"The midwife" for the development of the collective economy - Cao Bang Online Newspaper

In recent years, the collective economy, with cooperatives as its core, in the province has seen many positive changes. However, many cooperatives still face numerous obstacles in their operations. In light of this, the Provincial Cooperative Union has affirmed its role as a "facilitator," becoming a reliable support system for cooperatives, helping them overcome difficulties and effectively exploit the local advantages.

To date, the province has 12 cooperative groups operating in the agricultural sector, with 168 members; 678 interest groups, with approximately 9,000 members; and 460 cooperatives, with a total charter capital of VND 686.773 billion, comprising 4,007 members. Of these, cooperatives operating in the agricultural sector account for about 40%, while the remainder operate in the following fields: construction materials production, industry - handicrafts, trade - services, transportation, and environment. Currently, the province has 295 active cooperatives with an estimated average revenue of VND 2.2 billion/cooperative/year and an average profit of approximately VND 315 million/cooperative/year.

Despite positive growth, the actual operation of many cooperatives in the province still reveals numerous limitations, such as: cooperatives are fragmented and small-scale, lacking cohesion; products and services are of low quantity and quality, mainly consisting of raw, monotonous products with low competitiveness and unstable markets; management, production organization, and infrastructure do not meet requirements; the application of value chain production from production to consumption is limited; new science , technology, and digital transformation have not been effectively applied, while trade promotion activities are weak; most cooperatives are small and micro-sized, with weak management capacity and unclear production and business plans, leading to difficulties in accessing state-supported credit sources…

Faced with the limitations of cooperatives, the Provincial Cooperative Union has implemented a series of practical and effective activities over the years to help member cooperatives and enterprises overcome difficulties. The Provincial Cooperative Union has become a reliable partner, accompanying member cooperatives and enterprises in improving management capacity, refining production methods, and accessing development resources; helping member cooperatives and enterprises to better exploit local potential and advantages, expand production and business scale, and improve economic efficiency.

The Provincial Cooperative Union consistently performs its function of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its member cooperatives and enterprises. Regular policy and legal consultations are conducted, helping cooperatives stay informed of new regulations and minimize risks during their operations. Through training and refresher programs, the Provincial Cooperative Union has contributed to improving management capacity, developing production and business plans suitable to the scale of each cooperative; supporting training to enhance financial management, accounting, and capital mobilization skills within cooperatives; and simultaneously supporting the improvement of e-commerce sales and marketing capabilities, thereby creating conditions for member cooperatives and enterprises to more effectively access resources from development programs and projects.

Thanks to the timely support of the Provincial Cooperative Union, Thao Duong Vinh Cooperative has gradually expanded production, processing approximately 50 tons of dried stevia each year, generating significant revenue.

In particular, the Provincial Cooperative Union plays a key role in supporting member cooperatives and businesses in accessing capital by introducing loan sources, connecting them with banks and development support funds. In addition, the Provincial Cooperative Union also comprehensively implements activities such as transferring scientific and technical advancements, promoting trade, supporting member cooperatives and businesses in participating in trade fairs, connecting supply and demand, and promoting and introducing products into supermarket and hotel systems in the province. As a result, many member cooperatives and businesses have effectively utilized their existing potential and advantages, weathered challenges, proactively innovated, expanded production scale, enhanced product value, and gradually achieved efficient and sustainable operations.

Taking advantage of the local climate and soil conditions, Thao Duong Vinh Cooperative in Doc Lap hamlet, Thach An commune, invested in planting stevia, a high-value crop, establishing a concentrated raw material area according to VietGAP standards. However, when first starting out, the cooperative only planted 3 hectares and faced difficulties in cultivation techniques, production and business plans, unstable yields, and limited market access. Thanks to the timely support of the Provincial Cooperative Union, the cooperative received legal advice; support in building a value chain and production and business plans; participated in training courses on scientific and technical transfer; and received support in trade promotion, supply-demand connection, and access to businesses that purchase stevia. As a result, the cooperative's stevia planting area increased to 10 hectares, achieving an average yield of 38.5 tons of fresh stevia per hectare per year, equivalent to approximately 385 tons of fresh stevia annually. Each year, the cooperative processes approximately 50 tons of dried stevia, generating significant revenue. All processed dried stevia products meet quality standards and are sold through traders and stevia processing facilities in Hanoi, Hung Yen, Hue, Da Nang, and other locations.

Director of Thao Duong Vinh Cooperative, Nong Quoc Huy, shared: "The practical support and companionship of the Provincial Cooperative Union have helped the cooperative enhance product value, increase competitiveness, and operate more effectively. The cooperative is gradually expanding production in both scale and quality. The cooperative provides regular employment for 20 workers, with full social insurance coverage, averaging 6 million VND per person per month, and 30 seasonal workers earning 220,000 VND per day."

Leveraging the effective role of the Provincial Cooperative Union as a "facilitator," Thuan Phong Cooperative in Phac Slien hamlet, Thach An commune, has become a model unit in developing agricultural value chains after implementing a model of guaranteed purchase, preliminary processing, and linked consumption of macadamia nuts and ginger, contributing to stabilizing output for farmers in several communes of the province. Previously, the cooperative faced difficulties due to unstable sales volume and a lack of experience in value chain management. However, after receiving training from the Provincial Cooperative Union to improve management capacity; support in developing production and business plans, building brands, and participating in trade promotion fairs, the cooperative has been able to expand its processing scale. In 2025 alone, it processed more than 3 tons of dried macadamia nuts, purchased and sold nearly 8 tons of fresh nuts to processing facilities, achieving a revenue of approximately 700 million VND.

Leaders of the Provincial Cooperative Union are assessing the production and business activities at Thuan Phong Cooperative.

According to Ngoc Huy Hoang, Director of Thuan Phong Cooperative, the multifaceted, timely, practical, and effective support from the Provincial Cooperative Union has created momentum for the cooperative's sustainable development, increasing product value and doubling its revenue compared to before.

Affirming the role of supporting the collective economy, with cooperatives as the core, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union Tran Anh Dung emphasized: The Provincial Cooperative Union will continue to play its role as a "facilitator," always being a reliable address and a solid support for member cooperatives and enterprises. In the coming time, the unit will focus on key tasks such as promoting the dissemination of policies and laws on the development of the collective economy and cooperatives; strengthening legal advice and support, and improving the management capacity of cooperatives; supporting training and transfer of scientific and technical advancements; and effectively performing the function of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of members through seminars, surveys, and reviews to understand the operational situation as well as the difficulties and obstacles of member cooperatives and enterprises, in order to promptly report to relevant levels and sectors in implementing support solutions.

The Provincial Cooperative Union is stepping up support for digital transformation, helping member cooperatives and businesses apply management software, traceability systems, and build product brands; expanding trade promotion programs, connecting trade and product consumption; supporting production development along the value chain; and creating conditions for cooperatives and businesses to effectively access development resources and loan capital for cooperatives… These solutions aim to help cooperatives and businesses confidently invest in production, expand scale, enhance product value, and develop sustainably, thereby making a positive contribution to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Quoc Son

Source: https://baocaobang.vn/ba-do-cho-kinh-te-tap-the-phat-trien-3183180.html