Synchronize solutions to export black agar powder to China through official channels

(LSO) – On 8/12/2020, the Protocol on exporting black agar powder to China was signed. This is considered a “passport” to help black agar powder products to be exported to a large and potential market. Currently, the related agencies, units and agar farmers are implementing synchronous solutions to ensure the export requirements of black agar.

The area of ​​black agar trees in the province is estimated as large as about 2,000 ha, concentrated in 3 districts as namely as Trang Dinh, Van Lang and Binh Gia with production of over 10,000 tons/year bringing an economic value from 180 to 250 billion VND/year. However, in the past years the consumption of black agar products was not been stable resulting to the fact that the price was constantly unstable and/or under the market price.

The Protocol on exporting black agar products  to China signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and China’s General Department of Customs on 8^th December 2020 including 12 articles. In addition to the general regulations, the protocol mainly focused on compulsory regulations for the whole process of  planting, tending, harvesting, packaging and exporting.

Black agar plants are washed and dried by workers of Duc Quy company before being processed into agar powder

Immediately after the agreement of Protocol, sectors and units at all levels of the province have implemented specific solutions. Mr. Ly Viet Hung, Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the sector has actively coordinated with relevant units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the contents of the Protocol. At the end of December 2020, the organization will soon provide the 6 codes of black agar planted in the register area with an area of ​​60 hectares; at the same time coordinate to open training workshops to instruct farmers to implement the regulations of the Protocol; and complete the protection records for black agar products.

In addition to the initiatives of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the People’s Committees of districts and communes proactively implemented  the Protocol in order  to improve the productivity and quality of the black agar products. Mr. Vu Duc Thien, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Trang Dinh district, said that the District People’s Committee continued to direct functional and professional divisions, People’s Committee of communes to instruct and assist local farmer to continue improving the quality of land, focusing on planting and taking care of black agar according to regulations of VietGAP.

Mr. Nong Minh Chuyen, Khuoi Bap village, Tan Tien commune, Trang Dinh district told that his family had an area of 4,000m2  used for black agar plantation.  The news of exporting black agar via official channels to China helped to double the price of black agar. However, to qualify the products for export with stable prices, his family and many other households understood that they had to follow strictly the regulations mentioned in the agreement and instructions from professional specialists.

Apart from to the proactiveness and close attention of leaders and related units all levels, industries and agar growers, a very important element of the success to export agar product to China’s markets was the contribution of local business and factories.

Currently, the province has a processing factory for starch products of Duc Quy Production and Investment and Import-Export Co., Ltd. with an average daily output of 2.5-3 tons of starch. Mr. Ha Viet Quy, director of the company, said: Right after the Protocol was signed, the company actively connected with Chinese partners for business cooperation. To ensure the provisions of the Protocol, the company has invested in equipment to extract and filter residues in nitrogenous fertilizers, phosphate fertilizers and plant protection drugs; actively bring black agar products to China to test chemicals to ensure food safety.

To continue to attract investment in black agar products, in the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will coordinate with the Provincial People’s Committee to organize an investment and trade promotion conference related to black agar products. With the close attention of all levels and branches; the activeness  of production and processing enterprises and the determination of local people, especially the push from the “Protocol”, it is believed that the black agar products will be further enhanced in the future.

“ The content in the Protocol is so detailed that black agar growers and processing factories need to pay attention to a number of points such as: increasing the use of organic fertilizers, not using herbicides and chemicals; strictly controlling diseases and pests under the  regulations of the Protocol, especially insects and weeds; not mixing grass, soil …”. Mr. Hoang Trung, Director of Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.