Toan Dien Cooperative contributes to purchasing products for farmers in the area.

(GLO)- After nearly 5 years of operation, the Comprehensive Agricultural, Forestry and Service Cooperative (De Ar Commune, Mang Yang District) has contributed to helping members and farmers in the commune improve production efficiency, ensure product output, and improve income.

Mr. Le Sy Dien - Director of the Cooperative said: The Comprehensive Agriculture, Forestry and Service Cooperative was established in 2021 and currently has 7 members. In recent years, the Cooperative has focused on planting, purchasing and processing agricultural and forestry products in the area such as wild bitter melon (also known as wild bitter melon - PV), wild bamboo shoots, papaya flowers, soursop, and bananas. To ensure input materials, the Cooperative has cooperated with people in the commune to plant nearly 20 hectares of bananas, papayas and wild bitter melons; at the same time, it purchases seasonally for sticky rice and products harvested by people from the forest such as bamboo shoots and bananas. In addition, members of the Cooperative also plant more than 3 hectares of wild bitter melon and some areas of male papaya flowers and apply techniques for off-season flowering to ensure raw material sources.

Mr. Le Sy Dien - Director of the Comprehensive Agriculture, Forestry and Service Cooperative regularly brings the cooperative's products to events connecting supply and demand to find product outlets. Photo provided by the character

According to the Director of the Cooperative, in order to produce high quality products after processing and ensure the health of consumers, the Cooperative guides members and associated households to cultivate crops in an organic manner. Priority is given to the use of composted manure or organic fertilizers and the use of pesticides in crop care is limited. In addition to the raw materials grown by the Cooperative members, on average each year, the Cooperative purchases nearly 20 tons of fresh bamboo shoots, nearly 20 tons of bananas, 6.5-7 tons of fresh wild bitter melon, 3.5-4 tons of fresh papaya flowers and some rice from associated households and local people.

"In addition to ensuring safe input materials, the Cooperative also invested in building 2 drying ovens to dry products immediately after purchasing to ensure freshness and deliciousness; building OCOP certification to increase product value. Up to now, the Cooperative has provided the market with 8 products including: dried wild bitter melon, dried bamboo shoots, dried papaya flowers, fresh papaya flowers, papaya flowers soaked in honey, dried bananas, soursop tea and De Ar sticky rice. All of these products have been certified as 3-star OCOP products and are distributed at 12 agents in and outside the province. On average, each year, the Cooperative sells more than 4 tons of various products with a revenue of more than 800 million VND/year" - the Director of the Cooperative added.

Mr. Kle, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of De Ar Commune, said: "In recent times, the Association has regularly encouraged members and farmers in the area to plant and harvest forest products to sell to the Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative and Comprehensive Services for additional income. On that basis, the Association also coordinated with the Cooperative and the District Agricultural Service Center to train members on plant care techniques. Up to now, the whole commune has 250 members who are cooperating and providing raw materials to the Cooperative. Most households have additional income to improve their lives."

Dried papaya flower products of the cooperative are displayed at the OCOP store of Gia Lai Agricultural Cooperative. Photo: Nhat Hao

Mr. Dinh Bun (Ar Bo Tok village, De Ar commune) excitedly shared: "Since the cooperative started operating, I have cooperated to grow 5 sao of male papaya flowers and 3 sao of bananas. On average, each year, I sell more than 1 ton of fresh bananas and 100 kg of fresh male papaya flowers. In addition, when the season comes, my family goes to the forest to collect wild bitter melon to sell, so we also have income. On average, each month, my wife and I earn more than 3 million VND."

Talking to reporters, Ms. Do Thi Thanh Van - Chairman of the People's Committee of De Ar Commune - informed: Although there are still many difficulties in the process of operation, the Comprehensive Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative and Services has contributed to creating jobs for many workers and consuming agricultural products for farmers in the area. Therefore, in the past time, the People's Committee of the commune has supported the Cooperative in the process of building OCOP certification for products to facilitate product output. Thereby, contributing to supporting the Cooperative in the process of operation as well as promoting economic development in the area.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/hop-tac-xa-toan-dien-gop-phan-bao-tieu-san-pham-cho-nong-dan-tren-dia-ban-post324811.html