HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Improving production technologies, designs andpackaging are among the important factors that could add value to Vietnamesefarm produce, businesses have said.

Nguyen Thi Cac Thuy of Tay Cat Co., Ltd said to improve traditional products,producers needed to adopt technology, do research to enhance product quality andimprove product designs.

If businesses were constantly innovating, regardless of their scale they couldenhance the value of their agricultural products, she told a seminar in Ho ChiMinh City on October 21.

Le Thi Thanh Lam, deputy general director of Saigon Food JSC, said her companysold products such as fresh porridge, processed seafood, frozen seafood, andvegetables, and besides improving product quality and offering competitiveprices, it had also changed the packaging of its fresh porridge products many timessince launch.

These had helped the company increase market share and win consumers’ trust,she added.

According to experts, the agricultural sector needs to develop modern valuechains, enhance linkages between various stakeholders and strictly conform togood agricultural practices, food safety standards and product traceability toensure development.

Vo Phuong Thuy, deputy director of the Dong Thap provincial Department ofIndustry and Trade, said in the past the department used to help farmers findoutlets for their produce, but now it would connect them with distributors andlarge businesses for the two sides to work out their requirements.

It also often provides farmers and businesses with market information to enablethem to meet consumers’ demands.

Seo Fumio, deputy general director of AEON Vietnam’s purchase division, saidAEON’s first priority was to ensure customer safety followed by convenience.

Agricultural products and specialities, especially fresh vegetables and fruits,need to have certificates such as VietGap, Global Gap and Organic to be able toenter AEON supermarket shelves.

There are many aspects that farmers in the Mekong Delta need to improve,according to Fumio.

Firstly, they, and Vietnamese farmers in general, mostly focus on output butshould shift it to improving product quality.

Farmers sell their products through many layers of middlemen, and as a resultconsumers do not know the origin of products.

Delegates agreed that besides ensuring consistent quality and obtainingproduction certificates, enterprises would need to also ensure producttraceability.

They should research market trends to come up with the right products, theysaid.

Organised by the Business Association of Vietnamese High Quality Products andthe Business Studies and Assistance Centre, the seminar was a pre-event of the2019 Mekong Connect Forum to be held in Can Tho next month./.