Three wholesale agricultural markets in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have opened under a new pilot programme begun by the Government where VND64 billion (US$4 million) has been spent to build the markets, with the aim of helping farmers receive better prices for their goods.

Rice exporters and processors can buy rice directly from farmers or authorise the market management board to buy rice on their behalf. The Mekong Delta produces more than 52 % of the country’s rice output, most of which is exported.