Proposal for preferential credit mechanisms for winter crop production

On December 22-23, the Plant Production and Protection Department, in coordination with the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper and the Hai Phong Department of Agriculture and Environment, organized the Red River Delta Agricultural Products Connectivity Forum, targeting the Tet market.

In the 2025-2026 winter crop season, Hai Phong City recorded strong growth, with a total cultivated area reaching 29,500 hectares, of which vegetables accounted for a dominant share, supplying approximately 700,000 tons to the market. Consumption patterns have shifted markedly toward commercial channels, with around 70% of output serving export markets and inter-provincial linkages.

According to Mr. Le Thai Nghiep, Deputy Head of the Sub-Department of Plant Production and Protection, the city has developed large-scale, concentrated production zones, notably onion and garlic areas covering 7,100 hectares that have delivered record-high economic value, with profits reaching up to VND 355 million per hectare, and carrot-growing areas spanning 1,300 hectares, more than 80% of whose output is exported to premium markets such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. Thanks to the active participation of enterprises and cooperatives in contract farming arrangements and the application of VietGAP standards, Hai Phong’s agricultural products have not only ensured sustainable value but also strengthened their reputation on the international export map.

However, winter crop production continues to face significant challenges, including limited contract-based linkages, reliance on traders for consumption, inadequate cold storage and post-harvest processing facilities, high production costs, and uneven mechanization.

Sharing at the Forum, Mr. Ho Viet Hoang, Director of Hoang Nam Phat Agricultural Cooperative, said that the cooperative has identified clean agricultural production combined with consumption linkage chains as the core pathway to enhancing the value of winter crops and strengthening market competitiveness. The cooperative is currently one of the pioneers in the production, processing, and supply of safe agricultural products, with a customer network ranging from supermarkets, schools, and institutional kitchens to wholesale markets nationwide, as well as partners oriented toward export.

According to him, the most important foundation for building market credibility is the commitment to the “four no’s” in production: no chemical residues, no excessive use of chemical fertilizers, no genetically modified organisms, and no illegal use of plant protection products. This commitment is translated into strict control of the entire process, from cultivation and crop care to harvesting, preliminary processing, packaging, and transportation, thereby ensuring consistent quality and full traceability.

“Hoang Nam Phat Cooperative currently supplies a diverse range of product groups, from winter vegetables such as squash, eggplant, mustard greens, kohlrabi, cabbage, potatoes, and cauliflower to melons, lychees, pomelos, and other seasonal fruits. Product diversification enables the cooperative to proactively adapt to market fluctuations and reduce dependence on a single crop or a single distribution channel. At the same time, the cooperative applies quality management standards such as HACCP, QS-9000, and ISO 14001, and is well prepared to meet both small- and large-volume orders in line with partners’ requirements,” Mr. Hoang noted.

Drawing from practical experience, Mr. Hoang emphasized the central role of cooperatives in linkage chains, coordinating production, purchasing output, providing technical support, and supplying standardized inputs to members. Thanks to concentrated production and stringent quality control, the cooperative is able to meet the high requirements for stable volumes and quality set by modern distribution systems. The credibility built up over many years has also positioned Hoang Nam Phat among the locally trusted suppliers of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Alongside the achievements, Mr. Ho Viet Hoang frankly pointed out major challenges, including the high costs of investing in cold storage, preliminary processing, and packaging facilities; risks from weather and pest outbreaks; and price competition pressures, while market requirements are becoming increasingly stringent in terms of certification and traceability. Accordingly, the cooperative recommended the introduction of preferential credit mechanisms to support post-harvest infrastructure, stronger linkages with large distribution systems, enhanced trade promotion, and the accelerated adoption of digital technologies, traceability systems, and smart agriculture to improve efficiency and ensure sustainable value across the winter crop value chain.

$ 1 = VND 26.313 - Source: Vietcombank.