People are now concerned that some products available in supermarkets, though labelled to be from Australia, America or Vietnam, actually come from China. This makes consumers worry about the food safety of vegetables outside of traditional markets.
One of the big issues concerning the booming growth of the safe agricultural production of Vietnam is how to invest and produce safe vegetables with the support of high technology applications of nylon planting houses, watering and fertilising technical system and pest control processes which meet the requirements of safe vegetable and organic vegetable production. This requires a big and comprehensive investment. To produce organic and safe vegetables, agricultural businesses have to research actual cases and learn advanced scientific technologies in planting safe and organic vegetables from institutes of vegetable & fruit research. Besides, the producers are required to learn more about how to select vegetable varieties with better yield and quality. The required big investment in technologies for safe agricultural production, compared with unimpressive profit, gives pause to investors. The main reason is that part of the investment has not been fully accounted as a payable amount in the balance sheet.
Under the direction of the Hanoi People’s Committee, some 80 percent of total vegetable production areas in the future will be controlled and certified as safe vegetables before the products are sold. According to the estimates of the Hanoi’s functional agencies, there are now only about 100 hectares used for safe and organic vegetable production. It is obvious that the vegetable business has potential because the current production only meets the demand of 10 percent of households in Hanoi.
The situation in other cities is not much different. The majority of the vegetables in Ho Chi Minh City are provided from Da Lat, where the climate and soils are suitable for cultivation. In Da Lat, there are many vegetables and fruits companies. But the amount of safe and organic vegetables is quite limited because there are still limitations in the agricultural areas. Besides, it is necessary to make a large investment to grow the safe and organic vegetables in accordance with qualified standards.
In Hanoi, there are many outlets and supermarkets distributing the safe and organic vegetables, such as Fivimart, Intimex, Big C Thang Long, the Anh Duong organic vegetable distribution system, and the Vietnam Farmers Association. But these stores still face the limited number of consumers to purchase agricultural products. Consumers have strong demands for high-quality safe and organic vegetables and fruits, but they are still neglecting agricultural products certified by VietGAP standards. Why? Through the recent field surveys, many products sold in major outlets still make the consumers suspicious. Because the price of the safe and organic vegetables sold here compared to price of other food products such as meat and fish, is too costly that the consumers cannot afford. Meanwhile, the original certificates and labelling of the vegetable products is not consistent or clear. For example, many products are labelled “safe and organic” but only hanged with a cheap plastic name tags instead of the certification stamps or the product are stored into bags but not sealed carefully or some vegetable packs are certified while others are not given any information.
According to the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, the performance of the organic and safe vegetables selling points is not as expected. Although the amount of vegetables consumed in the area has increased in quantity and quality, the amount of safe and organic vegetables consumed in such the selling points is limited. The main reason is not because of price but the consumers’ lack of trust in the quality and safe assurance of the vegetables sold at these locations. This suspicion is not unreasonable.
The main reason is caused by the ambiguity in business operation and distribution system. This raises concerns that the safe vegetable growers are still worried about limited consumption while consumers are still seeking trusted safe vegetable distributors. Therefore, the majority of consumers are still buying green vegetables from the vendors or outdoor markets, in which the vegetables are fresher but cheaper. It can be seen that to produce safe and organic vegetable and fruit products and limit unqualified products without the certification of the hygiene and safety in the market requires both of the efforts of producers and the surveillance of authorities to raise consumers’ trust in the safe vegetable market. The market management agency needs a more specific plan for the vegetable market by firstly, monitoring the sale of safe and organic vegetables and secondly, providing guidelines to consumers to identify the standards and specifications of the safe and organic products.
Do Ngoc
Đăng ký: VietNam News