Vegetable growing story at Tuong Nguyen Cooperative in difficult area

A cooperative producing safe vegetables, with members and farmer households coming from difficult areas. Overcoming challenges, beans and vegetables are finding a further direction, bringing a future to a united collective.

Ms. K'Huong, a farmer associated with Tuong Nguyen Cooperative, is happy because she has a stable income.

“In fact, our Tuong Nguyen Cooperative is still facing many difficulties. Our members are mainly farmers in very difficult areas, mainly growing outdoor land. But Tuong Nguyen is trying its best to bring agricultural products into product supply chains, bringing stable income to members,” Ms. Cao Thi Tan - Director of Tuong Nguyen Agricultural Production, Trade and Service Cooperative shared about her group. Starting from a small cooperative, with members from Phu Son Lam Ha commune, Dam Rong 1 commune, today Tuong Nguyen has formed a chain of links, with specific products for outdoor vegetables. In 2021, the Cooperative was established with the goal of bringing vegetables into the supply chain.

“Tuong Nguyen Cooperative has 20 members, stretching from Dam Rong 1, Phu Son Lam Ha, Duc Trong commune, Tan Hoi commune, of which 7 members are local ethnic minorities. We grow vegetables such as climbing beans, lettuce, tomatoes, ginger... mainly outdoor vegetables. The Cooperative also has 3 hectares of greenhouses specializing in growing bell peppers and beef tomatoes. Currently, we have 8 hectares with VietGAP certification and are increasing the certified area,” Ms. Cao Thi Tan informed. She also said that the Cooperative mainly supplies to the supply chain of Sasco, Viet Nhat Company, Gia Khang Phat and some wholesale markets. “To bring vegetables into the supply chain, the cooperative has thoroughly instructed each member to cultivate according to the correct process, not using fertilizers or pesticides not listed. Vegetables are regularly tested to ensure safety and no prohibited residues. Quality and reputation are mandatory conditions for our agricultural products to maintain their consumption market,” Ms. Tan affirmed. In addition to the cooperative’s products, with high-quality vegetables such as hydroponic lettuce, the cooperative has linked up with reputable establishments with OCOP certification such as Kiem Hung (Quang Lap commune) to supply to customers.

Mr. Phan Tuan Anh, a farmer in Duc Trong commune, a member of Tuong Nguyen Cooperative, specializes in growing only one type of vegetable, climbing beans. He said that because his family does not have the financial resources to build greenhouses, he is still growing climbing beans according to the cooperative's plan. "Before, I still grew climbing beans, now that I am a member, I still grow them as before. However, now, growing beans must comply with VietGAP procedures, after harvesting, the cooperative will come to collect, the price is stable in advance, so the family can feel secure in growing them," said Mr. Tuan Anh. As for Ms. K'Huong, an associated farmer in Da Me village, Tan Hoi commune, she shared that she grows vegetables for the cooperative with a better income than before, just need to plant seeds and take care of them according to the cooperative's plan, the cooperative will buy all the vegetables grown, without worrying about excess goods or prices going up or down. Depending on the land area, members of the cooperative earn an income of 20 - 40 million VND/month, a significant number for farmers in remote areas.

“Cooperatives are under a lot of pressure, from low-priced imported agricultural products, capital to expand the market to building a brand, we farmers really need support. In particular, the State needs to support cooperatives in accessing the online market, the consumption trend of the new era”, Director Cao Thi Tan shared. She informed that Tuong Nguyen Cooperative is currently actively promoting its image on the internet, setting up a stall to supply trial vegetables at Hoc Mon wholesale market…: “For us farmers, if we do business individually, it will be very difficult, from capital, technology, output. Therefore, we unite as a collective, join hands, each person has a strength to help vegetables go further, together with farmers to reduce poverty and rise up”.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/chuyen-lam-rau-o-htx-vung-kho-tuong-nguyen-391711.html