Elevating the collective economy of Ho Chi Minh City

Many agricultural cooperatives in Ho Chi Minh City are focusing on innovating production, applying high technology, and building supply chains, contributing to increasing the value of agricultural products and developing a sustainable rural economy.

Changing the mindset in production

Harvesting pomelos at the Hac Dich Green Pomelo Cooperative, Tan Thanh Ward.

The Hac Dich Green Pomelo Cooperative (Tan Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) was established in 2022 with 40 members and dozens of affiliated households, cultivating a total area of ​​approximately 38 hectares of green pomelos. From its inception, the cooperative has focused on bio-safe production, applying high technology with an automated sprinkler irrigation system, a pomelo washing and packaging system, and building a sustainable value chain for green pomelo products.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Trung, Director of the Hac Dich Green Pomelo Cooperative, the unit focuses on systematically improving orchards, scientifically planning planting distances, and introducing many modern machines into production to reduce labor and improve farming efficiency. Members regularly exchange experiences in crop care and apply microbial organic fertilizer technology from livestock manure to save costs and improve soil quality.

Mr. Voong Cong Menh, a member of the cooperative, shared that his family previously mainly used pesticides and growth stimulants in farming. Since joining the cooperative, his family has switched to using well-rotted manure combined with microbial preparations, and has also invested in an automatic irrigation system to save water and increase orchard productivity.

“Joining the cooperative is very beneficial! I learned techniques for planting and caring for pomelos from experienced people, so the yield is higher. More importantly, the market and selling price are stable, so farmers can produce with peace of mind,” said Mr. Menh.

Not only in the field of crop cultivation, but many aquaculture cooperatives are also making their mark by boldly applying high technology to production. When it was first established, the Quyet Thang Agricultural Cooperative in Long Huong ward only grew vegetables, rice, and intensively farmed shrimp. Over the years, the cooperative has implemented various shrimp farming methods, from extensive and improved extensive farming to semi-intensive and intensive farming in earthen ponds with tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp. However, due to the impact of climate change, environmental pollution, and increasingly complex diseases, the traditional farming model gradually revealed many limitations, with unstable productivity and high risks.

The collective economic model of the Hac Dich Green Pomelo Cooperative has attracted many members to participate.

Faced with this reality, in 2019, the cooperative boldly invested approximately 5 billion VND in super-intensive shrimp farming using a closed-loop recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in greenhouses. This model, applying modern technology, marks a significant shift in the production mindset of the collective economy. The cooperative has planned about 2 hectares for the development of high-tech shrimp farming with 4 farms and a well-organized system of settling ponds and water treatment ponds. All water is treated through multiple stages before being introduced into the ponds to remove organic matter, heavy metals, and kill bacteria. The water entering the ponds is then further treated in a closed-loop system, contributing to better environmental control and minimizing impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

Thanks to the application of high technology, the cooperative, which previously could only raise one shrimp crop per year in earthen ponds, can now raise three crops per year with a yield of approximately 50-60 tons per crop across four farms. Average annual revenue reaches 15-20 billion VND, with a profit of about 8 billion VND after deducting expenses.

Mr. Nguyen Kim Chuyen, Director of Quyet Thang Agricultural Cooperative, said that while in the past, using traditional methods, only about 30 shrimp could be stocked per square meter, now, with the high-tech model, the stocking density has increased to about 500 shrimp/m2. The cooperative uses a staggered farming system, so there is a year-round supply of products to the market.

“The most important thing in shrimp farming is controlling the farming environment. With advanced technology, the cooperative can proactively manage this factor, resulting in significant efficiency. Through practical experience, we have realized that this model needs to be replicated for more sustainable development of the aquaculture industry,” Mr. Nguyen Kim Chuyen shared.

Forming value chains, increasing value.

The Long Tan melon cooperative now grows its melons in automated greenhouses, which has helped improve product quality and made the product more popular with customers.

Besides high-tech farming models, many other cooperatives are also seeking ways to enhance product value through building supply chains, developing experiential tourism, and mechanizing production.

In the field of high-tech agriculture, the Long Tan Melon Cooperative in Dat Do commune is gradually demonstrating its effectiveness with a model of growing melons in greenhouses, using an automated irrigation and fertilization system. The cooperative currently has 16 members with 25 greenhouses producing melons according to safe procedures, using clean water and minimizing the use of pesticides. Thanks to its focus on quality, the cooperative's melons have attracted buyers from many provinces and cities.

Mr. Truong Van Hau, Director of Long Tan Melon Cooperative, said that in addition to agricultural production, the cooperative is aiming to develop experiential tourism to increase product value and create additional income for its members. Despite many difficulties in terms of resources and experience, this is still considered a promising direction for the collective economy in the future.

Meanwhile, the Lá Xanh High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative in Long Điền commune is pioneering the mechanization of rice production through tray seedling models, transplanters, and drones for spraying pesticides. According to Mr. Dương Lý Dũng, Director of the Cooperative, mechanization helps reduce the amount of seeds sown, limit pests and diseases, and increase productivity. On average, each transplanter can work on 7-10 hectares per day, creating uniformity in production and significantly reducing labor costs.

Harvesting cantaloupe grown using high-tech methods at Long Tan Cantaloupe Cooperative, Dat Do commune.

According to the Rural Development Sub-Department (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Environment), in recent years, many collective economic models in the agricultural sector of Ho Chi Minh City have undergone significant transformation thanks to the application of scientific and technological advancements in production, thereby increasing income for members. Currently, the city has 316 agricultural cooperatives with more than 7,200 members. Many cooperatives are actively building standardized raw material areas, linking with farmers and businesses to meet the increasingly high demands of the domestic and export markets.

Products from cooperatives such as fresh and dried seafood, green pomelo, red-fleshed dragon fruit, yellow-fleshed longan, safe vegetables, VietGAP-certified rice, cantaloupe, reishi mushrooms, cordyceps, essential oils, and clean pepper are increasingly favored by the market, gradually affirming the position of collective economic products in the market.

It is evident that innovative production thinking, the application of science and technology, and the building of supply chains are creating a strong transformation for the collective economy in Ho Chi Minh City. From agricultural and fisheries cooperatives with high-tech application models, the collective economy is increasingly asserting its important role in developing modern agriculture, increasing people's income, and contributing to promoting sustainable rural economic development in the new era.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/nang-tam-kinh-te-tap-the-tp-ho-chi-minh-20260513123547362.htm