To meet the increasingly high standards of domestic and international markets, the authorities and farmers of Can Tho City are actively shifting towards an agricultural economy mindset, focusing on producing high-quality, safe, and environmentally friendly agricultural products.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Den's kumquat orchard in Tan Hoa commune, Can Tho City.

Shifting production towards "green, clean" and high-quality methods not only helps farmers increase their income but also actively contributes to environmental protection and sustainable rural economic development. Ms. Nguyen Thi Den from Tan Hoa commune said: "Previously, my family grew kumquats, but the production costs were quite high due to heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides. The fruit sales depended entirely on traders, so prices and outlets were unstable. Recently, I switched to clean, organic production and partnered with businesses to secure our products. As a result, I can sell at a higher price, earn a better income, and at the same time contribute to reducing negative impacts on the environment while protecting the health of both producers and consumers”.

With 5 hectares of kumquat trees, Ms. Den harvests 20-25 tons per month, with all of her produce purchased by businesses. Each hectare of kumquats can yield about 60 tons per year, selling at an average price of 8,000 VND/kg. After deducting expenses, she earns over 160 million VND in profit per hectare. According to Ms. Den, since 2019, her family has been producing under strict contracts, utilizing organic fertilizers, and carefully controlling input materials according to the procedures and techniques guided by buyers and relevant authorities. Based on her success, Ms. Den actively connects with and guides local growers to apply this process, helping them secure guaranteed purchase agreements. 

Faced with the impacts of climate change and rising input costs, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Can Tho City is actively supporting and guiding farmers to shift from a production-maximizing mindset to one that maximizes economic value. This aims to improve production efficiency while protecting the environment and promoting sustainable production. Can Tho has over 530,000 hectares of agricultural land, of which approximately 293,000 hectares are rice-growing land, producing over 4.6 million tons…

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city has 3,897 hectares of rice, vegetables, and fruit trees belonging to households and cooperatives certified to VietGAP and Global GAP standards; and 20,759 hectares of rice produced organically. Notably, 104,500 hectares of rice are produced under the Sustainable Development Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. The city is striving to increase this area to over 170,800 hectares by 2030, with the participation of 171 cooperatives and cooperative groups in 64 communes and wards.

KHANH TRUNG (Translated by Thanh Truc)