Xuan Loc Commune promotes clean agriculture, opening a sustainable path for local farmers

Aiming towards sustainable agricultural development, Xuan Loc Commune in Dong Nai Province has, in recent years, accelerated the establishment of clean and organic farming models. This is seen as a long-term direction aimed at enhancing product quality, safeguarding public health, and creating a competitive advantage for local farm produce. In particular, the Suoi Cat Vegetable Cooperative stands out as a pioneer in shifting to VietGAP-compliant cultivation and adopting circular farming model, gradually affirming the value of clean agricultural products from Xuan Loc.

Organically grown cucumber garden of Suoi Cat Vegetable Cooperative, Xuan Loc Commune. Photo: Dang Hung

Suoi Cat Vegetable Cooperative currently manages 15.5 hectares dedicated to vegetables and fruits. Each year, the cooperative supplies around 360 tonnes of vegetables and fruits, along with 250 tonnes of leafy greens to the market. In 2023, all its products received VietGAP certification, marking an important milestone in ensuring quality, food safety, and boosting consumer confidence.

Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of Suoi Cat Vegetable Cooperative, shared that VietGAP-oriented production and circular agriculture are the cooperative’s long-term strategies. Although immediate results are not yet obvious – with lower yields, less uniform product appearance, and selling prices only on par with those of traditionally grown produce – the sustainable benefits lie in protecting the health of both producers and consumers while minimising negative impacts on the environment.

Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of Suoi Cat vegetable Cooperative, Xuan Loc Commune, speaks to reporters about organic vegetable production. Photo: Dang Hung

The cooperative's greatest challenge is securing stable markets for its clean agricultural products. Despite high quality and standardised production, Suoi Cat’s VietGAP-certified vegetables have yet to access major distribution channels due to intense competition and strict requirements on quantity and uniformity. As a result, most of the cooperative’s output is sold to traditional buyers, largely based on their long-standing trust. “We are struggling to expand our markets. If we had more stable distribution channels, the cooperative would confidently increase its farming area and improve production quality,” Hong said.

Organically grown cucumbers have uneven and imperfect shapes but guaranteed quality. Photo: Dang Hung

With current market prices of vegetables and fruits remaining high, such as gourds at 16,000 VND/kg, cucumbers at 14,000 VND/kg, and leafy greens at around 10,000 VND/kg, stable production helps farmers increase their income. According to the cooperative’s calculations, if cultivation is well managed and prices remain stable, each hectare of vegetables can generate an average annual revenue of around 450 million VND. Hong’s farm currently provides regular employment for eight workers earning around 8 million VND per month, and seasonal jobs for about 30 local labourers with a daily wage of 300,000 VND.

Beyond bringing economic benefits, clean vegetable production also ensures safer working conditions by limiting exposure to harmful chemicals. Nguyen Thi Le, a worker at the cooperative, shared: “The farms here use only biological fertilisers, so it is very safe. We can work without masks and don’t have to worry about chemicals affecting our health. It gives us peace of mind to work in the long run.”

A worker harvests cucumbers at the Suoi Cat vegetable Cooperative in Xuan Loc Commune. Photo: Dang Hung

To support residents and cooperatives in developing clean agriculture, Xuan Loc authorities have actively worked to connect supply with demand and promote local products. The commune has coordinated with businesses, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms to place products on modern distribution channels, while also assisting cooperatives with brand development, traceability labelling, OCOP participation, and maintenance of VietGAP certification.

Ho Van Tai, Chairman of Xuan Loc Farmers’ Association, stated that the locality will continue to accompany Suoi Cat vegetable Cooperative in assessing and renewing VietGAP certification, while recommending that the province provide capital support from the Farmers’ Support Fund for organic farming models. "We hope that clean and safe production models will be expanded to enhance the value of agricultural products and increase farmers’ incomes,” Tai emphasised.

Ho Van Tai, Chairman of Xuan Loc Farmers’ Association (middle), discusses the commune’s orientation for clean agricultural development. Photo: Dang Hung

To develop sustainable organic and clean agriculture, Xuan Loc farmers believe that strong coordination among the “four stakeholders”, including farmers, the State, scientists, and enterprises, is essential. Such comprehensive collaboration would establish a closed chain of production, processing, and consumption, ensuring stable output, improving product quality, and motivating farmers to invest confidently in production.

With the proactive involvement of local authorities and farmers' determination, clean agriculture in Xuan Loc is expected to continue thriving, contributing to Dong Nai Province's goal of building a sustainable agricultural sector.

By Le Thuy, Dang Hung – Translated by My le, Thu Ha