Helping farmers overcome difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lack of funding, volatile market.

These days, Mr. Nguyen Van Ky, from Hamlet 3, Hung Yen Nam Commune (Hung Nguyen District), is busy taking care of his family's flock of 6,000 chickens. Mr. Ky shared: “I borrowed nearly 600 million VND from relatives to invest in raising chickens using biosafety methods. However, this year the weather has been unpredictable, especially with rain, floods, and diseases, causing heavy losses for my family. Besides that, even though the chickens are meticulously cared for and invested in, the market is limited. We haven't been able to establish connections with buyers, mainly selling retail, so this year's income will definitely be affected…”

The Provincial Farmers' Association distributed chicken breeds to farmers facing difficulties due to natural disasters. Photo: Thanh Tam

Mr. Pham Hong Tien, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Hung Nguyen district, said: "In previous years, we supported about 14 chicken farming models and 6 pig farming models annually in key livestock-growing communes in the district. However, in 2020, this support has been limited."

Besides limited funding, natural disasters and diseases have also significantly impacted support for affected households. Specifically, the prices of piglets and chicks on the market have increased many times compared to 2019; the prices of supplies and animal feed have also risen considerably. Moreover, many people are hesitant to restock their herds because African swine fever and avian influenza are still lurking.

Supporting safe livestock farming models is facing difficulties due to the excessively high prices of breeding stock and supplies. Photo: Quang An

Meanwhile, in Nghi Hai ward (Cua Lo town), seafood processing and trading units are also experiencing a difficult year. Hai Giang I fish sauce processing village, with 84 members, is a long-standing fish sauce producer with a well-established brand in the market, and ensuring food safety and hygiene in the production process is always a top priority for its members.

However, in 2020, the village's revenue suffered a severe decline (nearly 50%) due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many households had to temporarily suspend production and cut back on labor to cover operating costs, resulting in unsold goods. Furthermore, the erratic weather in 2020, with numerous storms, disrupted fishermen's fishing trips and severely impacted the supply of raw materials for the village.
In Dien Trung commune, a locality with a long tradition of shrimp farming in Dien Chau district, many biological shrimp farming models have been applied in recent years and have initially yielded positive results. However, in reality, embarking on the construction of this model also faces many difficulties.

Organic shrimp farming requires significant investment and advanced farming techniques. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Ngo Xuan Dai from Hamlet 4, Dien Trung Commune, said: "Raising shrimp using biological methods requires a large initial investment, and farmers need to acquire new farming knowledge, so some households are having difficulty adopting it."

Furthermore, the market is currently flooded with various types of biological products and environmental conditioners for shrimp farming, at different prices. The unique characteristic of shrimp farming is that a single mistake can result in losses of hundreds of millions, even billions of dong, so we face very high risks if we purchase products that do not meet quality standards.

Not only the livestock and agricultural production sectors, but also the cultivation of safe vegetables and fruits faces many practical risks. Some households lack a deep understanding of safe agricultural production, leading to instances of incorrect procedures and compromised quality of vegetables and fruits. The practice of selling at inflated retail prices without adhering to contracts with purchasing agents still occurs.

Furthermore, despite significant investment costs, the output of safe vegetables, fruits, and food remains limited. Connections with relevant organizations and businesses are still lacking, and the quality of safe vegetables in the province lacks competitiveness compared to other famous vegetable-growing regions nationwide.

Furthermore, consumers themselves lack the knowledge to identify safe and unsafe vegetables; the desire to buy beautiful, vibrant green vegetables at cheap prices is still very common, preventing safe agricultural products from gaining a firm foothold in the market.

Standing alongside the people

The occurrence of numerous natural disasters and epidemics, especially the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, affected the entire economy, and models of safe agricultural and food production in the province could not avoid the negative impacts of the pandemic.

To support farmers and production facilities,Nghe An Farmers' AssociationSpecific programs and actions have been implemented to help people overcome some of their difficulties.

Comrade Nguyen Quang Tung - Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, presents gifts to officials, members, and farmers of Thanh Xuan commune. Photo: Quang An.

In early December 2020, the Provincial Farmers' Association donated thousands of DABACO chicks to 59 farming households in 9 communes of Hung Nguyen district, including Hung Yen Bac, Hung Yen Nam, Hung Dao, Hung Thong, Hung Phuc, Hung Linh, Chau Nhan, Xuan Lam, and Long Xa. These households suffered heavy losses in the recent historic floods, and the farmers were extremely pleased, especially given the high price of chicks and the lack of resources for restocking.
In Dien Trung commune (Dien Chau district), the difficulties faced by households in implementing the model were recognized.organic shrimp farmingThe Provincial Farmers' Association has supported households in borrowing capital to invest in ponds and livestock. In other agricultural and livestock farming models, the farmers' associations at all levels always accompany and support farmers financially, guiding them to properly implement technical steps to produce the best products for the market. In addition, the dissemination of information on safe agricultural and food production is always emphasized and regularly promoted by farmers' association officials, contributing to raising people's awareness.
In addition to focusing on and directing production, the Nghe An Provincial Farmers' Association also directs its branches at the grassroots level to strengthen exchanges and linkages with units, businesses, and supermarkets inside and outside the province to help farmers sell safe agricultural products and increase their income.