The proportion of Vietnam’s farm produce meeting international standards for export is a mere 20 percent, Ha Thuy Hanh, deputy head of the National Agriculture Extension Center cited statistics from local trade associations as saying at an agricultural promotion event in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

Many traders and wholesalers participating in the 'Introducing clean farm produce to wholesale channels' program felt a thirst for clean and green farming products.

Visiting a booth showcasing agricultural products, Dinh Cao Tung, a trader at Thu Duc Wholesale Market, said that many foreign partners had contacted him to order Vietnam’s sought-after agricultural products, but he refused to receive such orders due to his concerns over the quantity and quality of products.

Organic vegetables are being cultivated on a small scale in Vietnam, while the requirements on import quality and quantity set by foreign exporters are stringent, Tung said.

Trang Nhu, a local exporter, said that many farmers had pledged organic cultivation, but their products had yet to meet international green standards.

Although export plays a key role in the country’s economic growth, there is a crying need for ensuring clean food in the domestic market, said Hanh from the National Agriculture Extension Center.

“It is necessary to improve the quality and value of Vietnamese farm produce to serve the local market first. Food safety should be taken into account," she added.

“We should think how to impress travelers to Ho Chi Minh City with not only tasty dishes but also the high quality of food and farm produce."

As for the determination to bring the sheer volume of farm produce to the global market, cultivators should pay attention to carbon offsets, environmental protection, legal and strong workforces, as well as quality and output indexes, according to Hanh.

Le Duy Minh, chairman of the Vietnam Farms and Agricultural Enterprises Association (VFAEA), said that Vietnamese farm produce is abundant. The country is home to more than 1,500 agricultural products.

“Before boosting farm produce exports, agricultural manufacturers and exporters should conquer the domestic market to back the sustainable agriculture development,” he stressed.

Multiple local wholesalers, traders, and exporters joined the program, held by VFAEA, to source clean and high-quality farming products.

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