Highland markets boost the promotion and sale of agricultural products.

Phieng Khoai commune, Yen Chau district, Son La province, is a mountainous border commune, bordering Xieng Kho district, Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. The commune has a geographical location and natural conditions that are quite favorable for economic development, especially agricultural economy combined with experiential tourism and resort activities.

The 2024 Border Highland Market Fair of Yen Chau District is scheduled to be held over three days (opening at 8:00 PM on August 31, 2024, closing at 8:00 PM on September 2, 2024) at the central market of Phieng Khoai commune.

The event is expected to have 20-30 stalls, including: 10-15 stalls showcasing agricultural products, processed goods, fresh food, tools, and equipment characteristic of the highland communes (Chieng Tuong, Muong Lum, Long Phieng, Yen Son, Chieng On); 5 food stalls; 10 stalls selling textiles, leather goods, and household items; and 5 stalls from neighboring Laos.

A small corner of Phiêng Khoài commune seen from above. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

According to Mr. Pham Duc Long, Vice Chairman of the Yen Chau District People's Committee: The 2024 Yen Chau District Border Highland Market will be a place where organizations, businesses, households, and families from within and outside the district on both sides of the border can bring agricultural products and goods for buying, selling, and exchanging.

The goods offered for sale and exchange include: textiles, leather goods, household goods, food, beverages; supplies for industrial, agricultural, and forestry production; agricultural, forestry, and industrial products; traditional local goods; production tools; introduction of the culinary culture and specialties of Yen Chau district; vegetables, fruits, and livestock... from the people of the villages bordering Laos and Vietnam.

This activity also aims to concretize and effectively implement the plan of the Son La Provincial People's Committee on trade promotion and e-commerce development in Son La province in 2024. It creates a systematic way to organize border markets to promote local products and meet the needs of goods exchange between people on both sides of the border.

The market creates a favorable business environment for local farmers to trade and find business partners.
Photo: Van Ngoc

Buying and selling agricultural and forestry products, and essential goods for the daily lives of the people, creating a favorable business environment for farmers to trade and find business partners, fostering close links between businesses and people on both sides of the border, contributing to promoting the development of production and business in the border region.

Creating conditions for people of ethnic groups on both sides of the border to exchange culture and arts in order to preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic groups, contributing to combating social evils. Strengthening the promotion and dissemination of culture and tourism, creating opportunities for organizations and individuals to introduce local products and specialties.

Phiêng Khoài commune, Yên Châu district, Sơn La province is a mountainous border commune, bordering Xiềng Khọ district, Hủa Phăn province.
The Lao People's Democratic Republic has favorable conditions for trade between the two countries. Photo: Van Ngoc

Highland markets promote the development of production and business in border areas.

As a major fruit-growing area of ​​the province, Yen Chau district has over 11,600 hectares of various fruit trees; of which more than 9,000 hectares of mangoes, plums, and longan are already producing fruit. To ensure market access, the district is actively implementing plans to connect with and find markets; and promoting trade and product advertising.

In 2024, Yen Chau district is expected to produce 74,000 tons of various fruits; striving to consume and process approximately 68,950 tons of fruit domestically; and exporting 5,050 tons of fresh fruit, including 2,200 tons of mangoes, 350 tons of longan, and 2,000 tons of bananas to countries such as China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Mongolia, and the UK.

In recent years, Yen Chau district has stepped up its efforts to promote and facilitate the sale of agricultural products for farmers.
Photo: Van Ngoc

To effectively implement the conditions for agricultural product consumption, Yen Chau district has directed its functional departments to strengthen supervision of the cultivation process according to standards for fruit tree areas; and to promote the establishment of planting area codes for key agricultural products such as mangoes, plums, longan, and bananas. To ensure the consumption of all fruit produced by the people, from the beginning of the year, the district has assigned specialized agencies and the People's Committees of communes to work with cooperatives and businesses to maintain traditional trading partners and to introduce and promote Yen Chau's agricultural products to trading partners nationwide.

Furthermore, the district collaborates with the Department of Industry and Trade to organize training courses on online sales on digital platforms and e-commerce systems; actively supports cooperatives and production households in participating in trade fairs and exhibition weeks to introduce safe agricultural products within and outside the province; seeks business partners, connects with and invites businesses to sign consumption contracts; encourages cooperatives to invest in storage facilities, cold storage, and processing facilities to reduce pressure on the consumption of fresh fruit products; and develops and designs product packaging to increase attractiveness and competitiveness in domestic and export markets.

Yen Chau district is one of the localities with a large area of ​​fruit trees in Son La province. Photo: Van Ngoc

In addition, Yen Chau district directed its specialized departments to coordinate with cooperatives to connect fruit consumption with supermarket chains such as Vinmart, BigC in the South, T-mart, etc. To date, it has partnered with Phusan Hai Duong Import-Export Company to market plums in EU countries; continued to invite Mia Fruit Co., Ltd. to conduct a livestream program about Yen Chau plums on social media; organized sales at wholesale markets in Hai Phong, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, Long An provinces, etc.; and contacted transportation companies ready to transport agricultural products to provinces and cities nationwide.

Through this market fair, the district People's Committee aims to concretize its plans for exporting goods in Yen Chau district in 2024; its plan for trade promotion and e-commerce development in Yen Chau district in 2024; and its plan for developing and promoting safe agricultural products in Yen Chau district in 2024.

Van Ngoc