade fairs, search online marketplaces for the goods, and help businesses and cooperatives get organic goods into distribution channels and for export, Phuong said.

Organic agricultural production is the "key" to developing modern agriculture, ensuring the harmony of stakeholders' interests. Bui Thi Hanh Hieu, General Director of Bao Minh Agricultural Products Processing Joint Stock Company in Hoang Mai District, told The Hanoi Times that the company is currently working with farmers in organic rice production on about 20,000 hectares in 20 provinces and cities.

"Thanks to the organic rice production chain, the company's products are quality-assured and available in most supermarkets nationwide," Hieu added.