NDO – Following the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision No. 3149/QD-BNN-VP, dated July 18, 2021, on the establishment of a working group to direct the production and connect the supply and consumption of agricultural products in southern provinces and cities in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic (referred to as Working Group 970) led by Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam.

The working group arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to coordinate with the working group of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the People's Committee in the city and held regular online meetings with the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of 20 provinces and cities in the southern region, to grasp the situation of production, consumption, and handle problems.

The production of rice, vegetables and fruits is enough to meet the needs of domestic consumption and export. The output of vegetables in the whole Southern region from now to the end of the year is expected to be around 5.7 million tonnes, enough for consumption demand. 19 provinces each month provide an average of 560,000-600,000 tonnes of vegetables to the market.

Livestock production in the localities is stable and the supply is large. Dong Nai pig farms sell nearly 10,000 pigs every day to the market, of which only 1,300 are consumed within the province (15%), the rest are exported to other provinces and Ho Chi Minh City (85%). The amount of broiler chickens exported by Dong Nai to the market every day counts about 100,000, with only 5% for intra-provincial consumption and 95% for Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces.

According to reports from businesses, as of July 25, the amount of cattle and poultry meat supplied to Ho Chi Minh City was relatively stable. However, consumption demand has decreased compared to before the period of social distancing.

The total annual fishery production of 19 southern provinces and cities is about 5.09 million tonnes. It is estimated that in the last six months of the year, the production of aquatic products in the southern provinces will reach 2.9 million tonnes, with an average monthly production of 483,000 tonnes across the whole region.

In the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic, the demand for seafood consumption decreased (because it is mainly used for restaurants, hotels, and collective kitchens). Seafood products are sufficient for consumption and export.

The activities of transporting shrimp seed and aqua feed in the southern provinces have basically gone smoothly. Some traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City have reopened, and the circulation has gradually been stabilised.

Regarding supply-demand link, there are a total of 388 focal points providing agricultural products and food registered with the Working Group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as of July 25, 2021, including: 85 focal points for vegetables; 102 focal points for fruit; 157 focal points for seafood; 24 focal points for food; and 20 focal points for other items. In addition, 12 of 13 Mekong Delta provinces, also through the Directorate of Fisheries, have 148 aquaculture units with many different products that will be harvested in the near future.

Out of a total of 388 focal points registered through the Working Group, the output of goods that can be supplied until July 31, 2021, remains abundant and there are even signs of excess fruit, livestock and aquatic products.

Specifically, the vegetable group had a sudden increase in the yield of purple sweet potatoes and pineapple. Meanwhile, cucumber has signs of oversupply. The fruit group with the highest number of registrations is longan, the supply of clues is over 700 tonnes per day. Longan and banana are showing signs of difficulty in consumption due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, leading to purchasing businesses being unable to access all the growing areas.

Most of the provinces have temporarily completed the system of updating the data of the focal points of agricultural product suppliers; supporting businesses with difficulties in transportation and quick Covid-19 testing, creating favourable conditions for businesses to come to the province to buy goods.

In the past few days, the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has participated in assisting in handling a number of situations related to difficult cargo trucks when passing through quarantine checkpoints; assisted cooperative groups and cooperatives to complete legal certification to transact with businesses; and established groups to help people harvest agricultural products and deliver them to businesses. In addition, the Working Group has regularly coordinated with localities to quickly solve arising problems.

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to take a field visit to the three wholesale markets of Binh Dien, Thu Duc, and Hoc Mon, as well as to research options for opening a number of agricultural product gathering points and temporary agricultural product transhipment stations that ensure food safety and hygiene and meet the requirements of Covid-19 epidemic prevention.

The working group also proposed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of 19 provinces and cities that are implementing social distancing to establish working groups to direct production and connect supply and demand for agricultural products; help the provinces remove difficulties in the circulation of agricultural goods and materials; and purchase and harvest agricultural and aquatic products, immediately notify the provinces' steering committee for Covid-19 prevention and control of any arising problems such that they can be promptly and thoroughly resolved.