Southern localities need to be proactive in handling agricultural products

On the evening of July 23rd, the Prime Minister has had a meeting with ministries, branches and localities in regard to the matters of preventing the Covid-19 epidemic and ensuring the circulation of goods, ensuring the life of the people in the provinces and cities in the south that are on isolation according to Directive 16.

According to Minister Le Minh Hoan, at present, the agricultural production process is still taking place normally, only facing problems of congestion when transporting on the road and during the harvest stage of agricultural products. To solve this problem, it is necessary for the localities to take the initiative, because it is impossible for the Government to have a document that can cover the whole situation.

"Let’s take the fact that farmers have to dump milk away since it is not included in the list of essential goods for example. In order to prevent this situation from happening again, it is necessary for localities to have flexibility", the Minister emphasized.

Another problem is that agricultural products are fine in the field, but processed products from production factories and facilities are facing difficulties, because many places have to close because of workers infected with Covid-19. This issue not only affects HCMC but also the export market.

“If we don't have a long-term solution, it will be hard in terms of production for processing facilities that can't execute “three on spot”. Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, especially the local units research and come up with a solution to this problem", added Minister Le Minh Hoan.

Mr. Le Minh Hoan also requested that localities set up working groups, regularly collect information through the hotline system to provide businesses, farmers and industry associations with ways to solve problems encountered when organizing the harvesting and circulation of agricultural products.

In addition, the head of the agricultural sector also suggested that the health sector prioritize vaccination for those who undertake tasks in the supply chain of agricultural products to avoid affecting the system.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has policies to carry out online inspection instead of directly for factories to limit travel and reduce the possibility of Covid-19 infection. In addition, the Ministry also has a solution to extend the license for establishments doing business on essential items for daily life and agricultural production", Minister Le Minh Hoan included the solutions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Prime Minister.