1. Enhance production capacity and management skills

Improving the value of agricultural products is a long and demanding process. In general, Vietnam’s agriculture still shows some weaknesses, such as the limitation in technological innovation in cultivation and production. Small-scaled producers are often spontaneous, as they scarcely have any clear plans for dealing with unexpected problems such as extreme weather, natural disasters or epidemics. Therefore, to increase the value as well as the sustainability of Vietnam’s agricultural products, the first task is improving the farmers’ production capacity, to equip them with skills and knowledge in order for them to utilize their advantages and local conditions, develop a systematic cultivation plan with a clear orientation. Being aware of this, VietFarm has always put emphasis on the value “strengthening the farmers’ production capacity and management skills" while guiding the appropriate criteria for the standards.

Regarding this value, VietFarm offers training courses for its members on the standards and the evaluation criteria, as well as the knowledge related to specific characteristics of production activities, methods to boost productivity and maintain the products’ quality. For example, for crops that contain chemicals, training is required in accordance with current state regulations. Besides, VietFarm supports the production facilities by means of production, innovated methods from successful producers and other countries that would help their products cater the consumers’ needs and requirements. VietFarm ensures that all of its members are aware of that knowledge and encourages them to adopt safe and sustainable cultivating practices. Through these trainings, VietFarm’s producers and experts will also be able to detect issues, and thereby conduct the analysis so as to take the most effective corrective action.

Furthermore, the information about operation mechanisms, business management, and business planning techniques is also highlighted in VietFarm’s capacity building program. VietFarm periodically monitors and supervises the operational situation of the production facilities to ensure that they are always in line with the standards.

2. Promote economic opportunities and equality in market access

One of the most important factors in achieving high levels of profitability for the Vietnamese farmers is “promoting economic opportunity, equality in market access“. This is one of the core values that the VietFarm Standards were built upon.

VietFarm hopes to create more favorable conditions and open opportunities without discrimination for the smallholders, associations or cooperatives participating in the VietFarm’s production chains. This mechanism is designed to help all members of VietFarm understand the information on the market, prices and customers’ needs so that they can offer their products at a better price.

Targeting at small producers and businesses, VietFarm wants to create favorable conditions for its members to have more economic opportunities, an equal access to the market compared to large manufacturing facilities, and regional and international agriculture.

3. Ensure no child labor, forced labor and no discrimination

Currently, Vietnam has nearly 1.2 million rural children of school age engage in child labor. The use of child labor not only violates labor laws, but also affects the children’s childhood and the future. Many reasons such as poverty, lack of awareness from the family and from the children themselves, the lack of inspection and supervision have caused many children to work before the legal age. In order to address this, collective efforts must be made, coming from the production facilities, buyers and consumers, and from the children themselves. Therefore, ensuring no child labor, forced labor and discrimination in production is one of VietFarm’s evaluation criteria.

Establishments in VietFarm’s production chains are not allowed to employ child laborers below the minimum age. However, under-16 children can help out their parents at the facility but must not violate the following:

– Working time of children is no more than 3 hours/day;

– Do not force children to do things that are morally, physically, illegally or harmful to them;

– No deprivation of opportunity to go to school;

– Do not force children to stop schooling;

– Do not force children to both study and do hard work for a long hour.

Moreover, VietFarm also clearly stipulates that the production establishments are not allowed to use forced labor or to perform forced labor. Manufacturers should respect the wishes of their employees under the labor contract. In other words, ensuring equality, democracy in the operation of production groups is one of the manifestations of this criterion. Everyone within the production chains should be treated fairly, without any discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, marital status, age, religion, sex, etc. in terms of training, working conditions, compensation and remuneration regime, specific contents in the contract and other activities.

VietFarm understands that in order to positively influence both the producers and consumers’ mindset towards sustainable development and fairness, it is necessary to not only improve the product’s quality, but also the humanity, the sense of social responsibilities in production and consumption activities.

4. Produce with clean and safe working conditions

Clean agricultural production increases the productivity and efficiency of the production activities including cultivating, processing, packaging and preservation. The goods produced in a clean and safe environment is healthy and in good quality. This will help the producers strengthen their competitive edge since their products are able to meet the market’s standards as well as consumers’ demands. In addition, clean production minimizes the negative environmental impacts of the production process, limits the level of pollution caused during the production process.

With the mentioned benefits, VietFarm organizes various workshops to train the producers on the minimum working and living conditions, equipment needed for workers, how to deal with different situations occurring during the production process. For example, people who are in charge of mixing and spraying pesticides should be equipped and instructed to use tools to measure, spray the pesticides, and the protection equipment such as gloves, face mask. In addition, VietFarm helps farmers identify the risks regarding occupational safety and appropriate measures to eliminate and prevent the occurrence of unsafe occupational health hazards.

