NAEC supports simplification of code procedures

On August 11 in Dak Lak Province, the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC) coordinated with the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak Lak Province to organize activities supporting and guiding enterprises, cooperatives, and producers in registering, managing, and maintaining growing area codes and packaging facility codes, contributing to bringing legal regulations into production reality and driving agricultural consumption and export.

According to the NAEC, this activity implements Resolution No. 36/2026/NQ-CP dated July 31, 2026, of the Government regulating the simplification of administrative procedures regarding growing area codes and packaging facility codes. The activities aim toward the target of elevating the capacity of cooperatives, enterprises, and producers in production organization, dossier management, and traceability, boosting the efficiency of deploying local growing area code and packaging facility code regulations.

Within the framework of the program, the NAEC coordinated the organization of a training class on safe durian cultivation protocols aligned with quality standards adapted to climate change.

Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the NAEC, stated that the durian industry in Dak Lak Province has developed very strongly in recent years. This is a crop possessing vast headroom, market demand, and economic value. However, overly rapid development leaves infrastructure and legal frameworks with points that still require adjustment.

On the growers' side, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Thuan (Doan Ket Village, Cu M'gar Commune) noted that in recent years, building and issuing growing area codes have sent positive signals but also posed many challenges. Mr. Thuan currently represents 17 local households in a growing area code, with over 16 hectares of durian.

Mr. Thuan stated that since his group was officially granted a growing area code in June 2025, local residents in the group made efforts to fulfill strict standards. Among these, the strictest regulation is a minimum area requirement of 10 hectares and mandatory pure cropping, without intercropping with crops such as black pepper or coffee.

To meet standards and pass on-site inspections by local extension officers, many households had to agree to chop down intercropped plants. Beside that, according to Mr. Thuan, managing and granting growing area codes in the area still faces obstacles due to a shortage of personnel directly conducting orchard appraisals.

On July 31, the Government issued Resolution No. 36/2026/NQ-CP (effective from August 1) aimed at shortening processes and simplifying conditions for granting growing area codes in a more practical direction. Currently, localities, sectors, and units are urgently deploying it. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also rapidly organized training sessions for synchronized deployment.

According to Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, registering growing area codes via the public service system represents a major step forward. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment assigned the Department of Digital Transformation to provide guidance, and the NAEC compiled detailed instructional materials so that anyone can self-access and declare code registrations for their growing areas. Accompanied by this are guidance documents executing relevant legal texts, helping residents apply them easily.

The NAEC also coordinated with agencies, departments, and organizations to compile a set of documents guiding good farming protocols. According to Mr. Thanh, simply following this protocol correctly will allow farmers' durian products to fully meet rigorous inspection standards from markets like the US, China, or Japan.

Ms. Dang Thi Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak Lak Province, stated that to date, the Department urgently advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue plans and launch a 30-day peak campaign to digitize data, standardize, update, and connect data on durian growing area codes and packaging facilities. In the immediate future, the province focuses on the durian sector; this year, it aims to plant coffee trees next, followed by several other primary local crops.

Dak Lak Province also recently announced a digital map of agricultural products, OCOP items, and village tourism on the province's digital platform. The province is focusing on digitizing approximately 41,000 hectares of durian, later expanding to 217,000 hectares of coffee alongside other primary crops such as macadamia, cacao, passion fruit, and over 2,400 swiftlet houses.

To support residents in carrying out procedures in a digital environment, commune extension forces and community extension teams are identified as core forces. Beyond guiding code registration and maintenance, extension officers also support residents in operating on the National Public Service Portal, completing traceability dossiers, and applying safe production protocols.

According to Ms. Thuy, the greater the transparency, the more agricultural products affirm their standing. Therefore, Dak Lak Province hopes the NAEC, alongside organizations and units, will continue to accompany the locality in the process of simplifying procedures to register, manage, and maintain growing area codes and packaging facility codes.

Within the framework of the program, the NAEC, alongside the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dak Lak Province, presented residents with instructional materials supporting the deployment of growing area codes and packaging facility codes serving domestic consumption and agricultural exports.