Gotu kola creates jobs for many members of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative.

From pennywort to 4-star OCOP brand

Located along the Bo River, the old Quang Tho commune (now Quang Dien commune) has a long tradition of growing pennywort. However, since converting to the Cooperative Law in 2012, Quang Tho 2 Cooperative has boldly turned this familiar plant into a key crop, linked to the value chain of production - processing - consumption.

Mr. Nguyen Luong Tri, Party Cell Secretary, Director of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative, recalled: “Since 2013, we have planned a specialized area for growing pennywort, organized training, instructed people to grow according to VietGAP process, and registered the collective trademark "Quang Tho pennywort". After only two years, the Cooperative has invested in factories and processing machines, launching pennywort tea bags, dried pennywort tea, and fresh pennywort VietGAP. By 2021, we were successful with the instant pennywort matcha powder product”.

Before 2013, each hectare of pennywort in Quang Tho 2 Cooperative only brought in revenue of about 150 million VND/year, but now it has doubled, reaching 280 - 300 million VND/ha/year. The area of ​​pennywort cultivation has also increased from 30 hectares to more than 70 hectares. The greater joy is that pennywort tea and matcha powder from Quang Tho pennywort are recognized as 4-star OCOP products, becoming a typical agricultural brand of Hue City.

“When talking about Quang Tho, we talk about pennywort,” members of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative proudly shared. The brand not only helps the product gain a solid foothold, but also helps stabilize output when the Cooperative signs many contracts with reputable businesses.

Product diversity, market adaptation

Not stopping at pennywort, Quang Tho 2 Cooperative is now expanding the production of high-quality rice with varieties J02, NA2, HG12, HG244. Thanks to the cooperation with purchasing enterprises, each hectare of quality rice brings in an average revenue of more than 132 million VND/year, higher than other common rice varieties.

Members of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative and many local people are happy and excited that the locality has two more crops with high economic value, which are the konjac plant and okra. With 10 hectares of konjac plant and okra, the average annual income is also hundreds of millions of dong.

What is special is that today’s cooperative members are not only “good at farming” but also proficient in online sales. With a smartphone, they can directly introduce, trade and deliver products to customers everywhere. Their quickness and adaptability to the market has helped people increase revenue and profits; at the same time, creating more jobs for local workers.

The direction and flexibility in model transformation at Quang Tho 2 Cooperative shows that success does not come from luck, but from the determination, daring to think, daring to do of the whole group. Many member households have boldly mortgaged their assets to invest in expanding production. They have learned, worked, and gained experience, turning difficulties into motivation.

Mr. Nguyen Luong Tri concluded: “The Party and the State have had many policies and guidelines to support the development of agriculture and the collective economy. But without the determination and efforts of each member, the cooperative would hardly have achieved the success it has today. We always consider solidarity, perseverance and innovation as the key to sustainable development.”

The story of Quang Tho 2 Cooperative is a vivid demonstration of the direction of collective economic development in Quang Dien: Linking production with the market, applying science and technology, building brands and diversifying products. From this model, many other cooperatives in Quang Dien commune are also looking for new directions, focusing on key products, participating in the OCOP program, promoting business linkages, contributing to improving the lives of farmers.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Dien commune, Mr. Hoang Van Minh Chau affirmed: In the picture of the new rural economy, agricultural cooperatives, including Quang Tho 2 Cooperative, are not only a "support" but also a driving force for development, bringing Quang Dien agriculture to a modern, sustainable stage, deeply integrating with the market; improving the efficiency of the collective economy in the new period.

In addition to Quang Tho 2 Cooperative, in Quang Dien commune there are other cooperatives operating with high economic efficiency thanks to flexible conversion and improving collective economic efficiency such as: Dong Phuoc Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative; Sia Town Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative No. 1; Dong Phu Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative...


Article and photos: TAM ANH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep-nong-thon/linh-hoat-chuyen-doi-gan-san-xuat-voi-thi-truong-159360.html