Masan Consumer, one of Viet Nam’s leading food and beverages companies, has signed a contract with Quang Ngai Province’s Ly Son District for long-term purchase of Ly Son garlic to produce its new Nam Ngu Ly Son Garlic Chili Fish Sauce line, ensuring growers have a steady outlet.

The island district is well-known for its large garlic farms. It has an abundance of volcanos that enrich the soil with minerals, which combined with its layer of red volcanic basaltic soil and a top layer of coral sand, lend the garlic grown here a unique, appealing flavour.

Garlic is a key crop in Ly Son, often referred to as “white gold” by local farmers due to its high economic value. It has 300ha under the crop.

Ly Son Garlic is widely known for its aroma and spicy but slightly sweet taste. Its relatively high oil content makes it ideal for producing seasoning and medicine.

However, garlic farming suffers from problems such as weather, diseases, inconsistent demand, and unstable prices.

On July 1, Masan Consumer signed a contract with the Ly Son People’s Committee and representatives of local garlic farmers to purchase garlic to make its Nam Ngu Ly Son Garlic Chili Fish Sauce (made completely from the region’s garlic).

This long-term agreement is part of Nam Ngu brand’s commitment to its business strategy of creating high-quality products with Viet Nam’s specialities.

Le Thi Nga, deputy general director of Masan Consumer, said with the company’s vision, sustainable development strategy and aim of improving the value of regional specialities, Masan Consumer and its Nam Ngu brand have focused on researching and developing outstanding products that use specialities like Ly Son garlic.

“With its export expansion strategy, Nam Ngu is promoting and enhancing the brand value of Ly Son garlic in Viet Nam and abroad.”

Dang Tan Thanh, deputy chairman of the district, said unpredictable prices make the lives of farmers unstable and limit brand building for their garlic.

“We highly regard the agreement by Masan Consumer’s Nam Ngu brand for enhancing the value of Ly Son garlic. This will play a big role in maintaining and developing the district’s long-standing tradition of garlic farming in a sustainable manner, improving its economy and strongly promoting the Ly Son garlic brand.”

Local authorities and garlic farmers will work with Nam Ngu to help Ly Son garlic become a national brand that is widely known across the world.

At the signing ceremony, Masan Consumer also contributed VND500 million (US$21,100) to the district’s social security programme. — VNS