Cooperatives “supported” to develop

VnSAT project is the abbreviation of the project "Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Vietnam" funded by the World Bank and implemented in 8 provinces and cities in the Mekong River Delta region with strengths in rice such as An Giang, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, Long An, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Hau Giang and Can Tho city. In 2015, the project was implemented in Long An province, in which selected 23 communes belonging to 5 districts and towns in the North of Dong Thap Muoi region, including districts of Tan Hung, Vinh Hung, Moc Hoa, Tan Thanh and Kien Tuong town. The goal of the project is to transfer science - technology, advanced equipment, change traditional production practices of farmers, improve the quality of agricultural products and improve farmers' income.

The VnSAT project has supported the cooperatives to develop

Head of Division of the Agriculture and Rural Development of Vinh Hung district - Huynh Van Lam said: “Currently, the district has 10 cooperatives, including 3 cooperatives such as Cay Trom, Vinh Thuan and Hung Phu, which are supported by the VnSAT project in investing infrastructure such as roads, electric pumping stations, bridges, culverts, warehouses, etc. On average, each cooperative is supported over 6 billion VND. In addition to supporting infrastructure, the VnSAT project also organizes many training courses on science and technology transfer such as the program "3 reduces - 3 increases", "1 must - 5 reduces", etc. This support contributes to helping the cooperatives operate more and more effectively, creating trust for members, towards a sustainable and modern agriculture”.

In 2017, Cay Trom Agricultural Commercial Service Cooperative (Go Xoai hamlet, Hung Dien A commune, Vinh Hung district) was established, with a total production area of 35 hectares, with 28 members participating. The cooperative's activities include irrigation and drainage services, food procurement, supply of plant varieties, trading of fertilizers, pesticides, etc. In 2018, the cooperative started participating in the VnSAT project. To be supported by the VnSAT project to invest in infrastructure, the cooperative must meet such following conditions as the total production area of the cooperative is at least 500 hectares; the area where the headquarters and warehouse is located is over 3,000 square meters and must operate efficiently; etc.

Director of Cay Trom Agricultural Commercial Service Cooperative - Bui Van Tuan said: “Currently, the cooperative has a total production area of over 500 hectares, with more than 90 members participating. Although the cooperative has developed and increasingly affirmed its prestige with members and farmers over the past time, the Board of Directors of the cooperative also determined that if they participate in the VnSAT project, they will have conditions for further development, bringing many benefits for members and farmers. Therefore, the cooperative always strives to fulfill the criteria set forth by the VnSAT project. As a result, by 2020, the cooperative will be supported by the VnSAT project with a budget of nearly 6.8 billion VND to invest in roads, warehouses and electric pumping stations. Without this support, it would be difficult for the cooperative to have enough funds to invest in solid infrastructure, serving farmers' production and transportation needs".

Similarly, Vinh Thuan Agricultural Cooperative (Vinh Thuan commune, Vinh Hung district) is also supported by the VnSAT project. In 2017, Vinh Thuan Agricultural Cooperative was established, with 9 members participating, with a total area of 35 hectares. After a period of operation, up to now, the cooperative has over 80 members, with a total area of over 500 hectares. In previous years, the access road to the cooperative and its members' production areas faced many difficulties, especially when it rains in the harvest season, people cannot transport rice to the main road to sell to traders. This has greatly affected production, living and income of people. Fortunately, in 2020, the cooperative is supported by the VnSAT project with an investment of over 6 billion VND to invest in roads, factories, electric pumping stations, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung (member of Vinh Thuan Agricultural Cooperative) excitedly said: "In the past, when it came to fertilizer application, my family had a hard time because we had to carry fertilizer several hundred meters to reach the field, but now only need to leave on the car to run to the field. With the benefits from this road, our people favorably named it VnSAT road”.

It can be seen thatthe VnSAT project has supported the Agriculture sector of Vinh Hung district a lot over the past time, it especially helps the cooperative to operate more and more effectively. This is a good sign for Long An's rice industry to develop quickly and sustainably in the coming time, aiming for a fastidious export market./.

By Kim Ngoc – Translated by Duc Tam

Source: https://baolongan.vn/-tiep-suc-cho-hop-tac-xa-phat-trien-a114467.html