Abstract

In Vietnam as in other countries of Asia, vegetable farmers state that marketing problems are more acute than production constraints. Market information systems are often believed to allow a better adjustment between supply and demand and to enhance farmers’ bargaining power in the face of traders. Yet market information systems are commonly described as little useful for farmers because of two common constraints: lack of timeliness of information; lack of translation of price data into decision-making tools. To answer these constraints, it is recommended to associate the end-users to the method of data collection, communication, and result discussion – this is what is termed by the authors as “market information and consultation systems” (MICS). The paper will present the operation and results of a vegetable MICS developed in Hanoi between 2002 and 2005. The nature of data collected, method of data collection, communication and discussion are presented, as well as how  it evolved to better answer the users’ feedback. In the two first years of the project , we mostly focused on farmers’ medium-term planning objectives in terms of targeting crops, markets and periods. This was achieved by identifying untapped opportunities reflected in timely variations of origin, quantity and prices thanks to  collecting data on market seasonality (product origin, quantities, prices). The demand for quality of consumers and retailers was also assessed. A series of newsletters were produced and disseminated. The information gathered on market opportunities was presented and debated at stakeholder workshops that gathered a panel of farmers, traders and development agents. (two in Hanoi and four in production sites; three on market seasonality and one on demand for quality). During these workshops, the demand for stakeholders’ market information was also assessed. This led to the establishment of the daily price information system in Hanoi. The protocol for cheap and timely price collection and dissemination is presented in terms of frequency, products, markets, method of collection, method of data dissemination (internet, newsletters and television). Special attention was paid to issues of quality heterogeneity, and a grading system was established. Besides, prices were collected through contact traders based in the markets, which made the daily collection and dissemination more reliable, cheap and timely.

Some results of the MICS are outlined, including the feedback of users gathered in stakeholders’ meeting and an impact survey on 84 farmers and 16 traders. The workshops enabled to reach a consensus about market opportunities represented by periods of deficits of some vegetables, and on the way to overcome these constraints, especially for tomato and cabbage, which are imported from China in the rainy season, and which presents some quality differences with the local products. As regards price data, 78 per cent of the interviewed said they had access to it through television. Price data is mostly used for negotiation with traders. Farmers not using price data are characterized by low size of production and regular relationships with buyers.

Prospects and issues of sustainability are then discussed. The sustainability of the system has been prepared in the following way: it has been made low-cost by relying on contact traders based in the markets (5000 euros for the daily price dissemination of 10 vegetables); it is run in collaboration of the department of agriculture which has a mandate for information systems on agricultural systems; an impact assessment has been conducted. Yet, the capacity of staff of ministry of agriculture to provide analysis of price data, both in a qualitative and quantitative way, is still to be improved. The setting of a permanent “safe” vegetable producer and trader association has been one of the output of the MICS. It has set a website where buyers can find information on the characteristics of the potential supply by safe vegetable groups.

Other systems of market information, run in South Vietnam and Cambodia, which were in some way inspired by the experience of Hanoi MICS, are also presented. Some difficulties of the consultation systems are discussed: lack of local capacity for workshop facilitation; difficulties in having traders represented; difficulties of spontaneous expression by Vietnamese farmers and traders; climatic vagaries which may make collapse the intended results of crop planning.