Developing special agricultural products in tandem with tourism has helped farmers in the central coastal province of Ninh Thuan promote on-the-spot consumption of their produce.
The local climate is ideal for breeding sheep and goat and growing grapes, asparagus, garlic, aloe vera and spinosum seaweed, which are competitive products in Ninh Thuan’s target markets.
To promote local agricultural products, Ninh Thuan has focused on agriculture-based tourism over the years, with tours to orchards in Ninh Hai, Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Son districts, and sheep pastures in Ninh Hai and Bac Ai districts.
Nguyen Khac Phong, Director of Thai An Agricultural Service Cooperative in Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, said tours to vineyards have helped visitors explore grape production and processing, while raising the income of local farmers.
To meet increasing demand for such tours, the province has assigned the cooperative to plant a new grape variety of high quality and productivity.
Ninh Thuan has chosen 12 special products for 2018-20 - grapes, jujube, asparagus, garlic, aloe vera, spinosum seaweed, shrimp seeds, sheep, goats, black pigs, yellow oxen and cows and Ninh Son fruit, said Tran Quoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.
The province has invested in infrastructure in localities with potential for agriculture-based tourism, connected travel companies with farms, supported startups in this field, increased product management, set up sites introducing the products, and improved tourism quality.
The province’s grape and sheep have been granted geographical indication status.
The locality has collective brand names for Ninh Thuan jujube, Phan Rang garlic, Van Hai VietGAP grapes, Bac Ai black pigs, My Nghiep brocade weaving and Bau Truc pottery.
It also has special certification marks for goats, aloe vera, green asparagus, shrimp seed, spinosum seaweed, Ca Na fish sauce and Ninh Son fruits.
With the potential, the locality is expected to launch more agriculture-based tours in the future.