Ninh Binh waits in front for organic agriculture trend

Identifying challenges

Despite many efforts, organic agriculture and ecological agriculture in Ninh Binh province are still facing many challenges.

The first challenge is that the area of certified organic farming is still modest, only 25.9 hectares - a very small number that is not commensurate with the potential and advantages of the province.

Second, land ownership is still fragmented, making it difficult to apply closed organic processes and traceability, certification according to international standards.

In addition, high production costs due to higher prices of organic fertilizers and biological products than inorganic fertilizers, while the productivity of organic products is still limited and prices are unstable, causing farmers to lack motivation to convert. The impact of social conditions such as aging agricultural labourers, lack of qualified young workforce, along with climate change (drought, flooding, saline intrusion, etc.) also directly affects organic farming, especially in rice and aquaculture production.

In addition, the process and procedures to obtain organic certification are very strict, requiring time and costs, causing many models to stop at "Organic production" and not be able to proceed to official certification.

On the other hand, many organic agricultural production enterprises are facing difficulties in consuming products, due to the lack of clear distinction between organic products and conventional products.

Bui Van Tung, Director of Thanh Tung NB Organic Agricultural Cooperative, shared that the biggest concern is that organic products are "mixed with ordinary products". Consumers lack information and cannot distinguish between quality organic products, which affects the reputation of genuine producers.

Pham Tien Duat, Deputy Director of Vu Gia Medicinal Materials Company, emphasised the need for support from the State. In addition to promoting communication so that consumers can recognise and trust in choosing organic products, the State also needs to have support policies so that businesses can achieve organic certifications, especially international certifications, thereby enhancing their reputation and competitiveness in the market, he said.

Potential and advantages for breakthroughs

After its mergence with Nam Dinh and Ha Nam provinces, new Ninh Binh province has a large and diverse agricultural development space, which is considered one of the unique advantages for strongly developing organic agriculture.

With the terrain of "mountains and water" and the convergence of the geographical characteristics of all three regions: The Red River Delta, the Northwest and the North Central, Ninh Binh possesses many different ecological sub-regions. Each region is suitable for a typical organic product: hilly, mountainous and semi-mountainous sub-regions are favourable for developing hill-forest economy, growing specialty trees and animals, and medicinal plants.

The low-lying sub-region has strengths for rice-fish, aquatic products, and waterfowl production; the suburban sub-region develops high-tech vegetable and flower production; the delta sub-region develops rice and vegetable production. In particular, with 90 km of coastline, this is a great advantage for brackish water aquaculture, seed production, and offshore exploitation.

In addition, Ninh Binh has many famous agricultural specialties such as Dai Hoang royal banana, Dong Giao pineapple, Kim Son sticky rice, Nam Dinh xoan rice, Tong Truong perch, and Kim Son clams. These are products with great potential to develop in an organic direction and increase value.

In addition, being a globally famous tourist destination has created a strong lever for Ninh Binh to develop multi-value agriculture. The models of "tourist fields" and "organic farms with experiences" have great room for development, turning agricultural products into unique tourism products, bringing high economic value.

To make the most of the above advantages, Ninh Binh is building a strategic vision and breakthrough policies. Accordingly, the province is shaping an ecological, organic, safe, circular, multi-value agriculture with the application of high technology and digital agricultural development. Strategic goals include focusing on developing specialty, endemic, and characteristic agricultural products to serve tourism; forming concentrated commodity production areas of appropriate scale; promoting processing and preservation industries; and developing agricultural economy associated with the Red River Delta and Hanoi capital.

Nguyen Sinh Tien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ninh Binh, said: “The biggest challenge now is how to expand the scale of organic production. With the potential of the province, the agricultural sector has focused on consulting and proposing solutions, especially through mechanisms and policies for sustainable agricultural development.”

It will support organic rice production, the use of specialty varieties, organic fertilizers and building production chains; issue separate support policies for the production of organic vegetables, tubers, fruits, flowers and medicinal plants to serve tourism; assist with the production of specialty products to achieve organic certification; and build the province's brand and trademark.

With a strategic vision, Ninh Binh is waiting in front for organic agriculture trends, building a modern and sustainable agriculture, not only ensuring food security but also increasing product value, creating livelihoods and contributing significantly to sustainable development in the future./.