VietNamNet Bridge – The growers of Nam Roi brand pomelo, Lo Ren star apple in the Mekong Delta--have abandoned the production in accordance with Global GAP standards after many years of trying this endeavor.

The reason that prompts them to abandon the Global GAP process is that though they spend much money; the profits are not high enough to cover expenses. Though the products have high quality, they are just equated with the products made out under the normal process.

GAP cannot bring money

In 2008, SGS, an international inspection service provider granted a certificate on meeting Global GAP standards to the My Hoa Nam Roi pomelo in My Hoa commune, Binh Minh district of Vinh Long province, which is comprised of 26 households growing Nam Roi pomelo on an area of 23.49 hectares.

However, just two years after the certificate granting, the gardeners have turned their back to the GAP process.

Ngo Thi Thuy Van, a farmer, who grew pomelos on 1.5 hectares of land in the last two years, said that she will not follow the process anymore, She said that the pomelos grown in accordance with the Global GAP process have been sold at the same prices with normal pomelos. Meanwhile, it is much harder to follow the Global GAP process than the normal production.

Van said that only 20 percent of pomelos could be sold for better prices, about 3000 dong per kilo higher than the market price. Meanwhile, other pomelos were refused.

Since the day of returning to apply the normal production, she feels more secure about the consumption. Though the sale prices are a little lower, she can easily sell all the products and get payment on deliveries.

Many other gardeners have also said goodbye to the GAP process for the same reason as Van’s.

There are 2000 hectares of Nam Roi pomelo growing area in Binh minh district which can put out 22,600 tons per annum. However, the Global GAP process is being applied only on two percent of the growing area.

Phan Thi Be, Head of the Economics Division of the Binh Minh district, said that the households with small cultivation areas cannot see the benefits brought by the Global GAP process; therefore, they do not want to follow the process. Meanwhile, if following the process, every household would have to spend 5 million dong, which is unaffordable to them.

A lot of gardeners which are the members of the Lo Ren Vinh Kim Star Apple Cooperative in Chau Thanh district of Tien Giang province have also “give up the game,” because they cannot satisfy the strict requirements of the Global GAP. Sixteen households have quitted the cooperative.

More money needed to follow GAP

Nguyen Van Ngan, Chair of the Lo Ren Vinh Kim Star Apple Cooperative, said that it is too costly to obtain Global GAP certificate. In 2008, the cooperative had to spend 7300 dollars for the certificate, while it had to spend 5000 dollars for the renewal.

However, at that time, the cooperative got the financial support from the local authorities. Meanwhile, it now cannot arrange the money for the third certificate granting.

Canada and the UK are the two main export markets for Lo Ren star apples. However, only a small volume of products has been exported over the last two years. In 2008 and 2009, it only exported 10 tons of fruits with Global GAP certificate.

As for My Hoa Nam Roi pomelo, the cooperative was not capable to register for granting the third GAP certificate, which should have been done in September 2009. Therefore, if it wants the certificate now, it will have to follow the complicated procedures from the beginning, which would cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Source: Dat Viet