Besides, VietFarm has activities to encourage information sharing and group discussion on identifying hazards and proposing implementation measures among members of VietFarm.

5. Protect and preserve a sustainable environment

Sustainable agricultural development can exist without the sustainability in the environment. The environment does not only directly affect production activities but also the living conditions, health and the well-being of the whole society. Protecting the environment as well as the eco-system in general has been an extremely significant task in agricultural practices that guarantee safe and eco-friendly products for the popular demands.

VietFarm promotes the preservation of biodiversity and natural environment by raising the producers’ awareness and knowledge about using environmentally friendly materials throughout the entire process in production, as well as encouraging good production techniques that are safe to the environment.

Members of the VietFarm will be assisted in setting up operational and production procedures that puts emphasis on the environmental factor, the use of banned chemicals, herbicides, anti-pollution and damages to the surrounding environment. In particular, VietFarm clearly regulates that producers do not use genetically modified plants and comply with the environmental regulations of the law; as well as with the environmental requirements in cultivation according to standard TCCS 1-2: 2017/VietFarm.

Sustainable agricultural development is a global trend that requires Vietnamese producers to learn and respond which will help Vietnamese agriculture to gain a foothold in the international agro-based market.

6. Produce safe and eco-friendly products

One of the growing trend in both domestic and foreign market is the use of safe and natural products since the consumers have become more and more health and environment conscious. Therefore, the value “Producing of safe and natural products" is highly appreciated in the VietFarm Standards.

VietFarm encourages the application of advanced technology and techniques to preserve local good seeds, as well as the traditional production methods for high quality products. Moreover, VietFarm also creates a platform for its members to share information and experiences in cultivating, processing, preventing and responding to natural disasters.

In order to make sure that VietFarm’s requirements are fulfilled, VietFarm will monitor and inspect its members’ facilities, equipment, and conditions of production, processing, how products are processed, preserved and stored. Establishments in the production chains of VietFarm must implement and maintain a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in order to identify the hazards of hygiene and safety in the processing, transporting, in order to have action plans and effective measures to minimize and prevent the hazards of hygiene and safety.

Products labeled VietFarm which meet the safety and quality standards under TCCS 2: 2017/VietFarm are able to gain more trust from the consumers compared to other products.

7. Guarantee traceability in production and trade

One of the three pillars of the VietFarm Standards is “Promoting transparency, accountability and fair trade“.

Traceability in business and production is one of the top criteria of the consumers in choosing to buy a product. Consumers are willing to pay higher prices for the products that shows clear traceability. Products manufactured under VietFarm standards can be easily traced back to its origin so the consumers can be absolutely assured using the products.

VietFarm has set up and implemented the traceability system to ensure product traceability, accountability and transparency in the production chains. With the system, the consumer can trace how raw materials are transferred from the cultivation stage to others such as processing and distribution via the ID number of producers and production facilities.

VietFarm will approve product labels and ensure traceability of labeled products.

8. Commit to responsible business

Driving towards the sustainable development and justice of the society, VietFarm ensures its production facilities to follow and guide its employees to comply with VietFarm standards of business ethics in production, trade and marketing practices. The information of the products put out to the market via advertising, labeling activities should be honest, creating long-term credibility for the stakeholders.

Particularly, VietFarm says no to corruption, bribery, and unfair trade practices in the market place. We promote transparency, fair and equal opportunities for everyone within the supply chains while guaranteeing the best products for the consumers.

This core value is to create a social responsible business environment that fosters sustainable growth and development.

9. Dedicate to fair trade

Since fair trade is practiced in the sense in which the buying and selling between the producers and customers are carried out with complete honesty and fairness, it is undoubtedly an important factor that directly impacts the interests of both producers and consumers. The price of the VietFarm products will be sold according to the real value of the product to ensure that not only the consumers receive good products at good prices but also the farmers receive a stable income to maintain suitable production and decent working conditions.

VietFarm has formulated a fair pricing system for the producers, which has been studied and researched carefully within the current context. By adopting this pricing system, VietFarm will ensure that the small-scaled producers can sell their products at the minimum price that covers the costs of production, reinvestment and capacity development.

VietFarm’s fair pricing system will help the producers be more motivated since their effort are paid off while are still able to maintain the competition with other products in the market.

10. Transparency in the supply chains

Supply chain management is essential in most businesses without the exception of businesses in agriculture. In which, transparency is required from all parties involved, especially the consumers.

All information related to the production process and distribution must be readily available. These documents may be in various forms such as text, soft copy, website, etc., to be provided to the interested parties as necessary. In particular, distribution units or trade must be transparent in terms of product information, pricing, register periodical consumption.

For complaints related to the product or the rights of farmers, VietFarm will form a suitable mechanism to minimize the problems that slow down the supply of agricultural products.