In order to increase the value of Binh Phuoc cashew brand name, farmers are step by step changing their farming methods to meet the strict technical requirements of difficult markets.
People collect and sell cashew in the border district of Bu Gia Map. (Photo: K SENDH / TTXVN)
With an area of 175,000 hectares, Binh Phuoc is considered the "capital" of cashew of the country, this is also the land that is considered to have the quality of "the best cashew in the world".
In order to increase the value of Binh Phuoc cashew brand name, farmers here are gradually changing their farming methods to meet the strict technical requirements of demanding markets such as the EU and the United States. to bring Binh Phuoc cashew products to world level.
Pursue the organic cashew dream
Mr. Dung Quy Dong, a farmer with nearly 40 years of experience in cultivating agricultural crops in the land of Song Be, Binh Phuoc, said that after his success with durian and green pomelo farms, Mr. Dong was still concerned with contrary to this land which is known as "capital".
“Want to create high added value for cashew fruit, there is no other way but to apply organic farming standards to be able to export products to potential markets such as the US, Europe, My wish is that with 1 hectare of cultivated cashew according to organic standards each year can earn 10,000 USD, "said Mr. Dong.
To pursue his dream of organic cashew, in 2017, Mr. Dong embarked on organic farming. With a rigorous process supervised by European agencies, from soil preparation, cashew seed, care process, seed quality ... after 2 years, Mr. Dong was certified organic farming up to American standards. and the EU.
“In September 2020, I officially held 2 certificates of organic farming according to European and American standards, and was granted a 'code' to global farmers. My current job is to multiply and develop organic cashew acreage to make a profit, "Mr. Dong said happily.
Visiting the 20-hectare cashew garden of Mr. Dung Quy Dong in Tan Hung commune, Dong Phu district (Binh Phuoc), we were surprised by the garden of "ten trees as one." Garden with information: cashew NP1, number of plants 5,100 trees, planting date May 20, 2018.
“Currently, my total cashew growing area is 420 hectares; of which, 200ha has been certified organic according to European and American standards. Organic cashew orchards are grown in Phu Giao district (Binh Duong) and Bu Gia Map district (Binh Phuoc). Particularly, cashew orchards in Phu Giao district have begun to harvest, "said Mr. Dong.
According to Mr. Dong, with the planting method according to organic standards and the cultivated varieties are now, the output reaches over 3 tons / ha. While the yield of normal cultivated cashew according to the traditional methods of growing people is only about 1-1.5 tons / ha.
“The process to be European assessment of cashew organic standards within 20-24 months. Most importantly, it is farming that is oriented towards the natural environment, which means letting the plants grow on their own and absolutely not pumping pesticides, pesticides and limiting herbicides. In addition, the way European agencies evaluate the reality at the garden is that the arable land must be loose, the orchard must have other insects such as weaver ants or bees to nest. This is one of the conditions that European agencies often pay attention to, "said Dong.
Say no to pesticides
According to Mr. Dong, the soil preparation process for the ogarnic cashew orchard is quite simple, when making the soil, farmers need to apply a lot of organic fertilizer to create initial nutrition, helping the soil to be loose. Then let the orchard grow normally, do not add chemical fertilizers.
In particular, in the process of growth, plants have to "say no" to pesticides. The goal is an agriculture without using pesticides.
Classification of cashew nuts at the factory of Binh Phuoc Cashew Processing Enterprise and Agricultural Products (Corporation of Vegetables and Agricultural Products). (Photo: Dinh Hue / VNA)
Previously, with the traditional cultivation method, cashew orchard 20 hectares, every year, Mr. Dong spent more than 1 billion VND to buy pesticides for plants.
Every 15 days to spray insecticide once. Meanwhile, since moving to organic cashew farming from 2018 to now, Mr. Dong's 420ha of cashew does not cost any pesticide.
According to Mr. Dong, in nature, there are beneficial and harmful natural enemies. While if using pesticides, the garden will have harmful natural enemies and gradually harmful natural enemies will gradually get used to and adapt to pesticides .
Therefore, if after 15 days, if the farmer does not re-spray the insecticide, these harmful natural enemies will grow very quickly and destroy the orchard.
Mr. Dong said that Vietnam has now signed EVFTA agreements with Europe, so when farmers do not cultivate according to European standards, they do not consume their goods.
“This is also the motivation for me to follow the organic standard for my cashew orchards. With more than 420 hectares grown according to organic standards, hopefully each year I will earn in foreign currency about $ 4 million, "said farmer Dung Quy Dong.
Organic farming is an inevitable trend
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bu Gia Map district, said that the current products of Binh Phuoc cashew have been given geographical indications. Binh Phuoc cashew products are rated as the best quality in the world.
Meanwhile, cashew nuts grown in Bu Gia Map district are considered to be of the best quality in Binh Phuoc province.
Because of this problem, when the cashew harvest season occurs, some people carry cashew nuts from other districts to Bu Gia Map district to sell at a price of 2,000-3,000 VND / kg higher than that in other districts.
At present, Bu Gia Map district has more than 25,000 hectares of cashew cultivation, so moving towards organic cashew cultivation method will be a necessary direction in the trend of the current world market.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Deputy Director of Binh Phuoc Department of Industry and Trade, said that Europe is a new and demanding market, so it is important that when we do business with European businesses, we must be transparent about the origin of our exports. Origin of products and goods, clear product quality announcement.
The most important thing is to create trust with partners and consumers. When the belief is confirmed, cashew products of Binh Phuoc will thrive in the EU market.
At a dialogue with 260 good farmers in the area recently, Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Secretary of the Binh Phuoc Provincial Party Committee, said that in the current period, the cashew industry is facing many difficulties due to low prices.
However, even in difficult times, the organic cashew certified organic products are even more valuable.
"The difficulty is also an opportunity for farmers and the cooperatives to produce clean cashew nuts to assert their role and position in the market," said Mr. Loi.
According to the People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province, in 2020, the province's cashew export turnover strives to reach 800 million USD, by 2025 it is 900 million USD, by 2030 will reach 1 billion USD./.