Cooperatives - The nucleus of restructuring the agricultural sector

Implementing Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP dated July 18, 2023 of the Government on developing agricultural cooperatives in restructuring the agricultural sector and building new rural areas, Son La province has concretized it with comprehensive action plans, creating a positive change in thinking, changing the governance model appropriately and effectively, helping cooperatives truly become the nucleus in restructuring the agricultural sector.

Members of the Mountain Medicinal Herbs Cooperative, Muong La commune, introduce products made from local medicinal herbs.

In the period of 2023 - 2025, Son La actively implemented the plan to develop agricultural cooperatives according to Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP. The province organized 65 conferences, seminars, 22 communication columns and 4 training courses for 220 members to raise awareness, management and production skills. At the same time, built 5 typical cooperatives, supported 7 cooperatives to access credit with a total outstanding debt of 21.1 billion VND.

Promotion and digital transformation activities have been promoted, bringing 130 agricultural products to e-commerce platforms, building traceability, labels, and VietGAP/GlobalGAP certification with a support budget of more than VND 5.7 billion. To date, 99 cooperatives have participated in building 125 OCOP products (31 products with 4 stars or higher), 63 cooperatives have been granted growing area codes for export.

Many cooperatives have effectively exploited the support of the State and mobilized capital from members to invest in technology, improve productivity and product value. Typically, Hung Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative, Chieng Khuong commune, has linked with 23 households to manage 55 hectares of fruit trees, of which 46 hectares of longan are produced in an organic direction.

Mr. Tran Van Loc, Director of the Cooperative, said: The Cooperative has combined support capital and capital contributions from members to synchronously apply advanced irrigation and sprinkler technology, clean production processes, save resources, improve productivity and product quality, and expand links with businesses. Each year, the Cooperative achieves over 500 tons of fresh fruit, with a revenue of over 7 billion VND.

Strawberry growing model of Hoi Duong Strawberry Cooperative, Mai Son commune.

Meanwhile, Hoi Duong Strawberry Cooperative in Mai Son commune has invested in machinery and factories, promoted fruit processing, and diversified products. Ms. Bui Thi Tho, Director of the Cooperative, shared: Currently, the Cooperative has 27 members, producing over 50 hectares of strawberries, custard apples, longans, and mangoes. In 2024, the Cooperative received a loan of 1 billion VND from Thien Tam Fund and Vingroup Corporation and invested an additional 500 million VND to buy 2 industrial dryers and build a factory to process dried strawberries, plums, and longans, covering an area of ​​1,000 m². Along with that, the Cooperative has linked production and consumption of fruit products for 25 households in the area; supported stable purchasing and processing of products. Last year, the Cooperative achieved a revenue of nearly 10 billion VND.

In the past two years, the province has established 99 community agricultural extension teams connecting with cooperatives, businesses and traders at home and abroad, consuming nearly 200 tons of pineapple, custard apple, passion fruit... At the same time, coordinating with the National Agricultural Extension Center and Thien Tam Fund to support loans for 4 cooperatives (each cooperative 1 billion VND, term of 10 years); organizing 14 tours to typical models for 430 delegates, contributing to capacity building and promoting sustainable cooperative development.

Staff of the Provincial Agricultural Technical Center provide technical advice and guidance to farmers in Binh Minh ward.

Ms. Lo Thanh Binh, Head of the Thuan Chau Commune Community Agricultural Extension Team, said: From 2022 to now, the Team has organized 28 training courses for 1,065 farmers; 6 field trips, 2 technical consultation sessions for 120 households; supported people in disaster areas to restore production. At the same time, connected with businesses to consume 5 tons of pineapple, 100 tons of passion fruit and 10 tons of custard apple for the cooperative and farmers.

The implementation of Resolution No. 106 of the Government has brought about positive changes, creating a favorable environment for cooperatives to promote their effectiveness. In the coming time, the province will continue to replicate cooperative models, perfect the value chain linkage mechanism, and create more motivation for cooperatives to contribute more to the goal of building sustainable new rural areas.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/hop-tac-xa-hat-nhan-tai-co-cau-nganh-nong-nghiep-sxqnrKzDg.html