An Giang: Has a farm that meets 3-star OCOP standards

Amidst the vast fruit trees and green fields of My Khanh commune (Long Xuyen city, An Giang), Phan Nam farm has pioneered the combination of high-tech agricultural production with eco-tourism and unique experiential education, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. In 2016, Phan Nam farm began operating with an area of ​​2 hectares, focusing on growing vegetables and guava using traditional outdoor methods. Realizing the trend of consumers increasingly paying attention to clean and safe agricultural products, with the desire to increase the value of agricultural production, at the end of 2017, the owner of Phan Nam farm built the first greenhouse with an area of ​​500m2 to grow cherry tomatoes using high technology.

The cherry tomato products were well received by the market, and the farm continued to invest in expanding the greenhouse area to 5,500m2 to grow cantaloupe, melon, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, gac fruit, grapes, etc. using high technology. Next, the farm also invested in 400m2 of greenhouse to grow ornamental flowers, creating colorful patches to decorate the space. The remaining area is still effectively utilized for the fruit tree area, safe outdoor vegetables, green landscape area, along with the system of ditches and fish ponds, creating a vivid and diverse rural picture.

Next, the farm boldly developed the “educational farm” model, which cleverly combines education and entertainment, targeting all audiences, especially students, becoming one of the unique models in the Mekong Delta,” said Ms. Chi.

Panoramic view of the cool green space of the 3-star OCOP tourist destination Phan Nam Farm, featuring clean vegetable beds and greenhouses growing many types of agricultural products.

Since the end of 2023, Phan Nam Farm has joined hands with the Department of Education and Training of Long Xuyen City to implement a plan to combine the agricultural tourism model with school education to train life skills for students. The farm helps students of all levels in Long Xuyen City practice life skills through practical activities on the farm; provide knowledge, raise awareness about production and consumption of agricultural products, clean food... Currently, Phan Nam Farm is the first “Educational Farm” model in An Giang; creating conditions for students to visit, experience, learn, have a useful playground, in accordance with the orientation of comprehensive education.

Ms. Nguyen Thi My Chi, Director of Phan Nam Farm, said that the farm’s bold move from traditional agricultural production to a high-tech agricultural model has helped improve productivity and quality of agricultural products, which has been positively received by the domestic and foreign markets. Currently, the farm’s three main products, cherry tomatoes, melons and guavas, have all achieved VietGAP certification.

Students experience agricultural tourism combined with school education at Phan Nam Farm

“With a strategy to develop clean, safe agricultural production and a well-planned landscape, the farm boldly invests in developing tourism infrastructure based on the farm’s landscape. The farm builds a systematic agricultural tourism model, where visitors can immerse themselves in nature, experience farming life; harvest and enjoy clean agricultural products produced by the farm.

At the end of 2020, Phan Nam Farm was recognized by the People’s Committee of An Giang province as a tourist destination of the province. In December 2024, Phan Nam farm tourist destination was recognized by Long Xuyen city as meeting 3-star OCOP standards. This is the first agricultural tourist destination in An Giang to meet 3-star OCOP standards, meeting strict criteria on scale, product quality, services, development potential, especially closely linked to the cultural identity and advantages of the locality. In particular, the red artichoke syrup product grown and produced at the farm was also recognized by Long Xuyen city as meeting 3-star OCOP standards.