HCMC develops safe, traceable vegetable zones toward 2030

Developing safe vegetable production areas and promoting high-tech applications

Area, yield, and traceability targets

According to the plan, Ho Chi Minh City aims to achieve a vegetable farming area of 5,500 ha by 2030, with a planted area of around 35,000 ha and an estimated output of 880,000 tonnes. The high-tech vegetable cultivation area is set to reach 12,000 ha; organic vegetable production area is projected to reach about 48–50 ha.

The city aims for safe, concentrated vegetable growing areas with guaranteed traceability to reach 60% of the total vegetable cultivation area. The average production value per hectare of vegetable land is targeted at 800 million to 1 billion VND/year; high-tech vegetable products are expected to account for 60–70% of the total value of the vegetable sector.

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City will annually transfer 5–6 new vegetable varieties suitable for local production conditions; supply about 800–900 tons of various vegetable seeds to the market, meeting the planting demand for 1.2–1.5 million hectares. The city will also support the development of 10–15 safe food chains for the vegetable sector and strive for 100% of locally produced vegetable samples tested to meet safety standards.

Under the development orientation, concentrated vegetable production zones have been deployed across many communes and wards such as Binh My, Nhuan Duc, Cu Chi, Thai My, An Nhon Tay, Dong Thanh, Hung Long, Binh Chanh, Ba Diem, Tru Van Tho, Phu Giao, Dat Do, Phuoc Hai, Chau Pha, Nghia Thanh, Xuan Son, Tan Khanh, Tan Uyen, Tam Long, Tan Hai, Long Huong, Thoi An, Long Nguyen, Hoa Loi…

Among them, vegetable production meeting VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards is concentrated in the communes of Binh My, Nhuan Duc, Cu Chi, Thai My, An Nhon Tay, Dong Thanh, Hung Long, Binh Chanh, Ba Diem, Tru Van Tho, Phu Giao, Dat Do, Phuoc Hai, Chau Pha, Nghia Thanh, Xuan Son, and the wards of Thoi An, Long Nguyen, Hoa Loi, Tan Khanh, Tam Long, Tan Hai, Long Huong.

High-tech vegetable production is concentrated in Nhuan Duc, Cu Chi, An Nhon Tay, Phuoc Thanh, Phu Giao, Dat Do, Phuoc Hai, Chau Pha, and Xuan Son communes; organic vegetable production is concentrated in Nhuan Duc, An Nhon Tay, Phuoc Thanh communes, and Hoa Loi ward.

Several specialty vegetables continue to be developed, such as water spinach in Binh My and Dong Thanh communes; water mimosa in Thoi An ward; lasia spinosa in Binh My and Phu Hoa Dong communes; wild yams in Phuoc Hai and Hoa Hiep communes; taro in Dat Do commune; and bamboo shoots in Tru Van Tho commune.

HCMC will also develop specialized vegetable production zones, link raw material areas with other provinces tied to pre-processing, processing, and product consumption, and accelerate the formation of value chains linking businesses, cooperatives, and farmers.

At the same time, the City continues to research and breed new vegetable varieties; apply biotechnology, high technology, IoT, and AI in production; refine production processes for safe vegetables, organic vegetables, and circular agriculture; and promote the use of organic fertilizers and biological crop protection products.

HCMC also organizes training and technology transfer sessions; builds net-house and greenhouse production models; deploys traceability systems; and gradually implements digital transformation in vegetable production based on land, crop, environmental, and weather databases.

Strengthen trade promotion and expand consumer markets

In terms of trade promotion, Ho Chi Minh City will intensify communication and training to raise awareness about safe and organic vegetable production, while enhancing the effectiveness of market forecasting for agricultural products and farming inputs.

For the domestic market, the city continues to support businesses and cooperatives in building safe vegetable brands linked to growing area codes and geographical indications; explore the organization of periodic safe agricultural produce markets; and support brand promotion, market connections for products, and the diversification of distribution channels.

For export markets, Ho Chi Minh City will step up efforts to communicate regulations on growing area codes, export packing facilities, and the requirements of importing markets such as the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and the EU; and support organizations and individuals in maintaining export eligibility and accessing new markets.

Besides, the City will strengthen state management of safe vegetable production through inspecting production conditions, controlling the quality of agricultural inputs, and inspecting food safety across production, preliminary processing, distribution, and circulation areas.

HCMC will also build and develop a traceability system, grant and manage planting area codes and packing facility codes for both domestic consumption and export, and strengthen inspections on compliance with pesticide use regulations in vegetable production areas.

Assign specific tasks to departments, sectors, and localities

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments, agencies, and localities to implement the plan; conduct training and transfer science and technology; provide guidance on safe vegetable production procedures according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic standards; deploy a traceability system; grant and manage planting area codes and packing facility codes; and inspect production conditions and food safety.

The Food Safety Department is assigned to conduct training and disseminate legal regulations on food safety in vegetable preliminary processing, processing, and trading linked with traceability; implement chain-based food safety management models; and guide and inspect food quality and safety in vegetable preliminary processing, processing, and trading.

The Department of Industry and Trade collaborates to organize promotional activities, trade fairs, and exhibitions to build the City's agricultural product brands, support businesses in product promotion, develop e-commerce, and expand consumer markets.

The Department of Science and Technology coordinates the implementation of science and technology tasks related to developing safe vegetable production zones. The Department of Finance coordinates in advising on budget allocation in accordance with regulations.

The High-Tech Park Management Board and the High-Tech Agricultural Park Management Board are assigned to research and develop new vegetable varieties; provide training and transfer technical know-how on safe vegetable and high-tech vegetable production; and build a value chain for vegetable products.

The City Farmers' Union collaborates to promote and advocate for farmers to produce and trade safe vegetables in accordance with regulations. The commune-level People's Committee is responsible for developing plans to expand local safe vegetable production areas, identifying concentrated production zones, and coordinating quality inspections of agricultural inputs, plant protection product usage, and food safety during production, primary processing, and product distribution.

Institutes, universities, and businesses across the City are encouraged to participate in scientific research and technology application in the production, preliminary processing, processing, and consumption of safe vegetables, as well as in building sustainable production-consumption value chains.

According to the plan, departments, sectors, and commune/ward People's Committees will annually report their implementation results to the Department of Agriculture and Environment before November 30 for compilation and reporting to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment./.