Organic agricultural products exported from chemical-free fields

Strict standards from soil to seeds

Along the alluvial riverbanks in Phu Xuan Hamlet, Phu Thuan Commune, Da Nang City, black sesame and peanut fields are entering the harvest season. Farmers here no longer rely on pesticides or chemical fertilizers as they did in the past. Instead, this 6.7-hectare raw material area is maintained under a strict organic production process to serve export markets such as the EU and Japan.

Now in its third consecutive year of receiving international organic certifications from the U.S. (USDA Organic), the European Union, and Japan, the raw material area in Phu Thuan currently has 22 participating households. For local farmers, organic farming is not simply about giving up pesticides or reducing chemical fertilizers, but about completely changing their cultivation mindset.

Mr Phan Van Lanh, Head of the Professional Association for Organic Sesame and Clean Peanut Farming in Phu Thuan Commune, said every stage is strictly controlled from the time of sowing. Before each crop, the enterprise works with inspection units to collect soil and water samples for analysis under international organic standards. During crop development or before harvest, samples are collected again to assess residues and safety indicators.

“The soil must be clean and free from chemical residues before production can begin. During cultivation, all tools brought into the fields must be thoroughly cleaned to avoid cross-contamination,” Mr Lanh said.

Unlike conventional farming, the entire raw material area strictly avoids pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. The only inputs allowed in the fields are lime, phosphorus, and treated manure. Even biological pesticides or products advertised as “safe” are not used.

Cameras are installed across the fields to monitor the entire production process. Outsiders are generally not allowed to enter the raw material area without permission to reduce the risk of bringing in pests, diseases, or external sources of contamination. “Organic farming must be absolutely consistent. Just one wrong step can result in losing certification,” Mr Lanh shared.

Nurturing healthy soil for healthy crops

According to local residents, after each harvest, all sesame and peanut stalks are chopped and returned to the fields as a natural green fertilizer. The land is also left to rest for about four months during the rainy and flood season to receive alluvial deposits from the river. This “resting” period helps restore soil microorganisms and creates favorable conditions for crops to grow steadily in the following seasons.

“For alluvial soil areas, there is almost nothing to worry about because the crops grow very well. For poorer soils, farmers also improve them by returning crop residues to the fields to increase natural nutrients,” Mr. Lanh said.

After years of switching to organic farming, soil quality has changed noticeably. In the past, farmland showed signs of hardening due to heavy chemical fertilizer use, but now the soil surface has become looser and retains moisture better.

Many farmers said the first years of conversion were the most difficult because crops had not yet adapted and the soil had not fully recovered, causing pests and diseases to appear more frequently. However, after several consecutive seasons without chemicals, the field ecosystem gradually regained balance, crops became healthier, and their natural resistance improved.

Ms Le Thi Nam, a farmer with many years of experience growing organic sesame and peanuts, said organic farming means earning profit through labor. Since herbicides cannot be used, farmers must pull weeds by hand all year round. At times when weeds grow densely, it can take dozens of days to clear just a few sao of land. For pests and diseases, farmers accept manual methods such as removing and isolating diseased plants instead of using pesticides, including biological pesticides.

“It is very hard, not easy at all. When the soil is hard, we have to dig it up with a hoe before we can pull the weeds. But in return, we no longer come into contact with chemicals, so people are healthier and the soil is healthier too,” Ms Nam said.

According to Ms Nam, organic farming requires great care during harvesting and preliminary processing. After harvest, peanuts and sesame must be cleaned seed by seed. Moldy, blackened, shriveled seeds or seeds mixed with soil and sand must be completely removed to meet export standards. “With traditional farming, we would collect and sell right away, but with organic farming, we have to carefully sort every seed, so it is much harder,” she shared.

Efficiency from clean production

Although yields are about 10-15% lower than conventional farming methods, the organic production model in Phu Thuan still delivers stable economic returns thanks to higher selling prices and guaranteed outlets.

Currently, all organic sesame and peanut products are purchased by the enterprise at fixed prices from the beginning of the season. Peanuts are bought at around VND 55,000/kg, while organic sesame reaches up to VND 70,000/kg, significantly higher than conventional products on the market. More importantly, farmers no longer worry about good harvests leading to falling prices as before.

According to local farmers, conventional production is less labor-intensive because herbicides and chemical fertilizers can be used, but prices are always unstable. Organic production is more demanding, but stable outlets give farmers confidence to invest for the long term.

The role of enterprises in this linkage model is also very clear. Noom Food Co., Ltd. in Thang An Commune not only guarantees the purchase of products but also supports farmers with machinery, irrigation systems, monitoring cameras, and technical guidance throughout the production process. This helps form a new generation of farmers, more professional producers with knowledge and environmental awareness.

According to Ms. Le Thi Anh, Chairwoman of the Phu Thuan Commune Farmers’ Association, the 6.7-hectare organic raw material area is currently maintained consistently to ensure strict quality control, while the spirit and practices of organic production continue to spread to other crop groups.

“In addition to the organic sesame and peanut model, the locality is also surveying opportunities to develop more organic-oriented crops, especially medicinal plants. The commune Farmers’ Association has initially worked with several businesses to study the implementation of medicinal plant cultivation models on local agricultural land in Phu Thuan Commune,” Ms Anh said.

Looking back on more than 10 years of transition, the story of organic agriculture in Phu Thuan is not only about increasing revenue but also a testament to the power of cooperation and persistence in clean production. Today, clean peanuts and sesame seeds from the alluvial riverbanks carry not only export value but also proof of a sustainable production approach, one where the health of the soil, crops, and people comes first.