Hanoi helps Central Highlands sell farm produce

Hanoi will support Lam Ha District of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong to sell its farm produce, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son said on September 11.

The deputy chairman said Hanoi's departments and agencies will work with Lam Ha District to develop specific plans for its agricultural products to be consumed in Hanoi.

A pumpkin farm in Lam Ha District, Lam Dong Province. Photo courtesy of the province

Vice Chairman Son encouraged Hanoi businesses to join the city in studying and investing in Lam Ha District and to help the district sell agricultural products.

The Department of Industry and Trade should develop a plan to help Lam Ha District consume its agricultural products, especially those under the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) program, he said.

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will help the district develop its plant and animal breeds, while the city's Trade Promotion Agency will build a model tourism and trade center in the district, he added.

"Hanoi has always supported Lam Ha District in socio-economic development, and most of the support packages are in infrastructure construction," he said. "The capital will speed up activities and provide support to improve the living conditions of people in Lam Ha District."

According to Nguyen Van Son, Secretary of the Lam Ha District Party Committee, the district has made significant achievements in socio-economic growth and agriculture with support from Lam Dong provincial authorities and Hanoi.

The district now has nearly 39,500 hectares of coffee, 160.6 hectares of tea, 365.2 hectares of pepper, more than 2,700 hectares of fruit, and 400 hectares of ornamental trees and flowers. Local people have also raised about 7,400 cows, 95,000 pigs, and 1.5 million poultry.

The district has developed 26 OCOP brands, including 17 four-star products, he said, adding that it still faces challenges to increase consumption of its farm products.

He expected Hanoi to support the district by encouraging its districts and towns to buy Lam Ha's farm produce. 

Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Acting Director of Hanoi's Department of Industry and Trade, said the department will sell Lam Ha's agricultural products in its 87 OCOP stores and more than 1,000 supermarkets and shopping centers.

"Hanoi often launches commodity weeks and fairs where Lam Ha producers and sellers should participate and showcase their products," Lan said. "The department will help the district to advertise and promote their local brands," she added.

More agricultural products from Lam Ha District will be available for sale on the e-commerce platforms, citing that products of eight local brands are now sold through the e-commerce network.

Nguyen Ngoc Son, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the capital has established 195 consumption chains with other localities to sell safe farm produce.

With Lam Dong Province, the capital has set up 15 chains to sell goods from Lam Ha District.

In the near future, the department will continue to provide high-quality cattle breeding and seeds to the district.

"The department encourages officials and businesses in Lam Ha District to visit high-tech farms in Hanoi," Son said. 

Local-to-local friendship

The bond between Hanoi and Lam Ha District dates back to 1976 when the capital and Lam Dong Province agreed to develop a new economic zone in the Central Highlands province for migrants from Hanoi to settle.

The economic zone was initially named after Hanoi, and on October 28, 1987, it was renamed Lam Ha.

Over the past 36 years, Lam Ha District has received tremendous support from authorities in both Hanoi and Lam Dong Province, said Nguyen Van Hoang, Head of the district's government.

Since 2016, Hanoi and its 15 districts have provided Lam Ha District with about VND181 billion (US$7.5 million) to implement dozens of socio-economic development projects on education and training, transportation, and urban development.

"Hanoi's support brings remarkable improvement to Lam Ha's infrastructure. This was the root cause for our entire 14 communes to meet the new rural standards in 2019," Hoang said. "In July 2022, our district met the new rural standards and received the honorable recognition from the Prime Minister."

Meanwhile, the secretary of the district Party Committee expects the partnership between Hanoi and Lam Ha District to attract businesses to the district and explore the advantages of the land.