Tea processing at Hinh Nguyet tea production household, Hong Thai 1 hamlet, Tan Cuong commune, Thai Nguyen City

Thus, the province has been guiding, managing and supervising 88 planting area codes, comprising: 56 tea cultivation codes, 22 rice farming codes, 8 fruit tree cultivation codes, 1 code for Luc Truc bamboo shoots and 1 code for vegetables. Among these 88 planting area codes, 33 are for export and 55 for domestic consumption. All planting areas are GPS-tracked globally to enable product traceability and ensure compliance with regulatory criteria.

Also in 2024, the province received VietGAP certification for an additional 745 hectares of crops, including new certifications for 520 hectares of tea and 75 hectares of fruit trees; recertification for 150 hectares of tea and 33 livestock farming facilities; and organic certification for an additional 40 hectares of tea. By the end of 2024, the province had 6,798 hectares of crops (117 hectares of rice, 1,093 hectares of fruit trees, 5,588 hectares of tea, 200 hectares of vegetables) and 183 farms and livestock facilities with VietGAP certification; 125.6 hectares (tea, edible mushrooms, medicinal herbs) received organic certification.

Tea harvesting at Nhat Thuc Tea Cooperative in Phuc Linh commune, Dai Tu district, which was granted organic tea production certification in 2024

In order to meet increasingly demanding market requirements and increase the proportion of certified safe crops and livestock, alongside crop restructuring, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has intensified guidance, promotion and encouragement for people to expand the cultivation area of tea and key fruit trees using technically advanced varieties. The department implements intensive farming methods, crop care, off-season cultivation techniques and harvest scheduling (off-season vegetable production; scheduled harvesting of fruits such as custard apple, longan, guava). It promotes the application and transfer of scientific and technical advances, expanding safe production areas, VietGAP, organic certification and origin traceability linked with product consumption partnerships. The department continues to implement and guide the establishment of planting area codes. Additionally, it directs local authorities to strengthen inspection, examination and quality control of agricultural materials and plant varieties to ensure quality for farmers' production.

Thu Ha