Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is one of the world's top producers and exporters of agricultural products. Particularly impressive is the turnover of fruit and vegetable exports in May at 700 million USD, up 7.4% over the same period last year.

Amidst increasingly fierce competion for agricultural products and fruit among exporting countries, exporters and farmers are required to continue improving product quality, adapt to regulations on quality standards, quarantine testing, packaging, and traceability as required by importers.

According to data from the General Statistics Office, export turnover in May reached 32.81 billion USD, up 15.8% over the same period last year.

Diversifying markets to promote consumption

The fact shows that production according to market signals is a requirement for most Vietnamese agricultural products to ensure stable and sustainable consumption, especially for seasonal products like fruit. At the same time, trade promotion needs to be done in advance, and can raise production efficiency.

Tran Thi Thu Hien, Director in charge of import-export activities at the Kim Hung Investment Joint Stock Company, said her business is collaborating with cooperatives in supplying and processing Hung Yen province’s dried longan filled with lotus seed, and fresh lychees and longan.

“Our mission is to promote such specialties to as many consumers as possible, so that diners nationwide can enjoy the specialties of Hung Yen,” Hien said.

Meanwhile, Tiktok has cooperated with the Trade Promotion Agency to hold a programme themed "Proud of Vietnamese Goods" to promote training in e-commerce sales and advertising skills so as help businesses sell online. The agency also organised sample livestreams for manufacturers to grasp the skills to introduce products to customers. Export standards in many markets are increasingly strict, especially for agricultural products.

Do Ngoc Hung, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, said products must fully meet export regulations into the US market. Fruit must be given a growing area code, packing names, undergo irradiation treatment certified by the Ministry of Agriculture (APHIS - Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine) along with a phytosanitary letter certifying that the product meets US plant quarantine requirements.

Businesses and their home regions should promote the application of new technology to help prolong fruit preservation. For example, businesses should share their technology to put fruit into a state of hibernation, or the use of biological products, coatings, permitted preservatives to prolong shelf life, Hung noted. At the same time, a master plan is needed, with focus on the promotion and trade of seasonal fruit, and short stories associated with fruit, in which actual images of growing areas are introduced, he added.

ཧ Regarding trade promotion, Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said the agency will continue to coordinate with regions and associations to build and organise effective trade. Consumption and export promotion activities will also be supported, aiding businesses, cooperatives, and farmer households to expand their markets and be proactive in product consumption, especially in advance of fruit coming into season./.