Cocoa products from the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau have been granted a second UTZ Certificate recognizing their global standard quality.

 The UTZ Certificate certifies agricultural products that meet international quality standards and other requirements such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), environmental protection, social security and traceable origins.

This represents an important milestone for increasing the value of Vietnamese farm products and will help improve farmers’ incomes and promote sustainable agricultural development.

More than 700 households in Tan Thanh and Chau Duc districts of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province with hundreds of hectares under cocoa cultivation are currently registered for the UTZ certification.

Because of the UTZ standards, local cocoa growers are protecting the environment, limiting the use of toxic chemicals and earning more from their increased-value products. They have also been provided with knowledge and technical assistance from experts.

(VOV)