Digital transformation brings new light to agro-product trade

Farmers getting familiar with e-commerce trading

All levels, sectors and farmers in Quang Binh province are aiming to promote the application of digital technology, digital platforms as well as automate production, harvesting and processing processes in agroproduction.

Tran Tien Sy, Chairman of Quang Binh Farmer’s Union, said that the Farmer’s Union recently cooperated with the local agricultural sector to organize the development of e-diaries, digitization of planting area data, and traceability for agro-products. It supported farmers to achieve the goal of digital transformation, contributing a big step to developing agro-product production and consumption.

In order to help members of good production and business to access digital technology, in 2022, Quang BInh Farmer’s Union in collaboration with Quang BInh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development brought more than 30 signature products representing the province’s regional identity to participate in the Viet Nam Fruit and One Commune, One Product (OCOP) Product Festival 2022 in Son La province.

Tran Thi Nhu Oanh, Director of Nhu Oanh Essential Oil Cooperative (Nam Trach commune, Bo Trach district) said, "Participating in the Vietnam Fruit and OCOP Product Festival 2022, I had the opportunity to learn more about the benefits digital transformation brings. When I put my products on the Posmart e-commerce platform, I found that my products had a massive boost in marketing, thus reducing costs and shortening sales time".

Previously, the Quang Binh Farmer’s Union and the provincial Post Office have implemented digital transformation contents in the production and consumption of agro-products and other goods for farmers in the province. The union at all levels focused on supporting good production and business households, farm owners, individual business households, cooperative groups, cooperatives, professional associations to join the e-commerce platform to connect markets, promote product marketing, expand domestic and international distribution channels.

In order to well implement digital transformation for farmers, Quang Binh Farmer’s Union at all levels has collected information on over 32,000 business households in the area with typical products. Priority is given to products that are certified to VietGAP, GlobalGAP standards, food safety certificates, OCOP product certificates, have trademarks and product quality registration. The union updates, introduces and sells products on the exchange on the e-commerce platform Postmart.vn/Agri-postmart.vn.

The provincial Post Office develops documents to guide agroproduction households to register for accounts and put agro-products on the Postmart e-commerce platform, builds a packaging - connection - delivery procedure to support farmers while they conduct trading on Postmart.vn.

Helping farmers understand the power of digital technology

Along with training on how to put agro-products on the e-commerce platform, Quang Binh Farmer’s Union focuses on coordinating with units to promote the effectiveness of digital platforms through utilizing mobile money services and the functions of digital government and digital society.

According to Chairman Sy, one of the key tasks of the Quang Binh Farmer's Union in the future is to encourage farmers to switch from agricultural production thinking to agricultural economic thinking, improve quality, added value and diversify products, thereby increasing the competitiveness of agro-products in line with market requirements.

“We have opened many courses to equip households with skills and knowledge on digital transformation in line with the development of agriculture - countryside - farmer. Because only when these subjects make agro-products that capture the market’s interest and put their products on the e-commerce exchange will they themselves achieve success”.

Thanks to active activities in supporting farmers, nearly 50 production households have been able to put their products on the e-commerce platform. On average there are over 200 transaction orders through Postmart.vn every month.

Tran Thi Nhu Oanh, Director of Nhu Oanh Essential Oil Cooperative, said that after participating in e-commerce products, the cooperative’s medicinal essential oil products have become well-known among customers and businesses. "The number of orders has increased by 50% compared to before. We have even caught the attention of foreign businesses and they offer to cooperate in product consumption".

Vuong Doan Enterprise (Hai Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district) specializes in purchasing and processing seafood. After getting access to e-commerce, this enterprise has experienced many positive changes in business.

Vuong Doan, director of the enterprise, said that when it first came into operation, the business struggles to sell products. After applying e-commerce to business activities, now the enterprise has purchased and processed hundreds of tons of high-value seafood for export. "Every year, the enterprise’s revenue has increased by several tens of billions of VND thanks to utilizing the e-commerce exchange. Our products have been exported to Thailand, Laos and some countries in the region”.