Hanoi (VNA) – Measures to expand market for clean agriculturalproducts were discussed at the Vietnam Agricultural Policy Forum in Hanoi onSeptember 19.

President of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association HaPhuc Mich said that organic agriculture combines traditional cultivationmethods and advanced technologies to bring about benefits to the environmentand improve the living conditions of all parties involved.

Organic agriculture was first known in Vietnam in early 1990when foreign non-governmental organisations visited Vietnam to study and investin the field, such as an organic tea project in Tuc Tranh commune, Phu Luongdistrict, the northern province of Thai Nguyen, and a safe vegetable project inHanoi.

These projects helped pave the way for other projects in LaoCai, Tuyen Quang and Hoa Binh provinces.

Farmers and officials participating in the projects havebeen provided with knowledge and skills on organic farming.

However, to date, many domestic consumers lack understandingon organic agriculture and products, which hampers the development of organicproduct consumption market.

Supporting services such as certification, trade promotionand investment mechanisms remain limited, Mich said.

To develop market for clean farm produce, delegates stressedthe need for local People’s Committees to soon implement Decree 109/2018/ND-CPon organic agriculture.

The localities can issue their own priority policies for organicfarming development, and have projects and resolutions dedicated to this work,they said, suggesting the localities take the initiative in developing organicagriculture such as producing organic fertiliser.

Individuals and organisations participating in theproduction and consumption chain were advised to learn about the market,standards and requirements on food safety and hygiene, as each market has itsown standards and requirements.

The forum was jointly held by the Vietnam Agriculture Coalitionand the Oxfam Organisation.-VNA