As many as 15 vegetable and fruit production establishments in theMekong Delta province of Tien Giang have been granted VietnamAgriculture Practice (VietGAP) certificates for their safe farmproducts.

The certificates were presented at aceremony held by the Management Board of the “Quality and SafetyEnhancement of Agricultural Products and Biogas Development” (QSEAP)project and the provincial Centre for Agricultural Development Promotionin the locality on May 8.

The awardees included 13agricultural cooperatives, specialising in planting guava, grape fruit,durian, dragon fruit, clean vegetables and pepper as well as two dragonfruit-producing farms.

According to Tran Thanh Phong, Directorof the Centre, the implementation of safe vegetable models in thelocality helped local farmers access advanced technologies thus creatinghigh-quality products meeting VietGap standards.

The models alsocontributed to build a consulting network for expanding agriculturalproduction models in line with the VietGAP production process in thefuture, she noted.

Tien Giang boasts the largestfruit-tree area in Mekong Delta with over 85,000 hectares generating anannual yield of 1.3 million tonnes. It is also home to over 43,000hectares of vegetables.

The province hopes 80 additionalhectares of dragon fruits and durian will be granted Global GoodAgricultural Practice (GlobalGAP) certificates in 2015.-VNA