HCM CITY —  The Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk wants to establish long-term co-operation with HCM City to promote consumption of its agricultural products, according to a provincial official.

Speaking at a seminar on connecting Đắk Lắk’s farm produce suppliers with buyers in HCM City on Tuesday, Trần Quốc Toàn, deputy head of the province’s quality management department for agro-forestry and fisheries products, said with its favourable weather and soil conditions, the province produces many high-quality and safe agricultural products.

But in the mountainous province, producers have difficulty taking their products to the market.

The seminar, held in HCM City, attracted 13 businesses and co-operatives from Đắk Lắk and many businesses and retailers in HCM City like Saigon Co.op, Satra, agricultural export companies, safe-food shops, and e-commerce platforms.

The Đắk Lắk delegates introduced their products such as organic rice, cacao, macadamia, pepper, saffron powder, pork and pork-based products, coffee, herbal tea, freeze-dried fruits, avocado, and others.

Lê Tấn Dũng, chairman and general director of Thăng Tiến Co-operative, said his co-operative supplied three main products, coffee, pepper and avocado, with safe production certificates.

But it faced difficulties in finding outlets for its safe products and wanted to collaborate with HCM City firms, he said.

A representative of another agricultural co-operative said it applied VietGap and other international standards in coffee farming.

“But our marketing is too weak, so we need support from HCM City firms to boost consumption our products.”

Trần Thanh Phú, director of Tân Đông Trade Production Company Limited, which processes and exports fruits and vegetables, said his company was interested in products such as durian, passion fruit, Japanese sweet potato, and soya bean, and sources them from many provinces and cities across the country.

“After the seminar I will directly meet with specific businesses to discuss co-operation.”

Danh Quý of Saigon Co.op said with its more than 600 retail outlets Saigon Co.op had high demand for fresh foods and farm produce.

He and representatives of other retailers spoke about the process of supplying products to them and other requirements and documentation.

According to Nguyễn Văn Trực, deputy director of the city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the city’s agricultural output only meets 15-30 per cent of its requirement and the rest is sourced from other provinces and cities.

Toàn said: “Consumers in HCM City have high demand for safe products.

“Through the seminar, the province wants to bring its safe products to the city market.” — VNS