HCM City, Hanoi Striving for Sufficient Organic Vegetables by 2010

Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, the two biggest cities in Vietnam, are expected to meet 100 per cent of total demand for organic vegetable of local consumers by 2010, by expanding the area under organic vegetable cultivation.

 

To meet the goal, the southern hub HCM City will expand its safe vegetable area by 3,754 hectares, said Le Hong Hoanh, deputy director of the city’s Agriculture and Rural Development, adding that the city’s current 2,046ha can meet only 30 per cent of demand for vegetables free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

 

The city will expand safe vegetable growing areas in the outlying districts of Hoc Mon, Binh Chanh and Cu Chi over the next four years.

 

Hoanh said the department had trained vegetable growers in organic cultivating, including advanced methods on growing foreign hybrid vegetables from Japan, Holland and France.

 

The city’s demand for pesticide-free and organic vegetables such as tomatoes, cauliflowers, pumpkins and cucumbers is rising rapidly among local residents, restaurants, supermarkets, and factory kitchens.

 

The city recently cooperated with local district authorities to inspect vegetable quality on 630 crop samples.

 

Results showed that only 0.47 per cent carried pesticide residue, compared to 2 per cent in recent years.

 

The local agricultural sector encourages farmers to shift from low-yield rice fields to organic vegetable and bonsai farms, to increase farmers’ incomes.

 

Presently, the city needs around 1,600 tons of organic vegetables a day. Only 30 per cent of that need is fulfilled. It is now collaborating with eight neighboring provinces to produce organic vegetables.

 

Meanwhile, Hanoi city also plans to inject VND350 billion into developing organic vegetable cultivation, in a move to meet 100 per cent of organic vegetable demand by 2010.

 

In its plan for vegetable industry from now to 2010, the city’s safe vegetable area will account for 80 per cent of total vegetable area in 2008 and 100 per cent in 2010.

 

The city currently has around 3,500ha under organic vegetable cultivation, with output of almost 58,000 tons, accounting for 44 per cent of the city's total vegetable areas and 38 per cent of the total output.

 

The city needs around 1,200 tons of vegetables a day, but only 480 tons are supplied locally. (VNS, Liberated Saigon)