Cooperatives – 'leverage' for building new rural areas

Currently, Long Hoi Cooperative (An Luc Long commune, Chau Thanh district) supplies the market with products that meet VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards.

1. In fact, many KTTT models operate effectively , contributing to sustainable economic development and new rural construction. The province currently has 331 cooperatives with 45,660 members operating in the agricultural sector . In recent years, cooperatives have focused on hygiene, food safety, product labels and traceability, enhancing value and brand such as safe vegetable cooperatives, high-tech agricultural cooperatives, etc.

In Chau Thanh district, Long Hoi Cooperative (An Luc Long commune) continues to effectively maintain the gathering of farmers for production cooperation. With the main crop being dragon fruit, the Cooperative always ensures a stable source of goods, meeting the supply standards for partners.

Director of Long Hoi Cooperative - Truong Minh Trung said: “Previously, farmers grew dragon fruit in the traditional way, small, individual, each doing their own thing, so they often fell into the situation of “good harvest, low price” or vice versa. The establishment of the cooperative is with the desire to form a concentrated raw material area, creating a common voice for cooperation and development. When production is linked, with a process, agricultural products will sell for a higher price”.

Currently, the cooperative has 44 members, cultivating about 50 hectares, of which 30% are white-fleshed dragon fruit and 70% are red-fleshed dragon fruit. All members produce according to VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards, bringing high efficiency.

On average, each year, the cooperative supplies the market with about 2,500 tons of dragon fruit, with a stable price of over 15,000 VND/kg. The average income of member households is about 100 million VND/ha/year. In addition, the cooperative also creates jobs for about 30 local workers, with an income of about 8 million VND/person/month, contributing to improving living standards and developing the socio-economy.

“Currently, the cooperative is cooperating with purchasing companies to consume dragon fruit, however, the price still depends on market fluctuations. In the coming time, the cooperative will focus on promoting the production of clean dragon fruit, improving product quality, creating stable output for products of members and local farmers,” added Mr. Truong Minh Trung.

2. Established in 2007, Phuoc Hiep Safe Vegetable Cooperative (Phuoc Hau Commune, Can Giuoc District) has gradually developed, affirming its reputation and position in the market. Currently, the Cooperative has 111 official members cultivating more than 40 hectares and 30 associate members. The Cooperative supplies the market with nearly 30 different types of vegetables, from leafy vegetables such as green mustard, sweet mustard, amaranth, Malabar spinach,... to spices such as green onions, basil, coriander,...

Phuoc Hiep Safe Vegetable Cooperative (Phuoc Hau commune, Can Giuoc district) always focuses on food safety in production.

Phuoc Hiep Safe Vegetable Cooperative is recognized as one of the province's typical cooperatives in safe vegetable production. In particular, with 5 products meeting OCOP standards, the cooperative has affirmed its superior quality and professionalism in managing the agricultural value chain.

Thanks to ensuring a closed production process and transparency in origin, the cooperative's products not only meet the consumption needs in the province but also expand the market to Ho Chi Minh City and many neighboring provinces. This not only increases the value of agricultural products but also improves the income of farming households, creates stable jobs and actively contributes to the construction of new rural areas.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cooperative - Tran Thanh Minh said: “Each year, the Cooperative is supported with 3-5 tons of organic fertilizer; models of building greenhouses and automatic irrigation systems are also supported with 40-60% of costs. Currently, nearly 100% of the Cooperative members apply high technology in production and are very satisfied with this production method. The Cooperative is the “bridge” that helps farmers change their farming practices, towards clean and sustainable production. People's income has improved significantly. That is a practical contribution to the process of building new rural areas”.

Clearly identifying the importance of the collective economy, in recent times, the continued innovation, development and improvement of the effectiveness of the collective economy have always been of interest to the provincial agricultural sector. Cooperative models are regularly consolidated and rectified, bringing practical economic efficiency, truly becoming a reliable support for members, participating in poverty reduction, new rural development and increasingly affirming the position and role of the collective economy in the economy./.

Khanh Duy - Thu Thao

Source: https://baolongan.vn/hop-tac-xa-don-bay-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-a197554.html