Given the huge inventory of unsold farm produce, the governments of Covid-19-hit provinces are required to focus on facilitating the production and consumption of farm produce for the Lunar New Year in the locality.

A kumquat garderner in Dong Anh district. Photo: Anh Ngoc

The request was made by the Agricultural Products Processing and Market Development Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to solve the disrupted consumption of of agro-produce.

The department has also required to facilitate the transport of agricultural products to markets, as well as improving the acquisition and the storage of agricultural products in the areas affected by Covid-19 and restricting the circulation of fresh and frozen products between localities.

"The Ministry of Health must carry out the Covid-19 test for truck drivers transporting agricultural products and issue them a negative result certificate every 3-5 days to facilitate the sale of agricultural products," said Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director General of the department said.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the pandemic has disrupted consumption and exports of vegetables and fruits. 

Mr. Vo Huy Hoang, Chairman of the Dragon Fruit Association of Binh Thuan province said: “The complicated pandemic caused China, the main buyer of Vietnamese dragon fruits, to restrict imports. Meanwhile, throughout the province there are about 10,000 tons of dragon fruit that are about to be harvested."

Director of the Import-Export Department under the MoIT Tran Thanh Hai has said that China has continuously strengthened measures on quarantine and food safety, traceability and other packaging and labeling requirements for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery exports, making it difficult for Vietnamese agricultural shippings to China.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted transport, leading to the huge inventory of unsold rice, coffee and pepper. The MoIT predicted that the shortage of empty containers will last at least until the end of the first quarter of 2021. 

The industry and trade departments of provinces are required to cooperate with relevant units in proactively promoting trade activities to support the sale of farm produce.