Locales and units work to help Hai Duong consume farm produce

Many localities, units and individuals have joined hands to help farmers in the COVID-19 hit areas, especially the northern province of Hai Duong, to consume a huge amount of unsold farm produce.

A venue selling Hai Duong agricultural products operated by the Co.opmart supermarket chain at the headquarters of the Hanoi Union of Cooperatives in Ha Dong District, Hanoi. (Photo: NDO)
A venue selling Hai Duong agricultural products operated by the Co.opmart supermarket chain at the headquarters of the Hanoi Union of Cooperatives in Ha Dong District, Hanoi. (Photo: NDO)

>>> Measures proposed to remove difficulties for goods circulation amidst COVID-19

On February 23, the Department of Industry and Trade of Hanoi sent a written request to the local agencies, units and businesses to actively support the consumption of agricultural, aquatic and marine products from the northern provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

Due to the epidemic, the connection and consumption of agricultural and aquatic products in virus-hit areas are facing many difficulties. Quang Ninh currently has 500 tonnes of unsold seafood, while Hai Duong Province has a backlog of 90,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables, along with 550 tonnes of chicken in Chi Linh City (Hai Duong) and 550 tonnes of aquatic products.

Hanoi called on kitchens to increase the use of agricultural and aquatic products from Hai Duong and Quang Ninh in their meals, while local distribution businesses, supermarkets and food stores, as well as civil servants and employees, were also called on to consume more products from the two localities.

Hanoians joining hand to “rescue” agricultural products from COVID-19 hit localities. (Photo: NDO)

The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade requires that products of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh, when put into the consumer market, need to well implement measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic among people, vehicles and goods circulating in accordance with the industry health care and receive maximum support from slaughterhouses and distribution units to lower product costs.

On February 23, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op) said that the Co.opmart supermarket system in Hanoi has been supporting the consumption of agricultural products from Hai Duong. Accordingly, the supermarket will compensate the cost to be able to sell about 200 to 300 tonnes, expected to last for a month or until the amount of agricultural products in the whole province have essentially been sold in a stable manner.

The retail system VinMart/VinMart+ is also actively participating in supporting the consumption of safe agricultural products for Hai Duong farmers by selling non-profit some agricultural products such as tomatoes, kohlrabi, carrots, cabbage and guava, with an expected output of 70 tonnes per week.

Agricultural goods from Hai Duong are on the shelves at MM centre in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: NDO)

MM Mega Market Vietnam supermarket chain has also announced a plan to promote the consumption of agricultural products from Hai Duong. In the coming time, the consignments of agricultural products from Hai Duong to Hanoi will yield five to six tonnes per trip with a frequency of one trip per day. For Ho Chi Minh City and the central region, it is expected that there will be two "rescue" shipments per week, totalling 70 tonnes a week.