Strengthening the expansion of consumption channels for local agricultural products

Representatives of the Department of Industry and Trade surveys the supply and consumption of agricultural products at Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food (Thong Nhat District).

Dong Nai has the advantages of a crowded population, large market, diversified distribution channels, especially a system of supermarkets, trade centers, and developed wholesale markets. Therefore, many cooperatives and gardeners in the province wish to access more stable consumption channels into retail chains such as supermarkets, convenience store chains, etc. in the province.

Ms. Dang Thi Thuy Nga, Director of Xuan Dinh Agricultural Service Trading Cooperative, Xuan Loc District, said that the cooperative wishes to have long-term connections with supermarket systems so that they can proactively ensure the supply, as well as develop appropriate production and distribution plans, gradually develop brands for many local specialty fruits, etc.

However, in reality, bringing goods into modern supply chains is generally still difficult, although many supermarkets also encourage and desire to find local sources of goods. The reason is that the connection to consumption still has problems and constraints on technical standards, consumption contracts, etc.

According to some supermarkets, many local agricultural products and fruits have entered the supermarket shelves, but most of them are for promotion and introduction, while long-term consumption is still not easy to deploy because there are problems in the long-term and regular supply, ensuring the quantity of products according to the product consumption contract, etc. In addition, many specialty fruit products of Dong Nai have good quality but in reality, they are lacking necessary certificates of quality to enter the supermarket such as: traceability information, approval of the use of pesticides, etc.

According to the Center for Trade Promotion, Department of Industry and Trade, at the end of April, the Center coordinated with the management unit of the Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food, Thong Nhat District to organize a program to connect trade between cooperative groups, cooperatives, small traders, traditional markets in districts and cities with Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food. The program aims to support small traders in traditional markets in the province to find sources of agricultural products at reasonable prices through Dau Giay wholesale market.

Mr. Ho Duc Tan, representative of the Management Board of Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food, said that the last program has connected about 50 small traders in markets in Bien Hoa City, Long Khanh City to find sources of goods at the market. This is a regular connection opportunity for small traders of traditional markets in the province to visit, exchange and connect trade with small traders of Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food.

In addition, over the past time, trade connection activities between Dong Nai and provinces and cities across the country, especially the southern provinces and cities have been promoted more after being affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, including trade connection activities to Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food. This is a good opportunity to find more consumption markets for Dong Nai's strong agricultural products in the new situation.

Mr. Dang Van Tuan, Acting Director of Tien Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said recently, the delegation of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang Province visited typical and outstanding models of Dong Nai. This is an opportunity for the two localities to learn and exchange experiences with each other, especially about the operation model of the wholesale market, the promotion, development and connection of trade, expanding the consumption market for the local key products, especially fruits and agricultural products of provinces of Tien Giang and Dong Nai. In which, there is the activity of connecting supply and demand through the Dau Giay Wholesale Market of Agricultural Products and Food, because this market is well-invested, has an important strategic position, contributing to facilitate the connection of goods and agricultural products between the area o Southwest and Southeast region.

Vi Quan