The people's committees of provinces and cities in coordination with the sectors of health, industry and trade, ministries and central branches need to closely work with businesses to remove difficulties and restore farm production and consumption as well as ensure food safety. 

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh. HNT Photo: Duc Tuan

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh made the statement on September 13 at an online conference to speed up circulation and consumption of agricultural products while measures against Covid-19 are still in place.

Thanh also said some localities’ regulatory work is still not timely and effective, leading to stagnation in production and circulation of goods. 

“The Government has issued many documents instructing measures to prevent disruption in production and circulation of goods. However, lack of the flexibility at some localities has hindered circulation of goods,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

As the role of the localities is decisive in ensuring smooth movement of goods, the Deputy Prime Minister asked provincial and city’s authorities to remove hindrance to the flow of goods in accordance with the Government's instruction, and refrain from issuing additional procedures and permits. 

“There is no regulation on the transfer of the driver and means of transport, but drivers and vehicles need to be neatly checked at the departure and destination. The localities should devise solutions to control the Covid-19-infected truck drivers so as to prevent the disease from spreading through the freight services as well as ensure food safety.

For agricultural production, the Deputy Prime Minister noted localities to closely coordinate with farmers and businesses in building a master plan on agricultural trade resumption.

Obstacles in agricultural production and sales

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said, in general, agricultural production from the beginning of 2021 has basically met demand. Export turnover of agricultural products achieved positive growth in the first six months of 2021. 

However, starting from July, production, harvest and export of agricultural products have been sharply affected by the strong outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in many localities including the key provinces in the South.

Vice Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Tran Anh Thu said the surge in fertilizer price is one of the major obstacles. He suggested it is necessary to continue to review the chain of production, supply, import and logistics in order to reduce fertilizer prices to an appropriate level. 

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee Ho Phuoc Thanh proposed an establishment of a web portal on safe agricultural products to connect with foreign partners and promote trade.

Some delegates from businesses and associations raised difficulties in exporting to markets, including China, when technical barriers on standards, quarantine, hygiene and safety are getting stiffer. 

Some new regulations on the import of agricultural products from China, applied from January 1, 2022, may affect the production and consumption of agricultural products in Vietnam. The shortage of empty containers and the increase in freight cost have had a great impact on exports to the US, EU, Northeast Asia as well as the import of raw materials for export, local insiders said.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh said e-commerce platforms and online distribution channels are solutions for goods circulation in the current context. He suggested traders and businesses quickly turn to official export to ensure the consumption of agricultural and aquatic products.

Local farmers are harvesting vegetable in Hanoi. HNT Photo: Trong Tung

Ensuring supply of goods for Hanoi

As one of the leading localities to have a specific plan to meet the supply of food and essentials, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has worked out measures for the production of crops, livestock and fisheries in three zones according to the level of Covid-19 risk, as well as solutions for preserving, processing and consuming agricultural, forestry and aquatic products in the context of the disease prevention and control.

Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Chu Phu My said based on supply and demand, the department will strengthen coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of 21 northern provinces and cities to ensure supply of vegetables, meat and safe food for the capital’s people. 

The Department will continue closely working with 1,130 suppliers in 22 provinces and cities in the North and 23 provinces and cities in the Central and Southern regions. 

Among these, there are 453 establishments supplying safe vegetables and fruits with an output of more than 92,000 tons per month, 90 providing cattle and poultry meat with an output of more than 13,000 tons and 28 others with an output of more than 31.3 million eggs monthly.