100% of Thanh Nam Orange Cooperative members grow apples in greenhouses
The Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative was established in 2019 with 12 members and now has 50 members, of which more than 30% are women. Initially specializing in the production and sale of fresh apples, the cooperative provides supplies, fertilizers, and pesticides to its members. Later, it constructs greenhouses for its members' apple orchards.
Cam Thanh Nam apple products, Cam Ranh City ( Khanh Hoa ) have been known by many people. Photo: Cong Tam
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong, Director of Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative, said that in the early days, some members still grew apples using traditional methods, and very few people covered their orchards with nets. Therefore, whenever fruit flies appeared, people had to spend money to catch or exterminate these insects, which was very costly.
After many sleepless nights pondering why apple trees were so frequently attacked by fruit flies during the apple harvest season, in 2014-2015, his apple trees and those of his neighbors were heavily damaged by fruit flies, with some households even losing everything due to the destruction caused by this insect.
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong - Director of Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative is one of the pioneers in growing apples in greenhouses. Photo: Cong Tam
In 2016, Mr. Cuong decided to order 5,000 square meters of netting to experiment with in his garden. After successfully implementing it, he decided to expand the project to cover his entire area.
Recognizing the advantages of covering apple orchards with netting—a lifespan of 5-6 years for the netting and a more stable market and selling price compared to traditional methods—many members of the cooperative have actively participated, and now 100% of members grow apples with netting around their trees.
Apple growing creates jobs for dozens of local workers and helps two poor households.
Currently, members of the cooperative have boldly invested in growing apple trees according to VietGAP standards. As a result, yield, quality, and price have all increased, and apple trees bring good income to local farmers.
The cooperative's production and business indicators have continuously increased over the years, creating jobs for nearly 50 local workers with an average income of 8 million VND/person/month, actively contributing to job creation, economic development, and poverty reduction in the locality.
Newly harvested apples from farmers in Cam Thanh Nam. Photo: Cong Tam
Currently, the cooperative's production scale covers 50 hectares of apple orchards, with an average annual revenue of 13.5 billion VND. This includes 12 billion VND from apple sales; 1 billion VND from the apple, custard apple, and mango purchasing agency; and 500 million VND from the agricultural supplies agency (nets, seedlings, fertilizers, etc.). In addition to creating jobs, the cooperative also mobilizes well-off households to assist two disadvantaged households in the locality.
Video: Mr. Ho Tan Cuong, apple farmer in Cam Thanh Nam commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province.
Mr. Cuong shared that the unit holds two meetings a month in the evening at 7 PM. The main topics of the meeting are reviewing the week's work, sharing experiences in production, farming methods, apple prices on the market, and input material costs for the members.
Mr. Cuong said the reason for the meeting in the evening is because during the day many people are busy with apple growing and care, apple purchasing, apple sorting, etc.
Many farmers in Cam Thanh Nam commune have applied nets in their apple orchards. Photo: Cong Tam
According to Mr. Cuong, thanks to the support and facilitation of local authorities, especially the Farmers' Association of the commune, in providing the cooperative with 500 million VND from the Farmers' Support Fund, and coordinating with relevant departments to organize training courses guiding farmers on using nets to protect apple orchards from insect damage.
With improved greenhouse apple cultivation methods, preventing fruit flies and eliminating the use of pesticides, apple yields increased from 5 tons/acre to 8 tons/acre/season, reducing costs and labor for spraying pesticides and watering.
In addition, the cooperative also invested in water-saving irrigation systems, grass covers, etc. to help improve the quality of apples, creating consumer trust.
According to Mr. Cuong, members' revenue depends on the area they contribute; for every hectare, members earn approximately 600 million VND, and after deducting expenses, the profit is about 400 million VND/hectare/year.
Currently, people grow apples all year round in both main and off-season, so products are regularly supplied to customers nationwide.
Thanh Nam Orange Apples are currently supplied to many provinces and cities across the country. Photo: Cong Tam
Cam Thanh Nam apples have been widely promoted and have gained the trust and acceptance of many customers inside and outside the province. They are consistently invited by agencies and organizations to participate in various markets, especially at the agricultural product markets organized by the Khanh Hoa Provincial Farmers' Association.
Cam Thanh Nam Apple has formed a specialized apple production area and has been recognized by the Intellectual Property Office as the collective trademark of Cam Thanh Nam apple.
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong, Cam Thanh Nam commune, is very passionate about apple growing. Photo: Cong Tam
Based on the results achieved, the Executive Committee of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Farmers' Association awarded a Certificate of Merit to Thanh Nam Apple and Orange Cooperative for its outstanding performance in participating in the 2023 Agricultural Products and OCOP Products Fair.
The Khanh Hoa Provincial Cooperative Union awarded a Certificate of Commendation to Thanh Nam Apple and Orange Growing Cooperative for its outstanding achievements in building exemplary and advanced collective economic models and cooperatives during the 2024 Cooperative Action Month, and for receiving numerous awards from various levels and sectors.
Currently, Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative is honored to be voted into the list of 63 typical cooperatives nationwide in 2024.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Ho Tan Cuong said: "My family has received information to represent Khanh Hoa province to attend the national typical cooperative in Hanoi and this is a great joy not only for me personally but also for the whole collective that has strived in the past time.
Previously, Mr. Cuong was voted by the Central Final Council as one of the 100 Outstanding Vietnamese Farmers in 2023.
Mr. Cuong said that he and the cooperative have received attention and support from all levels of government in the past. He suggested that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association and the Ministry of Agriculture should create the best possible conditions for people and cooperative members to easily access capital for economic development, and should provide specific guidance on the process, mechanisms, and procedures for borrowing capital.
From 12 initial members, it has now grown to 50 members and brought Cam Thanh Nam apple products to many provinces and cities. Photo: Cong Tam
At the same time, it is suggested that support be provided to promote digital transformation so that the clean apple products of members and farmers can reach consumers in the best possible way. Furthermore, it is proposed that all levels of government raise awareness among members, aiming towards a green, circular, safe model and advanced post-harvest processing of products.
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