Not only has he enriched himself, but Mr. Vot (in Tra Vinh) has also been actively seeking markets for the chili produced by the cooperative he manages as director. Therefore, he contributes to both his own success and the development of the cooperative of Vietnam’s chili for export.
Mr. Vot shared that ten years ago, he worked as a driver for a fruit and vegetable export company. Later, he also worked as a driver for a bank director. His income at the time was not enough to cover living expenses, so he decided to return to his hometown.
“When I returned, I immediately thought about the idea of growing bird’s eye chili to sell. I noticed Tra Vinh had a vacant piece of land. Therefore, I asked to borrow part of it to plant chili. In addition, I invested in a complete irrigation system. However, after a year, that person took back the land. I had to open a chili purchasing facility in Ham Giang commune to sell to wholesale markets,” Mr. Vot shared.
Vietnam’s chili for export
At the end of 2017, Mr. Vot leased land and grew Vietnam’s chili for export. He did not buy seeds from outside but germinated them himself in trays before transplanting them into the soil.
“On one hand, I used mesh covers to maintain moisture and nurture beneficial microorganisms. On the other hand, I collected cow manure, composted it for about a month, and then applied it to the plants. I also bought additional bio-fertilizeri and strictly avoided chemical fertilizers,” Mr. Vot shared.
Of the twelve công of organically grown chili, he set aside one công to plant green horn chili. This portion is sold to an export company for making chili paste and for frozen chili exports to South Korea.
He said, “The company guarantees to purchase our chili at the price of 22,000 VND per kilogram. I recently harvested about three tons. The costs of labor, fertilizer, and other costs totaled 17 million VND, so the profit margin was very high.” As for yellow horn chili, he sold it in wholesale markets at 35,000–40,000 VND/kg.
According to Mr. Vot, the company buying export chili in Ho Chi Minh City recently came to inspect the crops. Additionally, they expressed interest in purchasing chili from members of Thinh Phat agricultural cooperative, where he serves as director.
Vietnamese chili farm
“The company will hold a workshop. Any members producing Vietnam’s organic chili like I do will have all their products purchased. The cooperative currently has over 100 members with more than 30 hectares of chili cultivation. With export-quality chili, we can sell it at good prices due to stable demand. As a result, members can increase their income,” Mr. Vot hopes.
Mr. Thach, Vice Chairman of the Ham Giang Commune, commented that Mr. Vot’s organic chili model only uses biological fertilizers. Therefore, it can produce clean products while also protecting the environment.
“We also hope the cooperative can find a company to guarantee purchasing, ensuring a stable market for the products. This would prevent farmers from being forced to sell at low prices by traders, as has happened in previous seasons,” Mr. Thach said.
Vietnamese source: https://diendandoanhnghiep.vn/bi-quyet-lam-giau-thanh-cong-tu-trong-ot-xuat-khau-10030343.html