Nghe An strengthens connection to consume clean agricultural products
(Baonghean.vn) - Although Nghe An has many agricultural products and local specialties, the output is still limited, bringing products to the supermarket system and store chains inside and outside the province is facing many difficulties. Therefore, strengthening the connection between supply and demand and consuming safe agricultural products is very important...
Finding outlets for safe agricultural products
The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hiep in Kim Nghia hamlet is one of 60 households producing safe vegetables following VietGAP standards in Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc district. This winter crop, her family grew nearly 3 sao of vegetables, tubers, and fruits of all kinds, both in greenhouses and in the fields. Although the switch from traditional vegetable production to safe vegetables has brought about increased quality and prices, Ms. Hiep is still worried about product output.
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| Model of growing melons in greenhouses according to VietGAP standards in Nghi Loc district. Photo: Quang An |
Ms. Hiep shared: “I have been growing safe vegetables following VietGAP standards since 2017. Although the vegetables produced are of guaranteed quality and follow the correct procedures, they can only be sold to traders and regular customers, and have not yet entered the large market. There are years when the harvest is good, vegetables and tubers are unsold, forcing us to sell them at low prices, while vegetables floating on the market are still consumed strongly, which makes us very sad...”.
That is also the common mood of many production households.food safetyCurrently. In 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic has severely affected the economy, finding a business that can safely consume agricultural products is already difficult and even more difficult.
If the "color granaries" in the province such as Quynh Luu and Dien Chau have an average of 4-5 enterprises participating in cooperation and signing contracts to consume agricultural products every year, now there are only 1-2 units. In the remaining districts such as Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan... finding a consuming enterprise is also a difficult process because meeting all the conditions and criteria to sign contracts with enterprises is very difficult.
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| Safe cucumbers in Dien Chau district are stagnant and unsold, forcing prices to drop and calling for rescue. Photo: Quang An |
According to the report of the Department of Industry and Trade, up to now, Nghe An province has 17 commercial centers, 95 supermarkets, in addition, there are more than 100 specialized stores and modern convenience stores operating according to the chain model that is currently developing rapidly. However, safe agricultural products and foods in Nghe An currently account for a very low proportion in the structure of products sold.sold in supermarkets.
Mr. Tran An Khang - Director of BigC Vinh supermarket said: "Although there are many agricultural products and specialties in Nghe An, in reality, only a very small part of them are brought to BigC Vinh supermarket. There are many reasons for this problem, mainly due to legal documents, too many similar products; agricultural products in the province still lack competitiveness in terms of product quality and price compared to other provinces...".
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| Safe agricultural products are sold at supermarkets in Vinh City. Photo: Quang An |
Synchronize multiple solutions
Linking and consuming safe agricultural products requires smooth and responsible coordination from the people, local authorities as well as product purchasing units.
For farmers who directly produce agricultural products, it is necessary to strictly follow the safe agricultural production processes to create trust with consumers and purchasing units. In fact, if this can be done, the product output will always be open.
For example, the orange farm of Mr. Trinh Xuan Giao in Yen Thanh district,orange productsMr. Giao persistently invested in clean processes and ensured food hygiene and safety. The staff of Thien Son orange farm have practiced and strictly applied the production, fertilization, and product preservation processes that meet the most stringent standards. On November 24, 2020, his orange farm received the Global Good Agricultural Practices certificate and then exported oranges to the Japanese market through AEON supermarket...
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| Mr. Trinh Xuan Giao's orange farm in Yen Thanh district has a stable output. Photo: Xuan Hoang |
In addition to production, people also need to proactively apply science and technology, get acquainted with social networking sites to be able to post products, proactively search for customers, and gradually eliminate the habit of waiting and relying on the state. Mr. Tran Nguyen Hoa - Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc district said: "Localities need to increase communication and cooperation with units that guarantee products in and outside the province. Once the contract is signed, the government needs to do a good job of monitoring the production process, especially preventing the act of selling off and retailing agricultural products to the market when seeing the price of a part of the people so as not to lose the trust of the guaranteeing enterprise".
“As a bridge, farmers’ associations at all levels in the province have joined with local authorities to strengthen exchanges and connections with product consumption units inside and outside the province. The provincial Farmers’ Association also directed grassroots farmers’ associations to guide and accompany cooperatives and production households in completing documents, procedures, and certificates to be able to work with supermarket systems and product consumption units. We will carry out this work regularly so that safe agricultural products have sustainable output and affirm their position in the market.”
