Vietnam: Harvest a lot but traders are few, need to relieve hundreds of tons of vegetables to alleviate hunger and reduce poverty

Farmers in Vinh Thanh commune, Phuoc Long district, Vietnam, have found economic success through the cultivation of gotu kola and celery. Gotu kola is a easy-to-grow, high-yielding plant that can be harvested multiple times a year, providing a consistent income for farmers. The commune has over 20 hectares dedicated to the crop. Meanwhile, the cultivation of water vegetables like celery has helped many farmers escape poverty and create a clean vegetable supply for the locality. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to the agricultural sector, with limitations on traders and a lack of transportation, leading to an oversupply of vegetables and difficulty in selling. Despite these challenges, local authorities and mass organizations are making efforts to support the purchase and consumption of agricultural products. The province expects to harvest over 30,000 tons of vegetables from July 20 to September 15, with a consumption demand of about 13,000 tons and a need to sell over 18,000 tons to the market outside the province.