Farm to People: Cooperatives tap into e-commerce trends
The city's agricultural sector is working closely with the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, localities, and training institutions to provide digital technology training for cooperatives.
Many cooperatives and producers in Hanoi are turning to e-commerce platforms and social media to promote and sell agricultural products and earn better incomes.
In Me Linh District, on the outskirts of Hanoi, Khanh Phong Agricultural Cooperative is one of the cooperatives actively promoting local products through online channels after realizing their effectiveness.
| Online platforms are used by many cooperatives to promote their products. Photo: Hanoimoi newspaper |
Members of the cooperative have been tasked with posting articles, writing product reviews, and updating orders placed through the cooperative's website. Everyone is trained to take photos and upload product images to the cooperative's website.
The cooperative's farm produce data is also shared with some e-commerce platforms run by the city's agriculture department.
Nguyen The Lam, Director of Khanh Phong Agricultural Cooperative, said that thanks to the e-commerce platforms, many contracts have been signed, and the customer base has expanded.
He added that some products, such as guava, are priced at VND10,000 per kilogram during certain seasonal periods, but the cooperative's products remain stable at VND25,000 per kilogram in grocery stores and e-commerce platforms.
Nam Phuong Tien Organic Agricultural Cooperative in Chuong My District has used e-commerce platforms and social media such as Zalo and Facebook to sell Dien pomelo, organic vegetables, and organic rice in recent years, according to Nguyen Thi Huyen, director of Nam Phuong Tien Organic Agricultural Cooperative.
"After the trial sale on social networks generated a significant number of customers, the cooperative has increased its focus on online channels," Huyen added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hanoi, Ta Van Tuong, believed that trading through social networks and e-commerce platforms is an inevitable trend in the digital transformation of the Industry 4.0 era and to effectively embrace the trend, production and business processes are gradually being digitized.
He stressed that products listed on e-commerce platforms require clear origin and quality assurance. The agricultural sector maintains an effective traceability system for farming, forestry, aquatic products and food in Hanoi through the website check.hanoi.gov.vn.
Catching up with the digital trend
Statistics from the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprises Association show that most businesses have adopted marketing strategies on digital platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, and TikTok. Many businesses have used e-commerce platforms as distribution channels, although not all have been successful.
| Hanoi is intensifying the promotion and consumption of OCOP products through social networks. Photo: The Hanoi Times |
The Hanoi Cooperative Alliance has developed annual plans to support cooperative trade promotion, according to Nguyen Trung Thanh, vice chairman of the Hanoi Cooperative Alliance.
"Hanoi is integrating digital technology and AI to improve trade promotion and advertising. As a result, the product consumption network is expanding, fostering connections and improving the competitiveness of cooperatives in Hanoi and other provinces and cities," he stressed.
Hanoi aims to have 150 high-tech agricultural cooperatives by 2025 and 250 by 2030, emphasizing value chains, sustainable development and comprehensive information, he added.
In addition, Hanoi is also intensifying the promotion and consumption of One Commune One Product (OCOP) products through mass media and social networks. The city has also set up shops on e-commerce platforms such as Postmart and Voso, he said.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ta Van Tuong, said that in addition to registering geographical indications for growing areas, the agriculture sector is also developing training plans and applying digital technology in product promotion and consumption.
In addition, the sector is working closely with the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, localities, and training institutions to provide digital technology training. They will also strengthen cooperation programs and partnerships with major e-commerce platforms to provide diverse sales channels for Hanoi's agricultural products and keep pace with the digital trend.
