Promote the development of agricultural cooperative models to improve the quality of local products.

Gia Lai currently has 6 agricultural associations in traditional industries and occupations such as brocade weaving and jar wine making. Photo: Ha Duy

Mr. Y Kham - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association - said: With training activities, seminars, and technology transfer, it has contributed to changing the thinking, mindset, and ways of doing things in agricultural production of members of the agricultural associations. Thereby, they know how to apply advanced scientific and technological advances, processing and preservation technology, build OCOP products; produce according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP, 4C standards; apply 4.0 technology in production and business. Promote the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance in production.

“Through the agricultural association model, we have developed cooperation and linkage activities between enterprises, cooperatives and farming households to produce and trade according to the value chain, develop a high-tech agricultural ecosystem, large-scale concentrated production associated with the application of standard technical processes and production area codes; build green economic models, circular economy, and apply digital technology in agriculture and rural areas,” said Mr. Y Kham.

Mr. Thieu Viet Doan - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of growing coffee intercropped with macadamia in Son Lang commune (Kbang district) shared: "Through the meetings of the farmers' association, members can discuss and exchange new and effective ways of doing things, issues on applying science and technology in production and linking product consumption, issues on agricultural weather, how to use safe fertilizers and pesticides... to improve knowledge in production and business".

The Farmers' Association contributes to creating a shift in farmers' production thinking, from agricultural production to agricultural economic development. Photo: Ha Duy

However, the activities of agricultural associations in recent times have also revealed certain difficulties. That is, some places have not really paid attention to implementing the agricultural association model in the area; some localities have not researched and carefully reviewed local conditions; the establishment of agricultural associations is still "pursuing achievements", so after being established, many agricultural associations do not operate effectively. This leads to some agricultural associations operating at a low level, reducing the number of members participating, and even ceasing operations.

In particular, besides the localities with a large number of agricultural associations such as: Pleiku City with 18 agricultural associations, Chu Se District with 16 agricultural associations, Ia Grai District with 15 agricultural associations, Kong Chro District with 14 agricultural associations, Kbang District with 14 agricultural associations... the remaining localities have a relatively small number of agricultural associations.

Standing Deputy Secretary of Chu Pah District Party Committee Nguyen Quang Truong said: Up to now, the whole district has established 7 agricultural association models.

This model is a correct and necessary policy in the current period, and is the core for developing a chain of typical products in agricultural production, contributing to building new rural areas and developing the collective economy. However, this model is still quite new to the people; on the other hand, agricultural production in the district is still fragmented, small-scale, and everyone does their own thing; cooperation and production linkage associated with the consumption of agricultural products are not many and not stable, so there are difficulties in the process of selecting and building agricultural associations, so the number of models is still limited.

Building a farmer association contributes to creating a shift in farmers' production thinking, from agricultural production to agricultural economic development . Developing a farmer association is another opportunity to maximize the potential and advantages of rural agricultural development, improve the quality of local products, farmers have more "channels" to access scientific and technical advances, access "channels" to connect to the market, and find product outlets. Therefore, continuing to develop the farmer association model is extremely necessary.

Participating in the agricultural association has contributed to improving the quality of agricultural products, connecting outputs, thereby helping to improve the lives of members. Photo: Ha Duy

Regarding the development of the agricultural association model in the coming time, at the conference summarizing 5 years of implementing the agricultural association model in the province, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung directed: "The Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee as well as local Party committees and authorities should review and re-evaluate the quality of agricultural association models. They should not chase after achievements and have plans for inactive agricultural associations.

State management agencies, the Agriculture sector, and the Department of Science and Technology should identify training contents and programs to guide members of agricultural associations on cultivation methods and techniques; continue to develop OCOP products . Local authorities should continue to support people to connect, learn from each other's experiences, and exchange production and business methods.

Source: https://gialai.gov.vn/tin-tuc/day-manh-phat-trien-mo-hinh-nong-hoi-de-nang-chat-luong-san-pham-dia-phuong.81203.aspx