Ensuring the supply of essential goods during Covid-19 pandemic

– In response to the unpredictable situations of the Covid – 19 Pandemic, all levels and sectors in the province not drastically implemented solutions to prevent and control the pandemic, but also proactively take actions to ensure the supply of essential goods to meet the needs of consumers.

Currently, Huu Lung is the district with most Covid-19 cases in the province and is social distancing. Along with measures to prevent and control the pandemic, ensuring the supply of essential goods has been paid special attention and implemented with many measures by agencies and functional forces. Since mid-May 2021, the District’s Economic – Infrastructure Panel has developed a plan to organize the supply of essential goods and stabilize market prices. Then, in early June 2021, Huu Lung District People’s Committee issued a plan to ensure the supply of essential goods to meet the needs of local people in line with levels of the pandemic prevention and control of the district.

Customers shop at Vinmart Lang Son Supermarket

Ms. Tran Hoai Trang, Head of the Economic – Infrastructure Panel of Huu Lung district said: In order to ensure the supply of goods in the district, in addition to actively build a supply plan, the panel also coordinates with the People’s Committees of the communes to propaganda in order to avoid panic shopping because of a perception of scarity. Currently, the district has about 30 stores and large agents supplying essential goods. After inspection and monitoring, it is reported there is no evidence of shortage of goods or panic buying and hoarding, increasing prices in our district.

Mr. Hoang Van Thi, a resident living in Ao Dau village, Son Ha commune, Huu Lung district said: During the pandemic outbreak, my village became “epidemic hub”, at first I was a bit worried about the food scarcity. However, now I feel secured because the supply of goods at markets and shops is adequate at stable prices.

Not only Huu Lung, other districts and cities in the province also actively developed plans and prepared specific plans to ensure the supply of essential goods in the Covid-19 times. According to statistics from specialized agencies, with  a population of more than 819,900 people, the monthly average staple food consumption demand of the whole province is nearly 5,800 tons of rice; 4,500 tons of meat and fish; and 9,840 tons of vegetable.  Based on the assessment of population, consumption demand, shopping habits, characteristics of the distribution system of the province as well as the actual situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, on June 1, 2021, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 127/KH-UBND to ensure the supply of essential goods in accordance with the levels of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. Tran Huu Giang, Head of Trade Management Section, Department of Industry and Trade, said: Following the plan of the Provincial People’s Committee and the direction of the department’s leaders, in order to avoid the shortage of goods, we have advised the leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with the People’s Committees of districts and city to review the capacity to supply production materials in the province. At the same time, we proactively screen the situation of goods supply and demand and market prices to provide people with upadates of supply and prices the mass media to avoid panic buying and unnecssary food hoarding.

Customers buy essential consumer goods at a grocery store in Dong Tan commune, Huu Lung district

Along with that, the Department of Industry and Trade has also provided a list of major essential goods distribution units in the area for districts and city. Specifically: For food supply, 9 enterprises and production facilities; For fresh food products: 14 cooperatives and farms; green vegetables: 6 enterprises and cooperatives; consumer convenience goods such as sugar, milk, fish sauce, soup powder, and seasoning: 20 enterprises. Currently, business activities remain stable and the goods supply is always available to meet demands in the pademic.

Mr. Tran Duc Thanh, Manager of Hoang Nguyen Trading Joint Stock Company (Cao Loc District), said: To ensure the essential consumer goods supply to supply during the Covid-19 pandemic, avoid increasing pricese and misinformation of goods shortages to make a profit, affecting market fluctuations and causing consumer’s fears during the pandemic, the company’s inventory of goods at the warehouse increased by 15% compared to normal days. For example, the company reserves a number of certain food products in large quantities such as: cooking oil of all kinds: 550 tons; Hao Hao noodles: 3,000 – 4,000 boxes; iodized salt of all kinds: 600 tons; soup powder of all kinds: 200 tons; soft drinks of all kinds: 40,000 boxes; sugar: 60 tons. The total value of goods in reserve is more than 16 billion dong.

Not only Hoang Nguyen Trading Joint Stock Company, but also a number of large distribution enterprises in the province such as Thien Phu Construction Trading Company Limited, Vincom General Trading Service Joint Stock Company, Tran Lenh Thuong One Member Limited Company (in Lang Son city) have also stocked up on goods to meet people’s consumption needs.

It is believed that with the participation sectors and businesses at all levels, the supply of essential consumer goods in the province is guaranteed, meeting the needs of the people so far.