In order to promptly remove difficulties, reduce inventories, and avoid the situation of "having to rescue" a large amount of goods like during previous outbreaks, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) has sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, proposing additional support policies and measures, focusing on synchronous solutions and the joint participation of ministries and agencies to reduce the damage to affected localities. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will conduct trade promotion activities to help localities enhance the consumption of agricultural products using online forms.
In addition, the ministry has coordinated with the trade and diplomacy agencies and management boards at border gates to promptly handle difficulties and obstacles in exporting agricultural products. The MoARD has also proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) direct provinces and cities to create favourable conditions for the smooth consumption of safe agricultural products from provinces affected by COVID-19 epidemic. The MoIT has asked businesses providing logistics services, warehousing and cold storage and shipping lines to support the preservation of goods and reduce reservation costs, especially for agricultural products that need special preservation techniques.
It can be seen that during this epidemic outbreak, ministries and agencies have promptly sent out official dispatches with proposals and recommendations, avoiding the passive handling and congestion of agricultural products due to the epidemic. However, in order to make the consumption of agricultural products smooth and effective in the context of the epidemic being forecasted to last for a long time, localities should take the initiative in coming up with appropriate solutions for each item. For example, the Hai Duong provincial People’s Committee is expected to cooperate with the MoIT and relevant agencies to hold a virtual conference to promote the consumption of Thanh Ha lychee and other typical local agricultural products on May 18. The main point is Hai Duong, which will be connected with hundreds of places around the country and dozens abroad including the UK, Australia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan, France, Singapore and China. These will be the first steps in terms of the online sales trend that has been increasingly popular in the world, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, Luc Ngan district in the northern province of Bac Giang has developed different measures to support farmers in the harvesting, processing and consumption of lychees. Accordingly, the province will focus on consuming fresh fruit or putting it into processing depending on the epidemic situation in the country and its ability to export.
Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for the production, business and consumption of agricultural products in the country and for export. However, the epidemic is also an opportunity for both producers and enterprises to find new approachs to accessing partners and customers, ensuring epidemic prevention and avoiding logistical congestion.
This will bring valueto the country's agriculture sector, including online trade promotion, online sales and the improvement of deep processing of many agricultural products with high economic value.
