Households and cooperatives, which face difficulties and obstacles in consuming agricultural products from Dan Phuong and Thach That districts, have been asked to ensure the quality of products to sell to distribution channels and collective cooking.

Nguyen Huu Hoi, a blackcurrant grower from Dan Phuong Commune. Photo: Anh Ngoc/ The Hanoi Times

Nguyen Huu Hoi, a blackcurrant grower from Dan Phuong District, wished to sell his VietGAP-standard products in supermarkets and clean food stores in the city.
"In this way, we will increase our income and investment to expand production," he told The Hanoi Times. Hoi's two annual blackcurrant harvests (June and October) yield 7-8 tons.

Another farmer from Trung Chau commune in the same district, Do Van Huan, shared that he is looking for a distribution partner to sell green sprouts to the supermarket channel. His production plant has obtained food safety and hygiene certification and plans to expand the production area. Currently, Huan supplies one ton per day to school and industrial kitchens.

Hoi and Huan are among the farmers, who have received support from the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center over the years, and participated in the forum entitled “Linking production and consumption of agricultural products” on September 13 in Hanoi. Connecting businesses with farmers, building chain links, and bringing safe agricultural products to consumers in the capital are the center's main activities to boost farm produce sales.

According to an assessment report of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the percentage of agricultural products sold through the value chain in the city is very low, accounting for less than 10%. “Most farmers are still vague or have an incorrect understanding of the value chain, leading to unsustainable linkages with other actors,” Deputy Director of the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center Doan Duc Dan said.

Farmers and businesses have failed to share the benefits and risks in production and business linkages, making the consumption of agricultural products sluggish in recent years.

Focusing on quality & product brand

A fish production model of Nguyen Van Thanh's household in Tu Chau Village, Lien Chau Commune, Thanh Oai District.

According to Chairwoman of the Association of Vietnam Retailers Vu Thi Hau, modern retail channels such as commercial centers and supermarkets require high food hygiene and safety standards.
“In addition to the certificate for safe production, the supermarket only signs a contract with farmers after inspecting the production facility,” she noted. “Therefore, farmers and cooperatives need to pay special attention to safe production to ensure quality.”

Do Hoang Thach, director general of Vietnam Agricultural Trading Promote, said farmers must ensure the quality of their agricultural products. At the same time, cooperatives and enterprises will take care of preliminary processing, packaging, collection, and transport to supermarkets. In addition to the channels of supermarkets and clean food stores, farmers must take into account the collective cuisine of schools and industrial parks, Thach stressed.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center Doan Duc Dan said: “Farmers should focus on planning production areas according to VietGAP or organic processes certified by organizations and authorities. The planning is also a prerequisite for businesses to trust and be ready to cooperate with farmers in production - consumption.”

He suggested that farmers and cooperatives need to actively explore the market and contact State management agencies for support in introducing and selling products on e-commerce platforms.