Regional forum discusses marketing help for farmers

Hanoi (VNA) - A regional forum on how to help farmers marketing their produce was held in Hanoi from June 8-9.
The event, organised by the Vietnam Farmers' Association and the Vietnam partnership for Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (VietDHRRA), was attended by representatives from the ASEAN Fund, AsiaDHRRA. Many international agricultural and farmer organisations and delegates from Myanmar, the Philippines , the Republic of Korea , Malaysia , Laos, Japan and Thailand were also present.
Reports at the forum stressed that agriculture is still the main
production sector of ASEAN countries' economies and a majority of the poor in these countries are farmers and those involved in small-scale production.
Besides capital, plant varieties, machinery, materials and know-how to develop production, most farmers lack information on the market's needs and marketing skills to sell their products. Therefore governments of regional countries should seek effective models for farmers to access the market.
Foreign delegates on June 10 made field tours of agriculture and rural development in northern Thai Nguyen province.-Enditem