Cooperatives - an important link in agricultural economic development

The main entities participating in the projects

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Long An province - Ho Thi Ngoc Lan said: “Agricultural cooperatives play an important role in reorganizing production, linking production and consumption of agricultural products, contributing to job creation, increasing income for farmers and changing the face of the countryside. Currently, the province is implementing many programs, projects, and projects associated with restructuring the agricultural sector towards modernity, sustainability, and adaptation to climate change.

In particular, the implementation of the pilot model to build a fruit tree material area in Dong Thap Muoi region that meets domestic consumption and export standards in the province in the period of 2022-2025 and the project on Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. To effectively implement these projects, cooperatives play an important role, helping the province quickly and effectively implement the proposed plans. Because in reality, preferential policies of the Party and the State cannot be invested directly in farmers, cannot be invested on a small, scattered, and fragmented basis. They must be invested through cooperatives".

Agricultural cooperatives contribute to expanding the fruit tree material area in Dong Thap Muoi region

To successfully implement the pilot model of fruit tree material areas in Dong Thap Muoi region that meet domestic consumption and export standards in the province in the period of 2022-2025, the Provincial Steering Committee for Cooperative Economic Development focuses on mobilizing many resources, issuing plans for cooperatives to promote their core role in implementing the project.

As a result, up to now, 5 new fruit tree cooperatives have been established, contributing to increasing the total number of fruit tree cooperatives in the project's area to 15 cooperatives. The province also supported 5 cooperatives and farms growing jackfruit, grapefruit, durian, and lemon to achieve VietGAP certification, with an area of ​​over 122 hectares; built 26 growing area codes in the raw material areas, with an area of ​​nearly 470 hectares, exporting to markets: Korea, Europe, Russia, UK, USA, China, etc.

Cooperate and develop together

Understanding the meaning and development goals of agricultural cooperatives as well as having new thinking and awareness, Mr. Le Thanh Nhan (Tan Thanh commune, Moc Hoa district) boldly established the High-tech Fruit Cooperative of Tan Thanh commune, Moc Hoa district, with 8 members participating, production area of ​​90ha. The cooperative mainly grows bananas for export, trades rice, provides construction materials and agricultural supplies.

Following the motto "Cooperate and develop together", Mr. Nhan and the members of the Cooperative go directly to companies and enterprises to buy agricultural supplies at preferential prices instead of buying and reselling for profit. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Cooperative will be the focal point for transferring science and technology, preferential policies of the Party and State to the members, especially purchasing agricultural products for the members of the cooperative.

Director of the High-tech Fruit Tree Cooperative in Tan Thanh Commune, Moc Hoa District - Le Thanh Nhan said: “The purpose of my establishment of the cooperative is to form a large raw material area, create a common voice for cooperation and development. In reality, farmers are doing their own thing and selling their own thing, so they have to suffer from good harvest, low price situation or vice versa. But if we can link production, create a large raw material area, produce according to the process, surely farmers' agricultural products will sell for a higher price”.

Implementing the project on Sustainable Development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030, all levels, sectors and localities have chosen agricultural cooperatives as the entities for implementation. Because agricultural cooperatives are places that meet all the conditions such as more than 20% of the rice cultivation area has applied one of the sustainable cultivation processes; more than 70% of the rice cultivation area has used certified rice varieties or equivalent; 100% of households in the region committed to collecting straw from the fields for processing and reuse; the area of ​​cooperation reached more than 30%; 40% of households in the region have been trained for sustainable rice cultivation processes; etc.

The provincial Department of Agriculture surveys the model of high-quality rice cultivation in Tan Thanh district

Director of Tan Thinh Agricultural Service Cooperative, Nhon Hoa Lap commune, Tan Thanh district - Bui Van Song informed: "When the locality implemented the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low emissions rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030, as the director of the Cooperative, I realized that the cooperative met the conditions. Therefore, I consulted with the members and all agreed to register to participate in the Project".

Currently, the province has 322 cooperatives, including 244 agricultural cooperatives with more than 5,700 members, with a charter capital of nearly 200 million VND/cooperative. The participation of the entire political system, the consensus and determination of the cooperatives have contributed to the province's agricultural sector completing its goals and plans, affirming that agricultural cooperatives are an important link in agricultural economic development./.

By Bui Tung - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/hop-tac-xa-mat-xich-trong-phat-trien-kinh-te-nong-nghiep-a183332.html