
According to the Can Tho municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the city established centralized production zones to ensure food safety and enhance product quality in 2024. As the largest hub for rice processing and export in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is home to 35 out of 158 enterprises that meet direct export standards, representing 22% of the country’s rice exporters. The city’s rice cultivation spans over 212,000 hectares, exceeding the planned area by 3.68%. Additionally, production has surpassed one million tons, 9.41% higher than the year’s target.
In the fields of crop production, livestock farming, and aquaculture, Cần Thơ has achieved steady growth. Food safety inspections were rigorously conducted, with 250 product samples tested. Among these, 234 met safety standards, while 16 samples did not. For non-compliant samples, notifications were sent to the respective establishments, and traceability and intensified sampling were carried out to enforce appropriate measures.
Overview of the meeting.
To date, Can Tho has recognized 198 OCOP (One Commune, One Product) products from 87 producers, including 95 three-star products, 103 four-star products, and two potential five-star ones. In 2024, two new localities, Kon Tum and Ca Mau, signed trade agreements with Can Tho, bringing the total number of collaborating provinces and cities to 18. The city now has 129 product supply chains, an increase of 50 chains compared to the previous year. Among these, 39 chains meet international standards such as HACCP, ISO, and OCOP certifications.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation with neighboring provinces to inspect supply chains, especially for products outside the city. He recommended that inspections focus on priority areas rather than spreading resources too thin. He also urged increased efforts to promote food safety awareness and the value of OCOP (One Commune, One Product) products. Furthermore, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam highlighted the need for improved coordination between the Quality Management Department and the Department of Industry and Trade to evaluate, rank, and re-certify expired OCOP products.
The meeting concluded with a firm commitment from Can Tho's leaders to ensure a high-quality, safe food supply for residents during Tet 2025 while boosting the reputation of local agricultural products.
* On the same day, the delegation conducted field inspections at GO! Can Tho Supermarket and Nhat Tam Production and Trade Cooperative.
Kim Xuyen - Translated by Hoang Dat