Management of planting area and packaging facility codes is a key point in traceability and geographical indications for a number of major agricultural products of Hoa Binh province in order to meet export conditions. Therefore, issuance of planting area codes as well as good implementation of traceability are identified by the provincial agricultural sector as an opportunity to increase competitiveness of agricultural products in both domestic and export markets.
In recent years, the province has encouraged organisations and individuals to register for planting area and packaging facility codes in order to have more "passports" for the province’s agricultural products to go to the world.
Leaders of the provincial sub-department of crop cultivation and plant protection check cultivation diary of a pomelo household who has been granted a planting area code in Ngoc Luong commune, Yen Thuy district.
In late 2023, farmers in Luong Son district exported the first batch of Dien pomelos to the US market. Before export, the pomelos had been tested to ensure they met 900 food safety inspection criteria according to the requirements of the EU and the regulations of the importing country.
Earlier in the same year, Cao Phong district exported seven tonnes of fresh oranges to the UK market. Sample packages sent to the UK were cleared without any problems with food safety and origin.
So far, under the direction of the province and with support from specialised and local agencies, 389.77 hectares of fruit and five packaging facilities have been granted with export planting area and packaging codes by the plant protection authority and approved by importing countries. Since then, there have been a number of agricultural products that meet all export requirements to the markets of the UK, the US, China, the EU.
In the first six months of 2024, the province's total export volume of agricultural products reached 725 tonnes, with an export value of about 31.6 billion VND, an increase of about 10% over the same period last year.
Nguyen Hong Yen, Director of the sub-department of crop cultivation and plant protection, said that while it is difficult to acquire a planting area code, it is even harder to maintain the required conditions to keep the code. If the management is relaxed, shipments of exported agricultural products will meet regulations of importing countries, leading to a potential risk of reducing market share.
Hoa Binh province’s economy posted an impressive Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate of 12.67% in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 12.76% year-on-year increase, the highest rate recorded since the beginning of the current tenure, according to the provincial Statistics Office. This robust growth reflects years of strategic groundwork and sets a strong foundation for the province’s annual growth target of over 10%.
With a focus on cash crop farming with science - technology application and brand building, Lac Thuy district is gradually increasing production value, improving people's life quality, and laying the foundation for sustainable socio-economic development.
In recent years, the economic development model "Hoa Binh Earthworm Farm” run by Mr. Bui Van Dang in Co Giua Hamlet, My Thanh Commune (Lac Son district) has not only brought stable economic value but it is also environmentally friendly, helping to protect and reduce pollution, contributing to the construction of a green and sustainable agriculture.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
