Vo Quan Huy – CEO of Huy Long An – My Binh Ltd

Huy Long An (Vo Quan Huy’s  common name – CEO of Huy Long An Co., Ltd. – My Binh) has become well-known not only since he was awarded the title “The outstanding Vietnamese Farmer”, but rather more than ten years ago when recognized by the agriculture investors in the south.

Vo Quan Huy – CEO of Huy Long An – My Binh Ltd

In your over 40 years’ ‘journey’ working in agriculture, you have been recognized as the first farmer to promote FOHLA banana   ‘Made in Vietnam” into foreign market. Could you please share something about this?

Banana is considered to be the mainstay in many regions and the country’s important export product.  It is one of the fruits that are consumed the most all over the world due to its high nutritional value.

I established a farm of over 1,000 Australian cows in Hiep Hoa village (Long An province) in the year of 2014. I used the cow shit to change the acidic soil and started planting banana for a pilot project; this type had a beautiful yellow color, chewy , fragrant and not too sweet to eat.

Experienced technical experts from the Philippines and hundred of workers currently work in our 2 banana farms (one more than 40 ha in Long An and the other 70 ha in Trang Bang – Tay Ninh province) where only the clean planting procedures are applied. To meet the requirements from other countries, I have set up an end-to-end manufacturing system following VietGAP procedures from seeding, caring to packaging and freezing right on the spot.

I am therefore proud of, in terms of quality, the words “Made in Vietnam” labeled on each and every bunch of banana, and I have a strong determination and belief that we can maintain this quality standard.  

I registered the banana brand of FOHLA (abbreviated of Fruit of Huy Long An) in 2015.  Our bananas have been exported to many countries like Dubai, Singapore, Japan… and have especially been regularly ordered in huge quantities by the Don Kihote retail chain of Japan.

Japan is one of the world’s most difficult markets. To work with Japanese partners, what criterias should you meet?

Japanese people have good feelings towards Vietnamese people thanks to the long-term mutual relationship and the relatively similar cultures. Japanese businessmen shared that they will prioritize to buy Vietnamese products if we meet the quality standards required.

Before deciding to buy our products, Japanese businessmen want to know if our products meet their quality standards, which are known as VietGAP + (including VietGAP standards and the customized Japanese requirements).

When Japanese businessmen come to visit us in Vietnam, I have the responsibility to help them understand how safe our babana products are. In addition to clearly presenting to them our manufacturing procedures, I welcome them with openess and transparency. I patiently let them have the time to analize the banana taste and fragrance and test the residual soil nitrate in the banana farms… Responding to their questions is considered to be the responsibility asked for, in business negotiations (at least 5 rounds of replies from us before their purchase).

Is it difficult for you to meet these criteria?

I used to do shrimp breeding; I have worked with Japanese businessmen for many years now and I know what they want. When I decided to go with banana planting, I had already got everything ready like the farm design and the required standard manufacturing procedures to accommodate them.

I think we have to do this not for export only but also for domestic market – manufacturers  have to make changes pursuant to consumer’s culture currently,  given Vietnamese consumers also have higher requirements for their health and higher options for safe food.

We’ve got to know that you have experienced failures many times.What are the keys to your success currently?

I started my first business with the sugar cane and I am always grateful for it since it helped me to build up my business. To have current success, I have tried with more than 20 types of plants and cattle; I have traded off my failures against my capital, my sweat and my tears; I even took different jobs like agrimotor driver, sugar cane cutter and had to convince groceries’ owners to let me owe the money to buy the rice to feed my workers…

I learned a lesson from each failure encountered, not letting myself discouraged. While working, I keep learning from the leading agriculture experts on how to apply modern technologies into farming. I always look for updated information and policies related to domestic agriculture and study foreign market for new agricultural products…

I have since then realized that doing farming is not easy at all as it depends on many objective factors like work force, weather, epidemics and market. Doing farming is not as simple as a drawing on paper, and it requires you to work hard and to try your utmost to understand the root cause of success. The key to my success includes determination, insight and vision – especially in this stage of international integration; it is required to study the market to know when business opportunities come to the products we will make with our utmost capabilities.

What is required to get a standing for Vietnamese agricultural products in the current stage of integration?

Collaboration is required to help with the development of Vietnamese agricultural products. Farmers should be consulted to follow the procedures by scientists to produce good agricultural products. Market research and study should come before any manufacture set-up to avoid the state of “all households are doing it’ which might lead to unability to make the products, or to make products that can sell, or consequently a loss.  Farmers also have to change their sales mindset, to understand that products should be customized with the best quality, to meet the needs of “good look and hygiene” to convince the modern market.

The government’s leading role in manufacture is very important. To support and help farmers to understand the policies and modern technologies, experts are required to have not only the insight and knowledge but also the devotion and attachment given to farmers through their guidance and transfer of know-how in a way that suits farmers’ understanding level, thus enabled to understand and follow. 

Besides, I have 2 concerns.  First is the fact that FOHLA banana is very safe for health and has high nutritional value. However, we’ve got no channels to largely recommend it to consumers countrywide.

Second, some inaxact information and communication about the ripening process of bananas  have caused plenty of uncertainty to consumers. Such type of information has caused a lot of difficulty for farmers as there are safe ripening agents that are allowed to a non-hazard level for users. Should it be advisable that journalists consult experts to have more exact knowledge and communicate the ‘right thing about the right event’ to the public?

It’s right to say now that you’ve been successful in all ways, have you got any dreams not fulfilled?

 So far, my mind if imbued with any new thoughts for work, anytime. I’m willing to share my experiences with other farmers the the objective to help give them a better life.

I am very lucky to have my two sons both taking my steps in agriculture, one on technical side, the other on business management. We three work hard, one like the others, which helps get the company good results.

I hope the government goes son with the open and transparent policy so that famers’ families in particular and Vietnamese agriculture in general get sustainable development day by day.

Saigon New Day - Thanh Nien Publishing House

Từ khóa : Võ Quan Huy,Huy Long An - Mỹ Bình