The Cao Phong orange has emerged as a shining example of sustainable agricultural development in Hoa Binh province, distinguished as the first and only locally produced agricultural product to receive a geographical indication certification. Renowned for its thin skin, juicy flesh, and delicate sweet flavour, the fruit has won the heart of consumers for years. Local farmers have made their efforts to cultivate environmentally friendly and consumer-safe products, creating a stable and sustainable brand identity.
Nguyen Van Truong, a farmer in De hamlet, Bac Phong commune, visits his orange orchard.
Nguyen Van Truong, a farmer from De hamlet in Bac Phong commune, represents the pinnacle of this agricultural ethos. His 17-year-old orange orchard stands as a testament to safe cultivation practices. Truong invested more than 600 million VND (over 23,600 USD) in land improvement, irrigational system, and fertiliser for sustainable plantation practices.
Grown under VietGAP standards, Cao Phong orange boats exceptional taste and ensure absolute consumer safety. Although the method may reduce overall yield as compared to traditional techniques, it is a strategic choice for many farmers who want to maintain, preserve and develop local orange brand.
Agricultural cooperatives have strictly complied with clean orange cultivation over the recent past. Notably, 3TFarm has converted more than 20 hectares of orange plantations to VietGAP standards, committing to supplying the market with environmentally-friendly and safe products.
Cao Phong district is now home to over 715 hectares of oranges. It expects to harvest 20,348 tonnes of the fruit this crop, enjoying an average yield of 302 quintals per hectare.
While only 172 hectares are currently certified under VietGAP, all of the orange plantations are using biological compounds and microbial fertilisers to create safe, high-quality, and ecologically responsible agricultural products.
According to Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee Bui Hoai Nhi, along with improving the fruit’s quality, the district has paid due regard to protecting and developing its orange brand through the careful selection of seedling varieties, management over production process, and establishment of traceability system, among others.
Besides, the locality has invested in concentrated plantation infrastructure and supported local producers to obtain food safety certifications.
No success is easy, especially for a mountainous province like Hoa Binh, which still faces many difficulties. In the process of economic restructuring, the locality encounters various challenges, ranging from weak infrastructure, ineffective investment attraction, to barriers in awareness. However, it has taken effective solutions to overcome obstacles hindering economic development.
A revolution is unfolding in Hoa Binh province, with broad roads stretching across the terrain, industrial zones humming with machinery, organic vegetable fields rolling out in vibrant green expanses, and tourism destinations emerging, rich with cultural identity.
The Youth Union of Hoa Binh city has launched a series of initiatives to foster entrepreneurship, providing members with opportunities to showcase their potential and contribute to local development.
In recent years, the cooperative economy in Hoa Binh province has made significant progress, particularly in the agricultural sector. This development has contributed not only to local economic growth but also to improving livelihoods, promoting rural development, and protecting the environment.
