Vietnams organic farming expansion faster than world average

Quang Nam (VNA) – The total organic farming area in Vietnam expanded from 12,120ha to 76,666ha between 2007 and 2015, faster than the global average pace, said Director of the Vietnam Agricultural Extension Centre Tran Van Khoi.

An organic vegetable farm in Pho Yen town of Thai Nguyen province (Photo: VNA)

He said at a forum in Tam Ky city, in the central province of Quang Nam, on July 20 that organic cultivation and aquaculture models have been applied in 33 provinces and cities nationwide.

Organic farming is considered a solution for restructuring the agricultural sector towards higher added value and sustainable development, especially amid the notable risks of chemical farming and the exhaustion of land and water resources, he noted.

In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has encouraged organic agricultural practices, including using more organic fertilisers, reducing chemical fertilisers, and controlling diseases in a biological manner.

More and more farms and cooperatives have adopted these practices and harvested initial outcomes, Khoi said, adding that some farms have already gained decent profits from exporting organic vegetables.

Some participants in the forum said organic agriculture in Vietnam is only in its initial stage, and there are problems in managing and implementing this type of farming, including insufficient capital and obstacles to accessing preferential loans. 

Although the MARD has issued a set of organic farming standards, there haven’t been detailed instructions on how to certify organic agricultural products. Meanwhile, there haven’t been any organisations tasked with granting certificates for organic farming products, so these products have yet to win the trust of consumers.

It is necessary to have a uniform management system and supportive policies to create development opportunities for organic agriculture, participants said.

At the event, representatives of managerial and research agencies, farmers, and businesses and relevant partners shared information and their experiences regarding organic farming practices in Vietnam and around the world.

They also looked into the outcomes of some organic farming models in the central provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen.