2022 DFNet Workshop
Enhancing International Cooperation on Tropical Fruit Value Chains for Global Market – e-Commerce
May 5, 2022 (10:00 – 15:00 GMT+8)
May 6, 2022 (09:00 – 12:20 GMT+8)
Agri-food supply chains generally involve multiple intermediaries between farmers and consumers. Farm gate products pass multiple layers and stakeholders before reaching the end of the customers, resulting in higher values and prices which, in most cases, do not return to farmers. E-commerce can provide a platform for farmers to directly sell products to different types of buyers, such as processors, retailers, restaurants, and consumers. It gives a direct return of the sales to farmers providing a positive cycle of higher farmer income, more capitals reinvestment and higher production efficiency. Most small-scale farmers lack the knowledge and capacity related to e-commerce technology and operation, as well as the business skills to manage purchase orders, trading risks, and other B2B and B2C activities. In addition, agri-food e-commerce is much more challenged and complex in logistics and delivery systems than other types of products such as electronics and houseware. Many of the international or domestic e-commerce platforms were established for none-agri-food products and may not be able to be applied directly to agri-food business. During the COVID-19 pandemics, the city lockdown and limitation of human movement and contacts have stimulated rapid development of agri-food delivery systems that helps to fill the gaps of agri-food e-commerce. Therefore, the agri-food e-commerce is the highlight of the 2022 DFNet II workshop. The workshop includes a one-day international forum and a half-day farmers workshop. The forum invited international speakers to discuss the recent development of agri-food e-commerce and their challenges and opportunities for tropical fruit growers at local and regional levels. The farmers workshop discussed e-commerce platforms, capacity requirement and available resources for farmers to further receive trainings or practice e-commerce.