Opportunity to promote OCOP products after Covid-19

At the regular press conference by Ho Chi Minh City Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Economic Recovery Steering Committee on May 19, Vice Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City Farmers Association Huynh Thi Kim Xuyen said, the key agricultural products exhibition is a meaningful and practical activities organized annually by Ho Chi Minh City Farmers' Union. It has received the active participation and response from agricultural officials and members, cooperative groups, agricultural cooperatives, farms, agricultural production businesses in the city.

This year's exhibition was organized by the Standing Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Farmers Association in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, HCMC Post Office and Thu Duc City People's Committee, with 160 exhibition stalls introducing the key agricultural products, OCOP products of Ho Chi Minh City with high quality, high value, and environmental friendliness. These products include orchids, bonsai, ornamental plants, vegetables, mushrooms, packaged products, seeds, fertilizers, garden tools, etc.

According to Ms. Xuyen, the purpose the exhibit is to create favorable conditions for farmers and participating units to introduce, promote and consume agricultural products. This is also an opportunity to exchange knowledge on the process of production, business and consumption of products, as well as learn new information and technologies in agriculture. Ultimately, the exhibition acts as a bridge connecting farmers, producers of agricultural products and safe food in the City to consumers in the new state of normalcy.

This event also aims to deploy content on supporting farmers in the digital transformation of production and consumption of agricultural products, goods in 2022. It also promotes roles, responsibilities as well as creates long-term close linkages between stakeholders in creating a brand encouraging cooperation and consumption. Additionally, the event aims to enhance the role, position of the Association in the implementation of restructuring program for the urban agricultural economy in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the effective implementation of the Campaign "Vietnamese consumers prioritizing Vietnamese goods".

The stalls at this year's exhibition will be divided into 4 areas, including: an exhibition area for key agricultural product of Ho Chi Minh City. A Common house exhibition area by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development displaying models of OCOP products, key products and urban agriculture of Ho Chi Minh City. An exhibition area displaying start-up products, key agricultural products, product models belonging to farmers' cooperatives of Thu Duc city, districts participating in vocational training models, capital support from HCMC Farmers Support Fund; OCOP products in the provinces. An exhibition and discussion area on supporting farmers in digital transformation in production and consumption of products, goods, and the process of putting agricultural products on the e-commerce platform.

Ms. Xuyen added that, within the framework of the Exhibition, the Standing Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Farmers Association also organized many other meaningful and practical activities.

Some examples include: a workshop on communication and knowledge training for farmers to place agricultural products on the Postmart.vn e-commerce platform; Workshop on solutions to develop OCOP products in Ho Chi Minh City; Discussion workshop on raising the percentage of farmers participating in the health insurance and voluntary social insurance in 2022; orchids and ornamental plants competition; social security care activities for disadvantaged people of Thu Duc City, awarded 90 scholarships,  worth 1 million VND each to impoverished and near-impoverished students of Thu Duc City Farmers Association. Additionally, there are also entertainment and culinary activities for people to visit, shop, etc.

The development orientation of Ho Chi Minh City's agricultural sector is in the direction of promoting urban agriculture with high technology application, gradually form a center for plant varieties and seedlings in the region.

The city strives to produce about 45,000 tons of plant varieties annually from 2021 to 2025, including 4-5 new varieties. It will also maintain a herd of 61,000 dairy cows with milk yield reaching 8,000kg/head/year; beef herd of about 65,000 heads, supplying the market with 4,500 tons of live beef/year; produce about 300 million ornamental fish, export 80-100 million fish.