Ba Dinh Cooperative is the core of collective economic development in the rice-shrimp region.

From like-minded farmers, Ba Dinh Cooperative has become a typical model, contributing to increasing the value of rice grains and shrimp in Ca Mau.

Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative (abbreviated as Ba Dinh Cooperative) located in Ben Bao hamlet, Vinh Loc commune, Ca Mau province is a bright spot in the cooperative economic development movement, contributing to increasing income and forming a sustainable value chain for the region's typical rice-shrimp products.

On November 12, Ba Dinh Cooperative was honored to attend the 80th Anniversary of the Agriculture and Environment Sector, the 1st Patriotic Emulation Congress in Hanoi.

Mr. Nong Van Thach, Director of Ba Dinh Cooperative, visits the fields of cooperative members. Photo: Trong Linh .

“Linking” is the key to increasing production value

Established in 2018, Ba Dinh Cooperative initially had only 44 members, with a charter capital of 300 million VND, but with continuous efforts, up to now, the Cooperative has 252 members, operating capital of over 1.2 billion VND, focusing on the rice-shrimp production model combined with comprehensive agricultural and aquatic services.

The highlight of the cooperative is to build a sustainable chain from input supply to product consumption. Every year, the cooperative cooperates with many reputable enterprises to provide more than 120 million shrimp seeds, 600 tons of feed and aquatic medicine for members. At the same time, it purchases and consumes more than 3,450 tons of rice and 390 tons of commercial shrimp. Thanks to that, cooperative members reduce 10-15% of input costs, increase profits, and create regular jobs for more than 80 local workers.

Members of Ba Dinh Cooperative harvest giant freshwater prawns. Photo: Trong Linh.

Mr. Nong Van Thach, Director - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ba Dinh Cooperative, shared: “The Cooperative was established not only to do collective business, but also for farmers to develop sustainably together, and create a common brand for their hometown products. Ba Dinh Cooperative is aiming to expand its area and members so that more farmers have the opportunity to improve their income, gradually escaping poverty sustainably.

Technological innovation, traceability

In recent years, Ba Dinh Cooperative has been a pioneer in applying technology to production and management. All financial and accounting activities have been digitized through Waca software, using digital signatures and electronic invoices, helping to make the management transparent and professional.

In production, the cooperative applies many technical advances: Sowing rice seedlings on the field, transplanting by machine, planting in rows and in clusters helps reduce the amount of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Spraying pesticides by drones helps save costs, protect workers' health and reduce environmental pollution.

The effectiveness is clearly seen when the rice yield increases from 500 kg to 1 ton/ha per crop, the quality of rice grains is significantly improved. On that basis, the Cooperative built the brand "Ba Dinh Rice - Shrimp", recognized as an OCOP product in 2024, and won the Mai An Tiem Award - a typical cooperative product nationwide voted by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance.

Many units inside and outside the province came to visit the model of Ba Dinh Cooperative. Photo: Trong Linh.

The Cooperative also cooperated with Minh Phu Group to develop an ASC clean shrimp export area, with a scale of more than 390 hectares. This is a strategic step to help Ba Dinh shrimp products gradually conquer the international market.

Not only focusing on business, Ba Dinh Cooperative also shows its sense of responsibility to the community. In the past 5 years, the Cooperative has contributed 18 million VND to the social security fund, supported 1.5 million shrimp seeds for poor households, given 700 notebooks and 60 uniforms to students in difficult circumstances, mobilized 43 units of blood donation, and worked with the government to repair more than 1.5 km of rural roads.

These activities have contributed to strengthening people's trust, helping the cooperative become a solid foundation for socio-economic development at the grassroots level. In particular, during the past term, Ba Dinh has made an important contribution to helping Vinh Loc commune complete criterion No. 13 on developing production organization forms in new rural construction.

BA Dinh Cooperative was recognized as a National Outstanding Cooperative in 2024. Photo: Trong Linh .

Towards a new, modern and integrated cooperative model

Ba Dinh Cooperative is a united collective, operating in accordance with the provisions of the Cooperative Law 2012. The apparatus includes a 3-member Board of Directors, a 6-member Board of Directors, a 3-member Supervisory Board and specialized service teams, most of whom have university degrees and a high sense of responsibility.

Mr. Nong Van Thach, Director of Ba Dinh Cooperative, shared: “Currently, the Cooperative has 16 services for members, with a total annual revenue of more than 35.6 billion VND, an estimated profit of 320 million VND, and an average income of members increasing by over 6% compared to last year. In particular, the rate of members participating in the Cooperative's services reached 87.6%, showing the true attraction and effectiveness of the model.”

From that foundation, Ba Dinh Cooperative is gradually transforming comprehensively, standardizing clean production processes, building strong brands, aiming to become a new type of cooperative in developing the collective economy of the Ca Mau rice-shrimp region.

The brand “Ba Dinh Rice – Shrimp” is recognized as a 3-star OCOP product and also won the Mai An Tiem Award – a typical national cooperative product voted by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance in 2024. Photo: Trong Linh .

From 44 initial members, Ba Dinh Cooperative now has nearly 280 members, developing sustainably on the spirit of volunteerism, cooperation and mutual benefit. The telling figures on output, revenue, employment and income have demonstrated the right direction of a new cooperative model, with the motto of dynamism, creativity and humanity.

With the determination to innovate, connect and integrate, Ba Dinh General Agricultural Cooperative is affirming its position, not only as the nucleus of collective economic development, but also as the pride of farmers in the rice-shrimp region of Ca Mau.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/htx-ba-dinh-hat-nhan-phat-trien-kinh-te-tap-the-vung-lua--tom-d783875.html