Farmers complain that it is difficult to bring agricultural products to the market because of high fees and expensive transportation costs.

(Dan Tri) - Farmers complain that high fees on e-commerce platforms, low profits, and high transportation costs make it difficult to sell agricultural products. Leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed that they will work with platforms to resolve the issue.

At the 10th National Farmers' Forum organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the morning of October 1, many farmers expressed interest in doing business on social networking platforms and e-commerce platforms.

High floor fees, low profit margins

Ms. Chao Thi Yen, a member of Goong Cooperative ( Lao Cai ), said that the Vietnamese e-commerce market is currently held by many large enterprises, occupying an important market share in import-export activities.

According to Ms. Yen, farmers are facing three main challenges when participating in selling on e-commerce platforms: high floor fees while the profit margin from agricultural products is very low; if selling cheaply, they will lose money, and if they increase the price, they will lose their competitive advantage. In addition, e-commerce platforms also apply many strict conditions, making it difficult for farmers to access.

She cited that many orders have to bear high shipping costs, sometimes double the value of the goods. Based on this reality, she asked Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien to announce a plan to coordinate with the trading floors to both protect the rights of consumers and producers, and promote the consumption of Vietnamese agricultural products domestically and internationally.

At the same time, Ms. Yen also recommended that the State have mechanisms and policies for trading floors to adjust reasonable fees, and at the same time remove obstacles in transportation, helping farmers bring agricultural products further, with better quality.

Ms. Le Hoang Oanh - Director of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Photo: BTC).

Speaking at the forum, Ms. Le Hoang Oanh, Director of the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said that the Ministry has issued the National E-commerce Development Strategy for the period 2026-2030. Accordingly, the Departments of Industry and Trade and industry associations are assigned to develop specific projects to support local implementation.

“We are actively guiding localities to implement the strategy. Hopefully, with this orientation, the interest in associations will be greater, thereby promoting connections and mutual support,” Ms. Oanh emphasized.

Regarding floor and transportation costs, the Director said that this is a factor of the market mechanism, the State cannot directly intervene. However, the Minister of Industry and Trade has directed the Department to work and reach many agreements and commitments with major e-commerce floors.

Accordingly, the floors committed to implementing many support programs: promoting OCOP products, introducing new local products, providing standardization instructions to make products eligible for listing on the floor, and organizing free training to help Vietnamese businesses sell more effectively.

To reduce floor fees and logistics costs, Ms. Oanh said the Ministry encourages farmers and businesses to improve quality, expand scale, and apply the form of goods consolidation and combined transportation to save costs. At the same time, the Ministry also regularly organizes additional promotional programs, in addition to the annual program, to require floors to reduce prices and launch big promotions - creating opportunities to promote products at lower costs.

Speaking at the forum, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that the most important factor in the policy orientation to protect consumer rights is the Law on E-commerce, which is expected to be passed by the National Assembly at its session next October. After the law is promulgated, the Ministry will issue a document directing and guiding localities to effectively utilize trade promotion programs to support key products, especially agricultural and aquatic products.

According to the Minister, forms of support may include: free introduction of new products to the market, reduction of logistics costs, and priority for key items. At the same time, the adjustment of decrees related to the Law on E-commerce in the coming time will help fundamentally resolve the difficulties of manufacturing enterprises, while strengthening the protection of consumer rights.

Is it reasonable for local leaders and KOLs to livestream to sell products?

Regarding the trend of selling via livestream, Dr. Bui Quy Thuan, lecturer at Phenikaa University, said that recently, the application of technology to connect agricultural markets has received increasing attention. Many local leaders and key opinion leaders (KOLs) have participated in livestreams to support farmers in selling their products.

Dr. Bui Quy Thuan, Lecturer at Phenikaa University, shared at the event (Photo: Organizing Committee).

However, Dr. Thuan raised the question: is this approach reasonable and sustainable? “Do we need a clear plan and direction to avoid unhealthy competition, while ensuring the domestic market develops harmoniously and Vietnamese agricultural products retain their proper value?”, he said.

Dr. Thuan also pointed out that currently many businesses are actively exporting OCOP products to international markets, while not paying due attention to the domestic market. Therefore, the question is: what should be done to support businesses to promote the domestic market more effectively?

Sharing about this issue, Director Le Hoang Oanh said that applying information technology in sales (livestream) is inevitable not only in Vietnam but also in the world. In China, they are strongly applying the form of livestream for advertising and sales.

Regarding how to livestream sales healthily, Ms. Oanh affirmed that the unit is drafting the Law on E-commerce. This includes separate provisions regulating livestream, clear regulations on issues related to sales through this form to help localities and farmers livestream in the right direction, in accordance with regulations and with higher efficiency.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien shared at the forum (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Regarding the issue of supporting businesses to promote domestic trade, Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said that recently the unit has coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and localities to promote trade for OCOP products.

“Every year, we organize activities to connect supply and demand, thereby helping farmers and businesses access FDI enterprises to domestic retail systems, creating stable output for OCOP products. The Department also opens training courses, teaches livestream sales skills, and keeps up with new consumption trends to help people consume products locally,” Mr. Phu shared.

Don't forget the domestic market

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, in recent times, businesses have brought many agricultural products to the world but have neglected the domestic market. While Vietnam has a population of 100 million, it is a large market, with a very high demand for agricultural products.

The Minister of Industry and Trade requested that producers and farmers' supporters pay attention to and develop strategies for market development and domestic consumption to ensure safety and efficiency.

“The Ministry of Industry and Trade will actively organize trade promotion fairs in localities to connect and help people meet and sell many products to domestic businesses and partners. In October, the Ministry will organize an international fair, inviting people to bring goods to the fair to sell. There will be many international partners, high-quality products will have the opportunity to be consumed quickly and conveniently,” the Minister affirmed.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/nong-dan-than-kho-dua-nong-san-len-san-vi-phi-cao-cuoc-van-chuyen-qua-dat-20251001115004973.htm