Garlic after being harvested is dried for preservation.

In 2016, garlic was planted by the local people in the hamlets of Da Nang and Tu Tac with more than 1 hectare. Realising that garlic is more profitable about 2-3 times than corn and cassava, Thu and the locals continued to expand the garlic planting area. However, the price of garlic was only VND10,000 - VND30,000 VND per kg.

At that time, the market price of black garlic was about VND500,000 to VND1 millionper kg. Therefore, he began to research about making black garlic on the internet. Then he visited to black garlic production facilities in Hung Yen, Son La, and Hai Duong in orer to get more experience.

At the end of 2019, the Agriculture Devision of Son Duong District coordinated with the Viet Nhat Company to support machines for local people to produce black garlic products. Thanks to that, he registered to establish a Black Garlic Cooperative Group with 5 members.

Nguyen Ngoc Thu, Director of Minh Phat Agriculture and Forestry Cooperative inspects the quality of black garlic.

By the end of 2020, Thu and members of the Black Garlic Cooperative Group had successfully produced a batch of fermented garlic. Then he quickly completed the procedures for black garlic to be recognised by the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as food meeting safety standards in August 2021.

After successfully producing black garlic products, Thu and 11 associates established Minh Phat Agriculture and Forestry Cooperative. In addition to linking to buy garlic for member households, Mr. Thu also has cooperated with garlic growing households in the commune.

Black garlic products.

The cooperative has produced more than 23kg of black garlic each month, creating regular jobs for many members. The average annual revenue is more than VND400 million.

Currently, Minh Phat black garlic product has selling price with 700,000 VND per kg. The products have been consumed both inside and outside the province.

In the coming time, Tu Thinh Commune will develop the black garlic product meeting 3-star OCOP standards.