A shark catfish farm in Đồng Tháp Province. HCM City helps the province develop high-quality supply chains for agricultural products. – Photo sggp.org.vn
HCM City will help Dong Thap build high-quality supply chains for agricultural products to improve their quality, officials told a conference held by the province People’s Committee on July 26.
Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, deputy director of the city’s Department of Industry and Trade, said building supply chains with clear sources of origins and connecting manufacturers, distributors and customers are crucial to ensuring food safety and building customer trust.
HCM City distribution networks will provide market information to manufacturers in the province so that they can tweak their production plans, and only buy high-quality products with clear origins from them.
The city would also assist with branding and promotion, Hoa said.
Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee, said since more and more high-quality foreign goods are entering the market and the demand for food safety is constantly on the rise, technology 4.0 has to be adopted in supply chains and by local manufacturers to be able to compete.
Dr Dang Kim Son, director of the Ha Noi-based Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, said Dong Thap should improve its rice farming models and apply stricter quality standards for the rice supply chain.
Nguyen Van Cong, director of the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said five main local product groups -- rice, mango, flowers, duck, and shark catfish – are being developed, but after four years of facilitating their supply chains, only duck eggs and catfish meet international standards.
The creation of high-quality supply chains still faces hurdles such as traders and distributors buying from unclear sources or unskilled co-operative groups, businesses and farmers, he said.
Hùng said the province aims to create more high-quality agricultural areas for the province’s major produce and help businesses, farmers and co-operatives improve product quality and ensure food safety to set up supply chains and satisfy HCM City’s demand for high-quality goods.
Hoa said HCM City is from where goods are shipped to other provinces or overseas. – VNS