Quang Nam (VNA) – Developingchains of agricultural products in tandem with building labels and brand nameswas the focus of discussion at a forum in the central province of Quang Nam onApril 28.

The event was jointly organised by theNational Centre for Agriculture Encouragement and the Quang Nam provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to the Department of Processingand Trade of Agricultural Products under the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, Vietnam is among leading agricultural producers in the world.

The agricultural sector has eight productsearning over one billion USD from exports, namely coffee, rubber, rice, aquaticproducts, cashew nuts, peppers, fruits and vegetables, wood and wood products.

Numerous agricultural products have beenavailable at home and abroad with labels and geographical indicators.

However, 90 percent of Vietnam’sagricultural exports are crude products, resulting in lower values, said Vo ThiLy, Deputy Director of the Authority.

Besides, over 80 percent of the nation’sagricultural products are yet to have brands, logos, labels. Most of them areshipped abroad under foreign brand names, Ly added, stressing that it is amajor disadvantage for domestic farm produce.

Acting Director of the National Centre forAgriculture Encouragement Tran Van Khoi pointed to the trend in recent yearstowards the development of agricultural production chains based on connectionamong farmers, cooperatives and enterprises, and the formation of large zonesspecialized in key crops.

However, Vietnam’s agricultural productionoverall remains small-scaled, limiting the sector’s competitive capacity, accordingto Khai.

He noted that while the free tradeagreements Vietnam have signed help expand agricultural export markets, theyalso bring increasing competition.

Khai underlined the strategic need forpromoting and increasing competitiveness for Vietnamese agricultural products,including developing brands and securing their foothold on both the domestic andoverseas markets.

Participants pointed to difficulties hinderingthe building of brand names for agricultural products, such as the lack of amaster plan to guide localities, enterprises; changing regulation and poor marketresearch. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment aims to develop a programme on developing brands for keyagricultural products by 2020, with immediate priority given to mangoes, dragonfruits, tea, coffee and tra fish.-VNA