To expand the official export of dragon fruit, the first standard must be met, which is to be granted a growing area code and a packaging facility code. There are 653 growing area codes for dragon fruit for export.
Binh Thuan is the “capital” of dragon fruit production in the country and is considered the main crop of this province. According to the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection of Binh Thuan, the whole province currently has nearly 28,000 hectares of dragon fruit with an output of more than 600,000 tons.
Binh Thuan dragon fruit is mainly consumed in two forms: domestic and export. Of which, the domestic market only consumes about 15% of the output, the rest is for export. Up to now, Binh Thuan dragon fruit has been exported to more than 20 markets, mainly in Asia including Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Qatar, India, United Arab Emirates – UAE and some European countries such as Germany, Netherlands, Russia, Spain); America (Canada, USA); Oceania (Australia, New Zealand).
Mr. Do Van Bao, Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Binh Thuan Province, said that some countries such as China, the United States, Australia, South Korea, Japan, etc. require Vietnamese dragon fruit to have a growing area code before being allowed to export. In other words, in order to be able to export to these markets, dragon fruit must first meet the standard of being granted a growing area code and a packaging facility code.
In the past, in Binh Thuan, the management and issuance of new growing area codes and packaging facility codes for exported dragon fruit have been carried out in accordance with regulations. Up to now, the whole province has 653 growing area codes for exported dragon fruit and 318 packaging facility codes for dragon fruit. Of these, 596 growing area codes are in operation, including 10 export codes to Japan, 81 export codes to the US, 94 export codes to China, 119 export codes to South Korea, 146 export codes to New Zealand and 146 export codes to Australia.
According to the Binh Thuan Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the locality currently has 249 dragon fruit packing facility codes in operation, including: 1 export code to Japan, 2 export codes to the US, 225 export codes to China, 1 export code to South Korea, 10 export codes to New Zealand and 10 export codes to Australia.
According to Mr. Do Van Bao, since the province implemented the coding of dragon fruit growing areas, it has brought many benefits such as standardizing the process of caring for and managing crops, managing the growing area, providing standard procedures for caring for and managing diseases, planning care, a list of permitted pesticides and estimating productivity, etc., thereby bringing confidence to consumers.
For some markets, this is a passport. Establishing and granting codes for growing areas and agricultural product packaging facilities is a mandatory requirement of some markets and international practices to comply with the regulations of importing countries on plant quarantine, food safety and traceability”, Mr. Bao shared. Continue to promote the granting of codes for growing areas and packaging facilities.
According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Binh Thuan, recently, the number of growing area codes and packaging facility codes in the province has not only increased significantly but also ensured quality, meeting current regulations.
In addition to the main crop of dragon fruit, the province has begun to expand other crops such as bananas, mangoes, longans, durians, etc. The work of establishing and granting codes for growing areas and packaging facilities is strictly carried out in accordance with regulations.
According to the Head of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Binh Thuan, the provincial agricultural sector has also required organizations and individuals to comply with regulations on growing area codes and packaging facility codes of the import market. In particular, strictly comply with China’s animal quarantine as well as related regulations.
Growing areas and export packaging facilities that have been granted codes need to strengthen strict control of Chinese plant quarantine objects. Packaging facilities must fully implement technical measures to ensure the cleaning of harmful organisms on goods before export; as well as have a mechanism to monitor the packaging process at the facility.
In the coming time, we will strengthen close coordination with localities to continue implementing new issuance work, as well as inspect and monitor growing areas and packaging facilities that have been granted codes, to avoid impersonation of codes as well as violations related to the use of codes”, emphasized the leader of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection of Binh Thuan.
Mr. Trinh Anh Hao, owner of Trinh Anh Hao dragon fruit farm, in Ham Minh commune, Ham Thuan Nam district (Binh Thuan) said that his farm has 30 hectares of dragon fruit that have been granted a growing area code since 2020, with an output of about 1,000 tons/year. Currently, his dragon fruit garden produces according to GlobalGAP standards and is linked with companies exporting dragon fruit to markets such as Japan, China, etc. He believes that the farm being granted a growing area code is the key to improving quality, reputation and expanding the market for the products.
Source: According to nongnghiep.vn
