Song Ma honey is being ordered by many people on e-commerce platforms.

Previously, agricultural products from Song Ma were primarily sold through traditional markets and traders. This not only limited the market but also made farmers dependent on intermediaries, leading to price fluctuations and reduced profits. However, with the advent and development of e-commerce, Song Ma farmers now have the opportunity to directly access consumers through online sales channels, expanding their business scale not only domestically but also internationally.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, Deputy Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Song Ma District, said: Song Ma currently has over 10,870 hectares of various fruit trees. Currently, the district is maintaining and developing production and consumption linkage chains in agricultural production with over 892 hectares of fruit trees, such as longan, mango, pomelo, orange... Maintaining and developing 47 safe agricultural and aquatic food supply chains. The district has coordinated with the Post-Import Plant Quarantine Center I of the Plant Protection Department to evaluate and grant 48 planting area codes, covering nearly 482 hectares, with a production of over 4,500 tons; including 12 longan planting area codes for export to the US market, 23 longan planting area codes for export to the Chinese market, and 13 longan planting area codes for export to the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Members of the Song Ma Honey Beekeeping Cooperative inspect the quality of their honeybee colonies.

The entire district has 74 agricultural cooperatives and households, of which 7 units sell their products through e-commerce platforms, while the majority sell on social networks, such as: agricultural products from Ngoan Hau Cooperative, Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune; longan and fresh longan fruit from Hoa Muoi Cooperative, Huoi Bo village, Chieng Khoong commune; and Ha Den grapes from Song Ma Forestry and Agriculture Company Limited....

Recognizing the potential of e-commerce in solving the problem of agricultural product consumption, the functional departments of Song Ma district have implemented many solutions to support farmers and cooperatives, such as: training programs on online business skills, applying technology to product management, and building brands...

The district, in coordination with the Central Youth Union and the Son La Provincial Youth Union, organized a training conference to enhance the skills of rural youth in selling OCOP products through digital channels. They also conducted livestream introductions of Son La's OCOP products, directly guided by KOLs and KOCs (influencers and influential consumers in the market). A forum on digital transformation in the communication and promotion of OCOP products by young people was also organized with the theme "Exploiting the potential of the digital economy in promoting local OCOP products," attended by 400 delegates..

One of the key initiatives is the collaboration with major e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, and Tiki, enabling farmers to list their products on these platforms and reach millions of consumers. In addition, businesses and cooperatives are building their own fan pages on platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok to increase the reach of their agricultural products to consumers. Furthermore, the district has provided technical support to help farmers become familiar with tools such as online payment, shipping, and order management.

In recent years, the Song Ma Honey Beekeeping Cooperative in Quyet Thang village, Na Nghiu commune, has focused on promoting the application of advanced scientific and technical advancements in honey beekeeping, honey product sales, and the cultivation of high-yield, high-quality bee breeds. Participating in the Song Ma District OCOP program, the cooperative has promoted Song Ma honey products through various channels. In particular, they have boldly experimented with selling honey products on e-commerce platforms such as Postmart.vn, Sanviet.vn, Topmaxsale.vn, Vinmart.com, Lazada.vn, Shopee.vn, and Tiki.vn. In a short period, the cooperative's revenue has nearly doubled compared to when it relied solely on traditional markets.

Mr. Le Van Kinh, Director of Song Ma Honey Beekeeping Cooperative, said: "The cooperative has 16 members, with a scale of 2,500 bee colonies, producing nearly 90 tons of honey. Initially, we were worried about selling online, but after receiving guidance, I realized this is a great opportunity for development. In addition, the cooperative also sells products on social media platforms like Facebook, Zalo, and TikTok, integrating QR codes for traceability... Therefore, we have encountered many advantages, sales have increased, and more customers have become aware of our products."

Similarly, cooperatives such as Hung Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative in Tan Lap village, Chieng Khuong commune; Hoa Muoi Agricultural Service Cooperative in Huoi Bo village, Chieng Khoong commune; and Chung Thanh Agricultural Service Cooperative in Na Dua village, Yen Hung commune... have also achieved great success by applying product traceability technology on e-commerce platforms. Integrating QR codes on each product helps consumers easily track the production process, thereby increasing their trust and choice.

Song Ma Black Grapes are sold on the Phuong Anh Agricultural Products trading platform.

Despite significant progress, the development of e-commerce in Song Ma still faces many challenges, particularly regarding internet infrastructure and the limited technological literacy of the local population. Currently, the district government and supporting units are continuously seeking solutions to overcome these obstacles, such as upgrading the telecommunications network and strengthening cooperation with technology organizations.

Mr. Lo Van Sinh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Song Ma District, informed: Currently, the District Post Office, Song Ma Telecommunications Center, and Viettel Song Ma have implemented a plan to support agricultural producers to access e-commerce platforms, aiming to promote the district's digital economy. Businesses in the district have already applied information technology to various stages of management, production, and business operations. In the coming time, Song Ma District will continue to promote training programs and encourage local farmers and businesses to apply digital technology, enhance e-commerce capabilities, develop sustainable agriculture, and contribute to the national digital economy.

The promotion of e-commerce in agriculture has been bringing positive changes to Song Ma district. Through the support of the government and the innovative spirit of the people, Song Ma's agricultural products are increasingly reaching further, not only domestically but also internationally, bringing prosperity to the people of this border district.

Source: baosonla.gov.vn