Fresh food retailers at some markets in southern Long An province have responded positively to the call to ensure food safety and hygiene for customers and themselves thanks to a World Bank-funded project.

The trader are now sitting on the areas installed exclusively for fresh produce, like pork and fish, at Can Duoc, Can Giuoc, Moc Hoa, and Ben Luc markets out of the 20 food markets across the provinces, according to Lieu Trung Nguon, Vice Director of Long An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Long An is among the 12 provinces that have benefited from the 79 million USD livestock competitiveness and food safety project (Lifsap) funded by the World Bank and managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the period from 2010 to 2015.

The project’s purpose is to help reduce environmental pollution and improve local community’s living conditions in addition to enhancing the competitiveness of the country’s animal breeding industry.

The funding of 5 million USD reserved for Long An was tailored for the development of standard breeding areas, the upgrade of 13 slaughterhouses and 20 food markets along with the construction of 500 biogas tanks and provision of capital for 750 traders.-VNA