Supermarkets in Hanoi only meet 20 percent of local people’s food demand. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam needs to develop a system of modern agriculturalproduct supply centres which can help to promote the consumption of farmproduce in value chains, enhance food safety and hygiene, and improve thecompetitive edge of Vietnamese goods.
At a workshop held in Hanoi on May 28, head of the Central Coordination Officefor New-style Rural Area Building Nguyen Minh Tien said that the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development is developing a project on the supply systemfor 2018-2020 with a vision to 2030, with the support of the French Embassy inVietnam and the French Development Agency (AFD).
According to Tien, the move will make contributions towards realising the nationaltarget programme on new style rural area building during 2016-2020 by creatinga sustainable consumption channel for local farm produce, and connectingfarmers and distributors towards setting up concentrated cultivating areas for localagricultural products.
In addition, consumers will feel more confident about Vietnamese products asthe supply system enables tracing of good origins.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi city People’s Committee Nguyen Van Suu said thatHanoi has huge demand for farming products each year, including some 890,000tonnes of rice, 139,000 tonnes of pork, 42,000 tonnes of chicken, 54,000 tonnesof seafood, and 900,000 tonnes of vegetables.
At present, most local farm produce is sold through traditional channels likewet markets, wholesale markets, and street markets, and very few are on sale atsupermarkets or convenience stores.
Suu said that as the city’s 124 supermarkets only meet 20 percent of localpeople’s food demand, it is necessary to develop the supply system to controlfood safety and hygiene, as well as to improve the local capacity to supplylarge volume of goods for domestic consumption and exports. –VNA
VNA
