Ha Tinh expands organic orange production through market linkages

Changing farming practices remains the biggest challenge

Ha Tinh is one of the largest orange-producing provinces in Viet Nam's North Central region, with major growing areas in Vu Quang, Huong Khe, Huong Son, and Can Loc. Over the years, oranges have become a key cash crop, playing an important role in agricultural development and improving the livelihoods of local communities in the province's mountainous areas.

However, most orange orchards in the province are still managed under conventional farming practices, relying heavily on synthetic fertilizers and chemical crop protection products. This not only increases production costs but also poses risks of soil degradation, environmental pollution, and declining fruit quality.

In addition, market access remains unstable, with most oranges sold through traders, limiting their value-added potential. As consumers place greater emphasis on food safety and product traceability, transitioning to organic production combined with market linkages has emerged as a viable strategy to enhance the value of Ha Tinh oranges.

In response to these challenges, the Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center launched a pilot project during 2024-2025 titled "Organic Orange Production Linked to Enterprise-Based Market Access" in Thanh Binh Hamlet, Mai Hoa Commune.

The project covers 3 hectares and involves three farming households cultivating five-year-old sweet orange orchards. All participating orchards were selected based on their suitability in terms of soil conditions, production planning, and their potential to meet organic production standards.

Throughout the project, technical staff from the Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center worked closely with participating farmers, providing hands-on guidance on applying the production process in accordance with TCVN 11041-2:2017, Viet Nam's national standard for organic fruit cultivation. Farmers received technical training, organic fertilizers and agricultural lime, as well as instruction on soil improvement, crop monitoring, biological pest management, and production record-keeping.

The project also focused on establishing documentation for planting areas and product traceability, while gradually developing market linkages with businesses to secure stable outlets for growers.

According to the project's technical team, the greatest challenge in transitioning to organic production has been changing farmers' long-established cultivation practices. Many growers had become accustomed to using synthetic fertilizers and chemical crop protection products to control pests quickly and stimulate plant growth.

After the implementation period, the model has produced encouraging results. The use of organic fertilizers and biological control measures has gradually improved soil structure, promoted healthier tree growth, and enhanced resistance to pests and diseases. Most notably, fruit quality has improved significantly. The oranges have an attractive appearance, a richer sweetness, and meet food safety standards, earning positive feedback from both consumers and buyers.

In 2024, the model recorded an average orange yield of 7.56 metric tons per hectare, increasing to 8.5 metric tons per hectare in 2025. With an average selling price of around VND 30,000 per kilogram, profits reached nearly VND 110 million per hectare, 15-20% higher than those generated under conventional farming practices.

Nguyen Trong Than, one of the participating farmers in Thanh Binh Hamlet, said that his family had previously relied heavily on synthetic fertilizers and chemical crop protection products, resulting in high production costs and increasingly degraded soil.

Expanding the model through market linkages

Building on the model's positive results, the Ha Tinh Agricultural Extension Center expanded the "Organic Orange Production Linked to Enterprise-Based Market Access" project in 2026 to Dong Loc Commune. The expanded model covers 13 hectares and involves three farming households.

The model aims not only to improve orange yield and quality but also to establish a stable market linkage, reduce reliance on chemical inputs, protect the environment, and support the sustainable development of Ha Tinh's orange industry.

Through the project, participating farmers are trained to apply organic production practices in accordance with the PGS and TCVN 11041-2:2017 standards. They also receive guidance on maintaining production records, ensuring product traceability, using approved agricultural inputs, improving soil health, and managing pests through biological control methods.

Nguyen Van Thanh, a representative of Thanh Hien Orange Cooperative, said participation in the project has enabled cooperative members to adopt modern farming practices, strengthen their understanding of safe agricultural production, and create opportunities for long-term market partnerships.

At the launch ceremony for the organic orange conversion model in Dong Loc Commune, Phan Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the Dong Loc Commune People's Committee, affirmed that the local government would continue creating favorable conditions for farmers to expand organic production and gradually build a strong brand for the commune's clean oranges.

$ 1 = VND 26,462 - Source: Vietcombank.