Signing a product purchase contract with the cooperative

Signing of red artichoke consumption contract

With an area of over 50 hectares of red artichokes, Phong Dien and Phong Thai wards have a certain advantage in developing red artichokes for commercial purposes. However, due to traditional farming habits and being sold raw to traders without processing and without building a brand, red artichoke products still face difficulties in the output market; at times, the price of fresh artichokes is only about 10 - 12 thousand VND/kg.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Trung, Director of Dong Lam Cooperative, Phong Thai Ward, shared that the Cooperative has about 35 hectares of red artichokes grown by 180 households in the traditional way. Currently, most people still grow and sell raw to traders, so the price is low and very unstable. Previously, the government and related sectors had many activities to support product consumption connections, and some businesses also came to learn about product output, but consumption is still not as expected.

Recently, within the framework of the technical assistance project "Promoting climate-smart agriculture and financial inclusion in Vietnam to improve the adaptation, resilience and recovery to the impacts of climate change for farmers, especially women" (project VIE/039) funded by the Government of Luxembourg in Hue City, the Government of Luxembourg approved and signed a co-financing agreement with Mekong Herbals Joint Stock Company. Accordingly, Mekong Herbals Joint Stock Company and cooperatives in Phong Thai and Phong Dien wards signed a cooperation agreement on production and consumption of red artichoke products according to organic standards. The objective of the activity is to develop the value chain of organic red artichoke flowers and a 60ha raw material area, with the implementation period from April 2025 to December 2026.

Accordingly, in addition to supporting product consumption, Mekong Herbals Joint Stock Company will provide training in organic farming techniques for farmers who sign contracts from land preparation, care, harvesting and post-harvest quality control.

Promoting the 4-house connection

The project's participation has partly promoted the effectiveness of the "4-house" linkage model: Government, enterprises, people and project organizations in sustainable agricultural development. In which, local authorities play a connecting role, creating conditions for land, planning planting areas, and organizing production; the project provides technical support, initial resources and connects the transfer of organic farming processes; enterprises sign contracts to consume products, ensuring stable output; people are the direct production force, participating in the model and committing to quality.

The harmonious coordination between the parties not only brings economic efficiency but also contributes to promoting the transformation of green and sustainable farming methods and improving the capacity of production organization for rural communities. However, the linkage model can only be effectively implemented when the commitments between the project and the enterprise, between the enterprise and the cooperative, and the people are seriously implemented, on schedule and closely monitored during the implementation process.

Mr. Le Thanh Bac, representative of the VIE/039 Project Management Board, shared that businesses and people need to comply with the signed commitments as a foundation for developing raw material areas as well as building brands and markets for products in the future. At the same time, the authorities of Phong Thai and Phong Dien wards need to participate more actively in the role of connecting and researching the planning of growing areas to expand the cultivation area of red artichoke flowers as directed by the project...

Project VIE/039 is collaborating with the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development ( Agribank ) to design value chain-appropriate financial products, opening up more financial access opportunities for red artichoke growers under contract linkage.


Article and photos: Hoang Loan

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep-nong-thon/co-hoi-mo-rong-thi-truong-cho-hoa-atiso-do-155905.html