Stamping farm produce with QR Codes helps to trace the origin more easily and consumers feel more secure about the product quality.

Many businesses in Hanoi have adapted their operations to current circumstances. To reduce public gatherings, cooperative members have arranged to take turns to growing and harvesting crops.

Farm produce is being stamped with QR Codes to identify its origin. The Tam Xa Organic Agricultural Cooperative used to sell 2 tons of vegetables through supermarkets, but the epidemic has drastically reduced sales.

Le Duc Thang, the Cooperative’s Deputy Director, said: “We want to provide consumers safe vegetables. We need more links like this, especially during an epidemic.”

Tam Xa commune in Hanoi’s outlying Dong Anh district has 64 hectares devoted to growing vegetables. 2.5 hectares grow high quality organic vegetables.

Vegetables are grown in accordance to organic farming process. (Photo: nongthonngaynay.vn)

Le Thi Thanh, Chairwoman of the commune’s Farmers Association, said: “We’ve been worried for the past few months because vegetable consumption has slowed. This is the farmers’ biggest headache.”

Many supermarkets in Hanoi have taken the initiative to contact cooperatives and have sent their own staff to support the cooperatives in packaging and distribution.

Some businesses have offered financial support for slaughtering and transporting chickens, pigs, and cows in outlying districts.

Points of sale at controlled prices have been set up in residential areas in every district of Hanoi.

Cooperatives have connected with supply chains to distribute agricultural products.

The Hanoi Center for Women’s Support and Development has linked farmers and consumers through women's associations at the grassroots level, who have opened new points of sale. The Center has used social networks to process orders and deliver products to consumers.

Trinh Lan Nhi, who lives in Ha Dong district, said: “I know the chain that sells agricultural products through the center’s website. In one week, we order vegetables and fruits from the center 3 or 4 times. Their home delivered products are safe and reasonably priced.”

To date, the Center has sold more than 500 tons of 10 kinds of vegetables and fruits supplied by cooperatives from several regions and has donated food and agricultural products to help disadvantaged people affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

Nguyen Thi Hao, the Center’s Director, said: “We have opened several places in the city to sell farm produce. Our mission is to use the office to link the supply of essential goods to disadvantaged people, especially women.”