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Organic rice in Quang Tri aims at the US and European markets

Organic rice in Quang Tri aims at the US and European markets

The model of linking production of organic rice varieties ST25 between Quang Tri Trading Corporation and Kim Long Cooperative, Hai Que commune, Hai Lang district. Photo: Cong Dien.

Connecting to produce organic rice in accordance with European and American standards

Quang Tri cultivates around 50,000 ha of rice annually, producing an estimated 280,000 tons. However, the area and production of organic and VietGAP rice remain modest.  

Quang Tri Trading Corporation has established a model of producing organic rice plants in Hai Lang district with the goal of establishing and developing a specialized rice plant cultivation region via the establishment of cooperative linkages.

As of the winter-spring crop of 2021-2022, the firm signs an agreement with Kim Long Cooperative in Hai Que commune, Hai Lang district, to cultivate organic rice plants of the ST25 variety on a 20-hectare area. Farmers that participate in the model receive technology, varieties, plating techniques, agricultural services, and the opportunity to purchase output goods. Farmers are accountable for the business process.

A rice sowing machine is used in the process of planting organic rice. Photo: Cong Dien.

In May 2021, the corporation invited experts and officials from the districts of Hai Lang, Trieu Phong, and Vinh Linh to conduct a soil survey and analysis in order to establish a standardized area for organic rice growing.

According to the survey, the Hai Lang district has a sizable area that meets the criteria for organic rice cultivation, totaling 1,500 ha out of 7,000 hectares that fulfill the standard. Quang Tri Trading Corporation will undertake the plan in the winter-spring crop of 2021-2022, using the field in Hai Lang district as a launching pad for expanding the model to other localities.

To support the harvest and processing of organic rice, the firm is hurrying to construct and bring into operation a rice drying plant with a capacity of 200 tons per day, as well as a rice storage facility with a capacity of 2,000 tons, by March 2022. Meanwhile, prepare the necessary steps for the establishment of the Sepon Quang Tri organic rice brand.

According to Mr. Ho Xuan Hieu, Chairman of Quang Tri Trading Corporation, the most critical aspect of shaping and developing organic rice fields is to cooperate effectively with farmers during the process of creating the standard rice-producing area.

It established an association model involving five stakeholders: the state, business, scientists, farmers, and credit distributors in order to conduct research, develop policies, and implement technical processes related to cultivation, organic rice care, such as organic fertilizer production, and probiotics.

Using a drone to spray preparations and biological minerals to take care rice. Photo: Cong Dien. 

Simultaneously, utilizing advanced techniques and mechanization to minimize input costs, increase yield, and produce higher-quality goods, such as issuing drones to spray preparations, bio-minerals, implants, plows, sowing machines, or combination harvesters.

According to Mr. Ha Sy Dong, the provincial authority in Quang Tri, the organic rice model implemented in the community met the demands of producers and consumers and opened up sustainable agricultural opportunities for the community.

The model must contribute to the direction of environmentally friendly farming by assuring farmer health and implementing the scientific and technology model efficiently, ensuring food cleanliness and safety requirements, increasing economic value, and conserving human and material resources.


The organic rice and rice processing facility of Quang Tri Trading Corporation is located in Hai Que commune, Hai Lang district, in Quang Tri's Southeastern Economic Zone. The facility spans 16.94 hectares and is invested around VND 250 billion. It features several functional sections and a modern production line system that is nearing completion.

When fully operational, it will ensure that organic rice products fulfill USDA (US) and European organic certification requirements, as well as worldwide market standards.


Targeting US market

To assure a consistent supply of organic rice in the domestic market, Quang Tri Trading Corporation studied and created affiliates in many large cities, including Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi...all of which have a high standard of living and growing demand for organic products.

 Mechanizing production by using sowing machines. Photo: Cong Dien. 

Exports are believed to have enormous potential, as demand for organic products abroad is even larger than domestic consumption. The fact that if Sepon Quang Tri organic rice is awarded two international certifications by the USDA (the United States) and the EU (Europe), it will bode well for the product's assessment of foreign markets.

Mr. Hieu explained that, in terms of the corporation's development strategy, the domestic market accounts for just 30% of revenue, while the remainder comes from export markets. And it is aiming for the United States, which is widely regarded as the pioneer in organic agriculture development.

According to Hieu, in order to produce Quang Tri organic rice seeds for export to difficult markets such as the United States of America, Europe, etc., it is necessary to put in more effort and professionalism throughout the soiling, sowing, cultivation, harvesting, processing, and post-harvest preservation stages, adhering to strict requirements and meeting all criteria set forth by international organic standards.

To accomplish this goal, Quang Tri Trading Corporation has collaborated with the Quang Tri Department of Science and Technology, Hue University of Science, and Quang Tri Agricultural Extension Center from the start, researching and developing Sepon organic fertilizer production facilities specialized in rice crops; importing rice implant machines, sowing machines, drones, and biological minerals for planting and caring for organic rice.

Mr. Ho Xuan Hieu introduces the process of producing rice seeds from ST25 variety. Photo: Cong Dien. 

Simultaneously, the firm effectively cultivates indigenous microbes, creating probiotics from agricultural items such as ginger, chili, garlic, tobacco, tilapia, eggshells, and animal bones, among others, to feed rice crops with nutrients, minerals, and insect management.

Additionally, the corporation signed contracts with foreign partners for consulting, collaboration, and product development, agreeing to consult with foreign organizations such as Peterson Services Vietnam on granting certification for organic products that meet USDA and EU standards. Quang Tri Trading Corporation also recently inked a sales contract on the e-commerce site Alibaba.com. 

Sepon Quang Tri clean rice will be available in supermarkets throughout Europe and the US in the near future.


According to Mr. Ho Xuan Hieu, the corporation will collaborate with Quang Tri farmers to establish over 1,000 hectares of organic rice plants and 3,000 hectares of VietGAP-certified rice plants by 2025, accounting for 35% of the province's total organic rice area.

Additionally, developing and introducing the Sepon Quang Tri organic rice brand to the domestic market, as well as establishing a strong foothold in the export market to Europe and the U.S.


Author: Cong Dien

Translated by Linh Linh

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