Vietnamese rice certified as an organic product

February 06, 2012 | 16:15

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Last week, arice producer in the southernmost province of Ca Mau was granted an organic rice certification by the global organisation BIO Organic, and an Organic Foods certification under the US Organic Food Production Act.

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Richard de Boer, director of Union Vietnam -- the Netherlands-based company in charge of evaluating and certifying organic rice -- said Vien Phu JSC was the first rice company in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to be granted the organic product certification.

Vien Phu’s rice will now be labeled “Certified Organic Foods,” which show that the product does not contain antibiotic and insecticide residue, as well as chemical fertilizer, coloring, addictives, and preservatives.

Doctor Nguyen Dang Nghia, director of the Southern Center for Soil, Fertilizer, and Environment Research said the organic product certification is more valuable than the Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practice).

Products with the Organic Foods label are now much preferred by global consumers, thanks to their high economic value and safety to consumers and the environment.

Vietnamese organic rice will be recognised worldwide, and will be able to enter strict markets in the EU and North America, said Richard de Boer.

Meanwhile, Vien Phu CEO Vo Minh Khai said the company is negotiating rice exports with foreign partners after receiving the certifications.

“Though still lower at the initial stage, the company’s total rice production is expected to top 5 tonnes per hectare by 2015,” said Khai.

Khai said Vien Phu will also cooperate with up to 20,000 local farming households to expand the organic rice field areas to 20,000 hectares in the near future.

“If the provincial authorities support the project, Ca Mau could have all rice s, an area of up to 100,000 hectares, under the organic cultivation model,” he said.