Agricultural production based on value chains is recognised as a sustainable approach that improves production efficiency and raises farmers' and businesses' incomes. Many enterprises and agricultural cooperatives in Hoa Binh have applied high-tech methods to production, linking their efforts to building value chains for their products.
Currently, many enterprises and
cooperatives in Hoa Binh have engaged in cage fish farming on the Da River have
adopted value chain-based production, contributing to high economic efficiency
and creating jobs for many local workers.
Synchronising
mechanisms, policies for agricultural production in value chains
A value chain refers to a sequence of activities
where each step adds value to the product. In agriculture, this includes input
activities, production, processing, and trade. The agricultural production
chain involves coordination among fertiliser suppliers, seed providers,
livestock breeders, farmers, cooperatives, processing companies, and
distribution channels like markets, supermarkets, and export outlets.
To promote agricultural production through value
chains, increase farmer income, and ensure participants’ rights and
responsibilities, the Government issued Decree No. 98/2018/ND-CP on July 5,
2018, to encourage cooperation and linkage in agricultural production and
consumption. The provincial People's Committee responded by issuing Decision
No. 2793/QD-UBND on December 20, 2018, to approve priority agricultural
products for support and consumption. Furthermore, the Provincial People's
Council passed Resolution No. 226/2019/NQ-HDND on December 11, 2019, focusing
on support for production linkages and consumption of agricultural products
during 2020-2025.
With the issuance of these policies, the
province has built an effective mechanism to implement agricultural production
chains. The provincial People's Committee has integrated production linkages
into socio-economic development plans. Moreover, the province has established
support activities and funding standards for participants in the value chains,
in line with Decree No. 98/2018/ND-CP.
Ha Ngoc Tuan, Chairman of the Hoa Binh
Cooperatives’ Alliance, emphasised that cooperatives play a vital role in
agricultural value chains. With support from central and local authorities,
cooperatives are encouraged to shift to value chain-based production. The
alliance has organised conferences to foster production linkages and product
consumption for agricultural products from cooperative members.
By the end of 2023, the province had over 100
linked production chains providing safe food, covering vegetables, aquatic
products, livestock, and processed products. Four of these chains received
budget support. In 2024, the provincial People's Committee allocated over 166
billion VND (6.52 million USD) for building value chains and approved 12
related projects. These projects are located across districts like Kim Boi, Lac
Son, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, and Da Bac, covering products such as peppers,
vegetables, sweet corn, potatoes, local chickens, sugarcane, and Cao Phong oranges.
Building
sustainable value chains in agriculture
Value chains play a significant role in
agriculture, especially as economies become more integrated globally. Haa
Binh’s agricultural products are not only for domestic consumption but
are also aimed at export. Some of the province’s key agricultural products,
such as Dien Ngoc Luong grapefruit, red-fleshed grapefruit from Tan Lac, and
Cao Phong oranges, are already exported. The province’s agricultural sector
reports that many farming areas in these value chains have received
certifications like VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic product certifications,
enhancing access to larger markets. Additionally, cooperatives and businesses
sign contracts with supermarkets and distributors, ensuring stable product sales.
Despite the successes, challenges remain,
particularly in linking value chain stages and ensuring sustainable
consumption. Vu Thi Le Thuy, Director of 3TFarm Cooperative in Cao Phong,
pointed out that the collection, processing, and consumption stages lack
sustainability, with many intermediaries involved. For example, Cao Phong
orange farmers mostly sell to middlemen. Even though 3TFarm is a well-known
cooperative, it often has to seek sales channels independently, she said.
To address these issues, the Hoa Binh
Cooperative Alliance has organised forums to promote production linkages and
consumption. Tuan suggested that improving human resources in cooperatives
through training is key, along with supporting businesses to collaborate with
cooperatives. Strengthening quality standards and product traceability is
crucial for enhancing competitiveness and ensuring food safety.
Developing agricultural value chains has not
only boosted market competitiveness but also supported sustainable economic
growth. Vuong Dac Hung, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasised the importance of planning and
resource allocation to improve infrastructure, attract investment, and
integrate scientific advances into production. Hung also pointed to the need
for strengthened State management and contract enforcement, and close
supervision of agricultural material market as well as the quality of farm
produce in the process.
After more than four years of implementing a project launched by the Hoa Binh Party Committee’s Standing Board on developing agriculture and promoting product consumption linked with building new-style rural areas for the 2021-2025 period, the province’s industry and trade sector has made significant strides, greatly contributing to local socio-economic development.
Luong Son district has identified 2025 as the year for the accelerated breakthrough to successfully implement the socio-economic development plan for the 5-year period from 2021 to 2025. The district has been focusing on executing the plans and trying to achieve a GRDP growth rate of approximately 15%.
Since the beginning of this year, under the direction of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Sub-Department of Agricultural, Forestry, and Fishery Product Quality Management has strengthened the integration of the professional activities to promote and guide the organizations and individuals in the production and trading of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products to comply with the legal regulations regarding the use of chemicals, pesticides and veterinary medicines in crop cultivation, livestock farming and aquaculture. They also provide guidance to processing and manufacturing establishments on keeping the records to trace the product origins and using food additives from the approved list according to the regulations.
Hoa Binh province saw a significant rise in state budget revenue in the first two months of 2025, heard a meeting chaired by Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Quach Tat Liem.
Ha Thi Ha Chi, a 26-year-old graduate in law, has taken an unconventional path by returning to her hometown in Mai Chau district to establish the Tong Dau Cooperative, creating stable jobs for local women and bringing Thai ethnic brocade weaving to the global market.
As the Lunar New Year 2025 approached, pork prices surged, creating a profitable season for farmers in Tan Vinh commune, Luong Son district. Taking advantage of the rising demand, Can Minh Son, a farmer from Coi hamlet, sold over 30 pigs at 69,000 VND/kg, each weighing more than 100 kg. After deducting expenses, his family earned a profit of over 50 million VND.
