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Where Vietnam’s horticultural challenges meet Dutch solutions | News Article

News | March 16, 2023 | 04:00

After work, 40-year-old Van Pham stopped by the Dalat Hasfarm store near her home and bought two bouquets. A single office lady happily paid her 150,000 VND (6 euros) for 10 roses. A freshly picked rose here is guaranteed to stay fresh for at least 4 days, while the same variety of flowers sells for half the price at the local wet market, but no such guarantee. there is no. Pham belongs to Vietnam’s growing middle-income group, and by 2030 she is expected to reach 36 million, with consumers willing to pay for quality, especially domestic products. It contains.

Horticulture overview

Horticulture, or the cultivation of horticultural plants, is fairly new in Southeast Asian countries compared to the long history of paddy rice cultivation. Many farmers in the country’s traditional rice hub, the Mekong Delta, switched from rice to fruits, vegetables, or flowers decades ago. Diversity has become a natural advantage for the local horticultural sector. However, these favorable conditions are becoming fragile in the face of new challenges such as climate change, sea level rise and overpopulation.

Vietnamese horticulture faces challenges

Vietnamese horticultural experts believe that beneficial organisms (natural enemies) are at risk due to environmental pollution, ecological imbalance, soil acidification, and disproportionate use of fertilizers and pest control agents that contribute to pest resistance. It highlights many issues in this area, such as being destroyed. .

According to the Department of Plant Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, from 2011 to 2020, Vietnam imported and consumed between 70,000 and 100,000 tons of plant protection drugs per year. %, other 12%. Plant protection products were mainly imported from China, India, Germany, Singapore, Thailand and Japan, with imports from China accounting for 57.2%. Monitoring pesticide and fertilizer use is one of the biggest challenges for Vietnam’s agricultural industry. On the other hand, biological control agents are not popular. The use of biological products remains low in the local horticultural sector, according to a survey requested by the Dutch government, presented at the 5th International Exhibition and Conference on Horticulture and Flower Production and Processing Technology in Vietnam (HortEx). Only 15%. Certified by VietGap or GlobalGap at output.

The starting material is also a headache. Even in the Mekong Delta, the country’s largest horticultural region, farmers buy seeds and seedlings from uncertified breeders and nurseries without claiming title or knowing whether the seeds or plants are disease-free. This practice does more harm than good.

In some citrus plantations in the Mekong Delta, after 3-4 years of harsh cultivation, 30-40% of the plants died, causing great losses to the farmers themselves. In addition, low-quality seeds have poor germination capacity and inconsistent product quality, hampering the country’s horticultural export potential of approximately US$2.5 billion to US$3.8 billion annually between 2011 and 2020. , he said, according to Larive/OpenAsia data.

Dutch Solution Opportunities

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chin’s visit to the World Holti Center in the Netherlands in December 2022, the center will help Vietnam improve its seed and bulb nurseries, processing technology, know-how, market standards and innovation centers to serve global consumers. I offered to help them reach out to Vietnam’s Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Le Minh Hoang said Vietnam will work with its Dutch partners to mitigate the negative impact on agriculture. The country aims to feed the world with products made from smart, circular, organic, responsible and emission-balanced agricultural approaches.

“At every segment along the value chain, from seeds and bulbs to greener and smarter greenhouses, from the use of biological control agents to post-harvest technologies, Dutch companies are working with their Vietnamese partners to expand the horticultural sector. We can work through the challenges,” said Ingrid Coving. , Agricultural Counselor at the Dutch Embassy.

Recently, during HortEX in Ho Chi Minh City, 33 Dutch companies collaborated to showcase their ability to offer farmers and businesses an integrated growth approach. For example, the Dutch company He is one of the world-class producers of raw materials such as seeds and seedlings. The application of research and technology improves the ability of seeds and other starting materials to germinate, enabling better growth and better protection from pathogens, new conditions, climate, etc. Intelligent software in smart greenhouses and sensors help monitor plant growth, disease outbreak threats, and water intake. Outdoor grown crops and post-production technology are also very advanced. This wide range of skills and knowledge will help Vietnam reach its ambitious goal of feeding the world.

Vietnam’s export ambitions

Horticulture is one of the most promising sectors of Vietnam’s economy, according to experts. In recent years, in addition to traditional products such as coffee, nuts, pepper, and tea, Vietnam has exported tropical fruits such as pomelo, lemon, and dragon fruit to many countries, including high-level markets such as the US, EU, and Japan. are exporting to Globally, markets such as the EU are increasingly expecting products with a lower environmental impact. At the moment, Vietnam exports only 4% of her horticultural products needed by Europe. Putting Vietnam on the map as a major exporter of horticultural products requires improved post-harvest handling and processing while practicing sustainable circular horticulture.

Vietnam has a vision to unlock the full potential of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) signed in 2020. So far, despite many attractive incentives, the EVFTA has not materialized, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. It has a strong impact on Vietnam’s agricultural exports to the EU. Most importantly, Vietnam’s exports do not meet the rules of origin. Partnering with Dutch companies to transform the country’s horticultural sector will help narrow the gap and win-win. Create more harmonious jobs and improve the quality of life for producers.

Dutch companies have a healthy business in Vietnam, a huge domestic market of nearly 100 million people, socio-political stability, rapid economic development, a growing middle class, a strong tradition in the agricultural sector, and a welcoming environment. You can benefit from the environment. Favorable environment and government regulations for foreign investors.

According to the draft horticultural development strategy by 2030 with a vision to 2045, horticulture will become the backbone of Vietnam’s agriculture, although it has been developed before being submitted to the prime minister for consideration and approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. right. By 2045, most horticultural products are expected to come from high tech, organic and eco farming. In other words, while practices are environmentally friendly, they must meet biosafety standards.

Want to know more about what we do or have questions? Send an email to han-lnv@minbuza.nl. This website and Twitter @AgroVietnam @NLinVN provide regular updates on the development of Vietnam’s agricultural sector.

Fertilizer and pesticide use in Vietnam | Neubericht | Agroberichten Buytenland

Crop Protection Sector Survey Netherlands-Vietnam | Neubericht | Agroberichten Buitenland

Strong participation from the Netherlands in HortEx Vietnam 2023

Vietnam is doing well in the horticulture sector

https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/latest-news/news/2023/03/16/where-vietnamese-horticulture-challenges-meet-dutch-solutions Where Vietnam’s horticultural challenges meet Dutch solutions | News Article

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