Tra Vinh (VNA) – A workshop was held in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on November 8 to help local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to promote the value chain of peanut.

The event was jointly organised by the management board of the Tra Vinh SME Development Project and the Centre for Service and Technology Transfer under Can Tho University.

Tra Vinh has around 4,700 hectares of peanut, mostly in the districts of Cau Ngang and Duyen Hai. Peanut, together with coconut, is a key product of the province.

Participants agreed on measures to enhance the value chain of peanut by improving product quality, creating more jobs, enhancing the competitiveness of peanut processing companies to expand their markets, and reducing production costs.

They suggested Tra Vinh focus on restructuring peanut harvests by expanding peanut growing areas in the autumn – winter and summer – autumn crops, enhance production capability for farmers, develop local peanut brand names, and improve the quality of peanut varieties.

Deputy Director of the SME Development Project Tran Thi Oanh highlighted the potential of peanut and coconut, such as stable supply sources and markets, and competitive edge.

Basing on studies by experts from Can Tho University, the project will provide assistance for local SMEs to enhance the value chain of peanut products, Oanh said.

The province’s SME Development Project was launched on January 30, 2015 at a total cost of 12.1 million CAD (9.67 million USD), including 11 million CAD funded by the Canadian Agency for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.-VNA
VNA