Strengthening and developing cooperatives to create foundation for linking production along the value chain

Focus on consolidating and developing cooperatives

In recent years, cooperatives in the province have had positive changes, affirming their important role in organizing production, actively contributing to agricultural restructuring and building new rural areas in the locality. Currently, the province has 249 agricultural cooperatives, of which 40 have ceased operations and 209 are operating with 5,328 members; 1,343 cooperative groups with 24,036 members and 5 cooperative unions.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in recent times, the Department has coordinated with relevant departments and branches to promote the dissemination of the Law on Cooperatives and policies on cooperative economic development, contributing to raising awareness. At the same time, the Department focuses on training and fostering key grassroots cadres; deploy and implement policies to support and encourage the development of cooperatives; etc.

In addition, the Department encourages and supports cooperatives to improve their organizational and operational capacity towards a streamlined, flexible and dynamic structure; expand industries and occupations in areas such as rural transportation, environmental sanitation, irrigation, canals and ditches on the fields, etc.

In general, cooperatives have been consolidated and improved in a positive direction, diversifying their industries and services, meeting the needs of cooperation and production development. The activities of cooperatives have been innovated, gradually linked to the rights and interests of members.

According to Vice Chairman in charge of the Provincial Cooperative Union - Tran Hoai Bao, cooperatives have initially played a role in linking production and consumption, actively participating in the product value chain. Thereby contributing to the economic transformation and restructuring in line with the general direction of the province, increasing income for members, creating jobs for local workers, ensuring social security.

Mr. Hong Minh Tuan - member of Hung Tan Agricultural Cooperative (Tan Hung district) - harvesting rice

Previously, Mr. Hong Minh Tuan's family (Hung Thanh commune, Tan Hung district) grew 5 hectares of rice using traditional methods. Each year, Mr. Tuan's family grew 2 crops, with good productivity but often encountered "good harvest, low price" situation. Through the propaganda sessions of the Provincial and local Cooperative Unions, realizing the many benefits of participating in cooperatives, he joined Hung Tan Agricultural Cooperative (Hung Thanh commune). Mr. Tuan shared: “When participating in the cooperative, members can reduce production costs by purchasing raw materials, agricultural supplies in large quantity, applying synchronous production processes, etc; at the same time, the cooperative also guarantees output at a higher price than the market, so production is secure”.

Building and developing value chains

Determining that production linkage according to the value chain is an inevitable trend and an indispensable need of cooperatives, households, and individuals, the province has many mechanisms and policies to create conditions for this trend. Accordingly, the province supports many cooperatives to invest in infrastructure, coordinate training, and improve qualifications, guidance on the application of science and technology in cultivation and animal husbandry; etc.

My Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (Thu Thua District) pre-processes and packages agricultural products before delivering them to associated units for consumption

To build a new type of cooperative associated with a sustainable development value chain, My Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (Thu Thua District) has implemented many solutions to promote linkages with businesses, helping members consume agricultural products. The cooperative also applies high technology in production with an almost closed process from seeding, production, pre-processing, packaging, and transportation to the places where associated units consume.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of My Thanh Agricultural Cooperative - Nguyen Quoc Cuong, recently, the cooperative has signed cooperation contracts with neighboring cooperatives, cooperative groups of Thanh Hoa, Chau Thanh districts and Tan An city to meet the demand for goods and diversify products when the weather is unfavorable. The cooperative has policies and creates conditions for farmers such as investing in seeds, production processes according to VietGAP standards, field diaries, reproduction; supporting the purchase of agricultural products from members when market prices are low.

"At the same time, the cooperative has specific plans to produce according to the needs of the chain and the market to limit product congestion; develops growing areas that are not affected by salt water, high tides, and avoids goods shortages that disrupt the supply chain" - Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong said.

Currently, the products of My Thanh Agricultural Cooperative are available in many supermarkets and stores in Ho Chi Minh City, the Co.opmart system in the Southwestern provinces, Satra Food and vegetable and fruit processing companies in neighboring areas. In addition, the cooperative's products are also put on e-commerce platforms with very positive revenue.

All dragon fruit of Long Hoi Cooperative (Chau Thanh District) is guaranteed to be consumed at a stable price, helping to limit the situation of "good harvest, low price"

Long Hoi Cooperative (Chau Thanh District) produces dragon fruit according to GlobalGAP process, applying high technology, using organic fertilizers, biological products on an area of ​​46 hectares. All products of the Cooperative are signed with The Fruit Republic Can Tho One Member Co., Ltd. to export to demanding markets, bringing farmers a stable profit of 150-200 million VND/hectare.

Director of Long Hoi Cooperative - Truong Minh Trung said: "When participating in the chain, cooperative members and farmers can consume agricultural products at stable prices with little risk. In addition, the unit also supports quality seeds and agricultural materials so that farmers can feel secure in production".

Promoting linkages in production and consumption to create safe food supply chains is necessary to move towards modern commodity production, bringing high added value. Models of linkages in production and consumption of agricultural products in the province help increase productivity, quality of crops and livestock, increase product value and gradually increase income for people. However, one of the difficulties is that the linkage between people and businesses is not tight. The awareness of some farmers is still limited, they do not really comply with the responsibilities with enterprises, and still have the mentality of selling outside, breaking commitments when market prices are high, etc.

According to the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Nguyen Thanh Truyen, in order to support agricultural cooperatives to transform the value chain linkage model, the Department has implemented policies to encourage cooperation and linkage in production and consumption of agricultural products according to Decree No. 98/2018 of the Government. Accordingly, up to now, the Department has supported 39 cooperatives to build 11 projects and 28 plans on rice, vegetables, limes and pangasius with a support budget of more than 21.4 billion VND. The main support content is high-quality seeds, agricultural materials, organic fertilizers, etc.

“In the coming time, the Department will continue to strengthen and improve the quality of operations; focus on removing difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions to promote collective economic development; support the establishment of new cooperatives, convert operations according to the 2012 Law on Cooperatives and build typical cooperative models. At the same time, the Department will also coordinate with departments, branches and localities to review and rearrange ineffective cooperatives; thoroughly handle cooperatives that have ceased operations; promote guidance and encourages cooperatives to develop production in a safe and organic direction to create quality products to meet the increasing demands of the market" - Mr. Nguyen Thanh Truyen informed.

Reality shows that collective and cooperatives economy is a solid foundation for building and developing sustainable commodity value chains and only cooperatives are capable of linking people and businesses to produce according to value chains to bring high profits to farmers./.

By Bui Tung - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/cung-co-phat-trien-hop-tac-xa-tao-nen-tang-lien-ket-san-xuat-theo-chuoi-gia-tri-a186524.html