Soursops enter global market thanks to organic production

The Minh Trung Agricultural Service Cooperative (Minh Trung Cooperative), located in Tan Hung commune, Tan Chau district, Tay Ninh province, is relatively young, having been established just two years ago. 

Despite its recent founding, Minh Trung Cooperative quickly established a foothold in the domestic soursop market by adhering to safety and organic production standards.

Mr. Le Minh Trung, Director of Minh Trung Cooperative, shared that in the past two years, the cooperative has partnered with 127 members, covering over 600 hectares of custard apple production and supplying over 5,400 tons to the market annually. All of the cooperative's soursop acreage is grown to safety standards, with fruit-bagging practices to prevent pesticide exposure and ward off insects.

Among the cooperative's 600 hectares, 100 hectares have been certified VietGAP, yielding around 3,000 tons annually.

Recognizing the consumer interest in high-quality, safe agricultural products and the increasing demand for such goods, Minh Trung Cooperative has recently begun transitioning to organic soursop production.

Currently, approximately 30 hectares are dedicated to organic cultivation. The organically grown custard apples have quickly gained acceptance in the market, garnering high praise. In addition to the domestic market, Minh Trung Cooperative has also started exporting these custard apples.

To succeed with organic farming on 30 hectares, Minh Trung Cooperative has made careful preparations, including securing organic fertilizers and biological pesticides.

Mr. Le Minh Trung shared that the cooperative is fortunate to have young, energetic, and enthusiastic members. These young members are passionate about exploring organic and biological fertilizers and pesticides. 

Driven by this passion, Minh Trung Cooperative has focused on circular agriculture. Specifically, the cooperative collects local agricultural byproducts, such as cow manure, small fish from Dau Tieng Lake, and molasses from sugar mills.

These byproducts are fermented using indigenous microorganisms (IMO) methods to create effective organic fertilizers and biological pesticides for custard apple farming. For instance, molasses is processed into foliar fertilizer, fish protein is converted into nutrient-rich base fertilizer, and herbs like ginger, lemongrass, and chili are used to create effective biological pesticides.

The cooperative has trained its members in IMO-based composting methods to produce organic fertilizers and biological pesticides, enabling members to confidently grow organic soursops without fearing crop losses or yield reduction compared to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Additionally, the cooperative has enhanced pest protection by adopting physical measures such as fruit bagging and insect traps, thereby reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and increasing the fruits' defense against various pests.