NINH THUẬN – The Ninh Thuận Province People’s Committee has chosen 12 products that will be developed and promoted in the 2018-20 period. 

The products are grapes, jujube, asparagus, garlic, aloe vera, spinosum seaweed, shrimp seeds, sheep, goats, Cà Ná fish sauce, Mỹ Nghiệp brocade weaving and Bàu Trúc pottery.

The south-central province has also identified black pigs, yellow oxen, cows and Ninh Sơn fruit as special products.  

To be chosen, the products must meet eight criteria, including historical development and reputation, specific quality and market scale, output and development scale, and environmental friendliness and safety.

Speaking at a seminar in Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm City on Thursday (Nov 15), the deputy chairman of the province’s People’s Committee, Trần Quốc Nam, said the area has comparative advantages even though it has a harsh climate, with the least rainfall in the country.

To exploit these advantages, the province has chosen 12 products and three other products with potential to build brand names.

The province is the largest producer of grapes, jujube, garlic, shrimp seeds and animals.

It has more than 160,000 sheep, 137,000 goats, 112,000 oxen and cows, and 92,000 pigs, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

It also has more than 1,300ha of grapes, 1,000ha of jujube, 210ha of garlic and 333ha of aloe vera.

In recent years, the province has helped farmers make these special products and  has protected their intellectual property rights.

The province’s grapes and sheep have been granted geographical indication status.

The province has collective brand names for Ninh Thuận jujube, Phan Rang garlic, Văn Hải VietGAP grapes, Bác Ái black pigs, Mỹ Nghiệp brocade weaving and Bàu Trúc pottery.

It also has special certification marks for goats, aloe vera, green asparagus, shrimp seed, spinosum seaweed, Cà Ná fish sauce and Ninh Sơn fruits.  

However, zoning and high-tech concentrated farming areas for products and co-operation among farmers and companies in production and sales have not developed well.

Nam said that more trade promotions and sales of special products should be organised.

The provincial People’s Committee said it would help farmers and companies work together more closely in producing products and guaranteeing outlets.       

It will also conduct research to set up sites to sell these special products, and organise  tours for visitors to areas that make the products. – VNS