GIC project brings practical benefits to cooperatives

After more than 3 years of implementation, the GIC Project in Soc Trang province has supported hundreds of capacity building training courses for cooperative members, guiding cooperatives on management, business operations and market marketing to promote products made at the cooperative to consumers. In 2024 alone, the GIC Project organized 16 training courses with 425 local cooperative managers and key cooperative members; organized 110 training courses on assessing sustainable business, opportunities and risk management in rice production, access to good financial services, increasing income when producing quality rice, benefits of certified rice production... with 2,950 participants; organized 10 training courses on "advanced business classes for farmers", with 290 participants; Organized 80 training courses on guiding producers to use certified seeds to reduce seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, water, loss, greenhouse gas emissions, monitor field drainage after sowing, monitor pests and diseases in rice fields, how to handle straw after harvesting rice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; guided cooperatives on organic farming processes...

The GIC project in Soc Trang province has supported rice-growing cooperatives to produce quality rice products. Photo: THUY LIEU

Mr. Nguyen Van Ut - Director of Vinh Loi Agricultural Cooperative, Vinh Loi Commune, Thanh Tri District (Soc Trang) shared that in 2024, the GIC Project supported the Cooperative with techniques for composting straw into organic fertilizer, organic fertilizer mixers and packaging design for finished organic fertilizer. Previously, when there was no GIC Project support, post-harvest straw was not used so most of it would be burned, this burning emitted _CO2 , affecting the environment. However, when the GIC Project supported, the Cooperative knew how to compost straw into fertilizer, so the compost after composting was used in the fields, reducing investment costs and improving the quality of rice and rice after harvest, increasing the value of rice products when sold on the market, helping to increase profits for members participating in the Cooperative.

In addition, the GIC Project also organized a demonstration model of sustainable rice cultivation techniques, in order to create conditions and opportunities for cooperative members to have a place to study, share experiences and apply the rice cultivation techniques of "3 reductions, 3 increases", "1 must, 5 reductions". Accordingly, 6 models were implemented in 6 cooperatives of 4 districts/towns, with an area of ​​30 hectares. Households participating in the model were supported in reducing seed sowing using row sowing equipment, cluster sowing machines, flower seeds to apply ecological technology to the fields, green mushroom support in preventing pests and planthoppers and technical support from staff monitoring the model. Through the demonstration model, the production cost was 17.4 million VND/ha, and outside the model was nearly 21 million VND/ha, according to calculations, the cost of the demonstration model was lower than outside by more than 3.5 million VND/ha. Cost reduction thanks to reduced seeding, reduced use of pesticides and fertilizers, greatly contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, due to reduced use of pesticides, helping to protect the health of producers, creating safe products for consumers.

Comrade Tran Hoang Dung - Deputy Director of GIC Project in Soc Trang province said that in the coming time, GIC Project will continue to support farmers and rice cooperatives in experience in developing value chains and promoting safe and sustainable rice production; support cooperatives and enterprises to participate in international trade fairs and exhibitions to sign contracts and services. Training to raise awareness for retailers and consumers about the benefits of complying with quality and sustainability standards; consulting and supporting policies to widely apply innovative rice production. Disseminate policies to promote innovation in the agriculture and food sector, contributing to sustainable rural development in the Mekong Delta in particular and the whole country in general...

THUY LIEU

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/kinh-te/202505/du-an-gic-dem-lai-loi-ich-thiet-thuc-cho-hop-tac-xa-abf17e4/