Western farmers "on air" to sell agricultural products

Livestream in the middle of the fields and gardens

In a simple thatched hut in the middle of a dragon fruit garden of more than 3 hectares in Phong Hoa commune ( Dong Thap province), the LED lights are no longer just to repel insects or promote plant growth, but to shine on the smartphone screen of Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - an online farmer. "Hey everyone, today my garden has red-fleshed dragon fruit, ripe fruit, 18 degrees of sugar, priced at 25,000 VND per kilo. If anyone wants to buy, leave a comment, we will pack and send it to you. Try one for the whole family to see...", Mr. Hieu said while eating right on the air, a gentle smile clearly visible on his sunburned face.

In just 40 minutes, hundreds of people viewed the page and more than 70 orders were placed. Mr. Hieu’s family had to mobilize their children and neighbors to help them cut the fruit and pack it all night. The next morning, a small truck left the garden and transported the goods to the post office for express delivery.

Mr. Hieu said: “In the past, traders came to the garden and paid 10,000-12,000 VND/kg, I didn’t dare to argue. Now selling via livestream, the price is almost double but still cheap for city consumers.”

Not only dragon fruit, many agricultural products and ornamental flowers from the West are also being delivered directly to consumers through phone screens by farmers. Ms. Tang Thi Cam Nhung (Cho Lach commune, Vinh Long province) has been struggling with her bonsai yellow apricot garden for many years. Previously, apricot was only sold around Tet, and prices were unstable. When she created her own channel called "Hoang Long yellow apricot", Ms. Nhung started livestreaming to introduce her products.
“Thanks to social networks, I sell directly to customers at better prices, and promote the brand of bonsai yellow apricot trees grown by myself. Apricot trees are delivered year-round, and every month we export nearly 10,000 bonsai apricot trees of all kinds to customers in many places,” Ms. Nhung shared.

According to Mr. Tran Huu Nghi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cho Lach Commune (Vinh Long), recently, people have boldly changed their production and business thinking. In the commune, nearly 1/4 of the households growing ornamental flowers have participated in online sales.

“We have coordinated with YouTubers and TikTokers to open many training courses, instructing people on how to livestream and approach customers. At first, many people were confused, but now they are much more proficient and confident. Currently, many households can stand right in their gardens, taking care of plants and introducing products to customers all over the province and outside. Boldly applying digital technology has become a new trend, helping farmers reduce dependence on traders and increase product value,” said Mr. Tran Huu Nghi.

Digital technology trends

Ms. Le Nguyen My Huyen (living in Vinh Long province), known to the online community as Huyen Phi on TikTok, comes from a family that sells agricultural products. Since childhood, she has witnessed her parents and relatives around her falling into a vicious cycle of "good harvest, low price", sometimes even having to sell off the whole fruit garden. These concerns urged her to find a new direction, so that her hometown's agricultural products are no longer unstable.

At first, she tried to film a few short clips sharing about the garden and how to choose delicious fruit, but the number of viewers could be counted on the fingers. Not discouraged, she persevered in learning how to set up a channel, practicing how to talk in front of the camera, and then creating her own close, rustic style. Gradually, Ms. Huyen's livestream sessions attracted more and more followers.

At the peak, at the Vinh Long Agricultural Product Development Week held in Ho Chi Minh City, in just 4 hours of live streaming, she sold more than 1,000 orders. Not only did she sell her own products, she also proactively connected and organized many livestreams to support local farmers, sharing her experiences in building brands and skills in approaching customers on digital platforms.

Tiktoker Huyen Phi sold more than 1,000 orders in 4 hours of livestream at Vinh Long Agricultural Products Week

Within the framework of the Agricultural Product Development Week, the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long province coordinated with many TikTokers with a high number of followers to organize livestreams right at the booth.

During a live stream, Mr. Le Van Thanh, owner of a pomelo garden in Dong Thanh ward (Vinh Long province), was surprised: “Just one afternoon of livestreaming with some TikTokers, my green-skin pomelo garden sold more than 4 tons. If it went through a trader, it would take a whole week to sell all of this amount.”

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Vinh Long province, the agricultural week consumed hundreds of tons of agricultural products such as coconuts, green-skinned grapefruit, oranges, etc.

“Livestreaming is just the beginning. To be sustainable, people need to build a brand, clearly trace the origin, and connect with cooperatives and businesses,” Mr. Tuan emphasized, adding that the province will soon organize many training courses for farmers on online sales skills, from choosing shooting angles, preparing lighting, and interacting with customers. At the same time, the province will connect with reputable e-commerce platforms, coordinate with TikTokers and YouTubers to train digital skills for farmers and cooperatives.

TIN HUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nong-dan-mien-tay-len-song-ban-nong-san-post814248.html