Measures sought to develop market for organic products

President of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association Ha Phuc Mich said that organic agriculture combines traditional cultivation methods and advanced technologies to bring about benefits to the environment and improve the living conditions of all parties involved.

Organic agriculture was first known in Vietnam in early 1990 when foreign non-governmental organisations visited Vietnam to study and invest in the field, such as an organic tea project in Tuc Tranh commune, Phu Luong district, the northern province of Thai Nguyen, and a safe vegetable project in Hanoi.

These projects helped pave the way for other projects in Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang and Hoa Binh provinces.

Farmers and officials participating in the projects have been provided with knowledge and skills on organic farming.

However, to date, many domestic consumers lack understanding on organic agriculture and products, which hampers the development of organic product consumption market.

Supporting services such as certification, trade promotion and investment mechanisms remain limited, Mich said.

To develop market for clean farm produce, delegates stressed the need for local People’s Committees to soon implement Decree 109/2018/ND-CP on organic agriculture.

The localities can issue their own priority policies for organic farming development, and have projects and resolutions dedicated to this work, they said, suggesting the localities take the initiative in developing organic agriculture such as producing organic fertiliser.

Inpiduals and organisations participating in the production and consumption chain were advised to learn about the market, standards and requirements on food safety and hygiene, as each market has its own standards and requirements.

The forum was jointly held by the Vietnam Agriculture Coalition and the Oxfam Organisation.