Women join hands for safe food.

As a women's organization, promoting the role of the association in disseminating information and mobilizing women to produce and trade safe agricultural products and food is of great importance to public health and the sustainable development of society.

Safe food produced and sold by women is introduced to consumers at a program organized by the Dong Nai City Women's Union. Photo: Nga Son

Therefore, the Dong Nai City Women's Union recently organized a workshop on solutions to improve the quality of activities and promote the role of women in disseminating information and mobilizing support for agricultural production and business, and food safety.

There are still difficulties and challenges.

Speaking at the workshop, City Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the city, and President of the City Women's Union, Le Thi Thanh Loan, stated: In recent times, the Women's Union at all levels in the city has implemented many creative activities and achieved many remarkable results, contributing to improving women's capacity in the production and business of safe agricultural products, gradually forming a value chain of agricultural products associated with safety and sustainability. In the OCOP Program (One Commune One Product Program), many products produced by women have been recognized and upgraded... However, alongside the achievements, there are still difficulties and challenges; the work of disseminating information and mobilizing the production and business of safe agricultural products still has many limitations.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tam, lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the Vietnam Women's Academy, shared: "The work of promoting and encouraging the production and business of agricultural products and food safety in some localities is still largely superficial, only focusing on disseminating information and failing to create profound changes in the awareness and behavior of members and women. Communication methods haven't kept pace with trends, and their reach is limited. The capacity of some women involved in the production and business of agricultural products and food safety is still limited in terms of knowledge related to food safety, brand building, and legal regulations on food safety... affecting product quality. Besides the lack of innovation in association activities, the linkage between associations and businesses, cooperatives, scientists , and market support organizations is not strong enough, leading to fragmented production and unstable output..."

According to Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Tam, Head of the Cooperative Economics Department of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the limitations of producing and trading safe agricultural products also stem from a lack of capital, difficulty accessing credit, and price competition from similar products. In addition, limited management skills, marketing expertise, and digital transformation capabilities are also barriers to the production and trading of safe agricultural products.