Quang Tri organic rice makes EU debut

The ceremony marking the export of the first batch of Quang Tri organic rice to the EU

Ensured quality

The Quang Tri Organic Agro Products Joint Stock Company (QTOrganic) recently held a ceremony marking the export of the first batch of 15 tonnes of organic rice to the EU at a price of US$1,800 per tonne. The event was meant to encourage local farmers’ further efforts to ensure the highest quality of Quang Tri’s organic rice for global markets.

QTOrganic Director Pham Thi Diem Le said the company had negotiated with customers in the EU and the US. After reaching a consensus on export price and quality testing, NHP Provide, S.R.O (Czech Republic) and QTOrganic completed required procedures for the export of the first shipment to the EU. “Our company plans to export 30-50 tonnes of organic rice to the EU each month,” Le added.

Ha Sy Dong, Vice Chair of Quang Tri Province People’s Committee, praised the efforts of businesses and support of local authorities for organic farming development. He said QTOrganic should maintain cooperation with farmers to expand organic rice fields while at the same time upgrading processing and packaging facilities to meet importer demand in terms of quality and quantity.

Trade promotion efforts

According to Pham Thi Diem Le, in 2017, QTOrganic chose areas in Gio Linh, Vinh Linh, Hai Lang and Trieu Phong districts for its organic rice production project using Japanese farming techniques. As part of this cooperation project, the company provided farmers with organic fertilizer, high-quality seeds and farming techniques. The company also built an organic farm produce processing plant in Quang Tri Province to facilitate product development.

“Each hectare of organic rice fields yields 5.5-6 tonnes of rice. Not using pesticides and applying strict farming standards, the organic rice fields also provide a good habitat for shrimp and fish. Organic rice is sold for higher prices compared with rice grown with normal methods. Thanks to brand building efforts, Quang Tri’s organic rice has become known to consumers nationwide,” Le said. The presence of Quang Tri’s organic rice in major domestic supermarket chains and its export to the EU has also resulted from intensive trade promotion efforts of QTOrganic and farmers, including participation in domestic and international trade fairs, as well as the support of local authorities. According to Le, Quang Tri’s organic rice is currently present in more than 100 distribution chains and high-grade food shops nationwide. QTOrganic is negotiating exports to the US and Japan.