The "locomotive" party member finds a direction for agricultural products

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Director of Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative always seeks solutions to increase the value of the pangasius industry.

The "locomotive" Party member

Visiting the aquaculture pond area in Cu Lao An Hoa, Phu Huu commune, having the opportunity to talk with Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Director of Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative, I better understood the changes in the countryside here. Mr. Binh shared: “I joined the Party in 1989, when I worked at the Chau Thanh District People's Committee Office. From 2005 to 2010, I was elected Chairman of the People's Council of An Nhon commune. After retiring, I became Secretary of the Party Cell of An Hoa hamlet, An Nhon commune (now Phu Huu commune). Regardless of my position, I remind myself that party members must be pioneers, talk together with practical actions, and support the people.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, in the past, although Cu Lao An Hoa area had many potentials and advantages in fruit tree cultivation, aquaculture..., farmers' production was still fragmented and small-scale, so the output was unstable. Faced with that reality, to improve the pangasius industry, after a period of research, in 2010, Mr. Binh mobilized farmers with the same vision to establish Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative with 10 members, cultivating an area of 5 hectares of water surface.

“In the early days, due to lack of experience, the aquaculture products were not good, the tra fish were sick a lot so the output was not as expected. Moreover, in 2010, the tra fish farming industry experienced many ups and downs, and farmers even had to “hang up their ponds”. To develop this industry, I was determined to build my own path with a safe agricultural production model to meet market demand well,” Mr. Binh shared.

The consumption market is considered a "vital" factor for producers, so in order to have a stable output for the cooperative, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh connected with Co May Company Limited to sign a contract to consume products. Mr. Binh said: "Since linking with the enterprise, the cooperative has complied with the production process according to VietGAP standards from raw materials to product output. Since then, the cooperative's commercial pangasius products have increasingly built up prestige and trust with the enterprise through increasing orders. This has created conditions for members to do business, confidently accompany the enterprise, and reduce pressure on market output."

Joining the cooperative from the early days, Mr. Le Hong Duc (Phu Huu commune), a member of Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative, shared: “When joining the cooperative, I strictly followed the recommended technical processes. Along with that, I implemented solutions to improve water quality in the pond by treating with probiotics. From there, limiting the loss rate, protecting the environment. Up to now, with 3 hectares of farming and the right direction of the cooperative, the output of pangasius products is stable, without having to worry about "good harvest, low price" like before".

Not stopping there, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh also pioneered in establishing Canh Tan Hoi Quan. From this model, he and other members together established An Hoa Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative (Phu Huu commune). Recently, Mr. Binh has also been the one who "fueled" farmers to cultivate longan in a safe direction. Mr. Binh shared: "Previously, farmers in Cu Lao An Hoa mainly cultivated according to the old method, with a yield of only about 18 - 20 tons/ha. After applying the technical process of producing longan according to VietGAP standards, the yield reached 20 - 25 tons/ha. In addition, farmers have reduced a lot of production costs thanks to water-saving irrigation, reasonable use of fertilizers in a safe direction, limiting pesticide residues... Especially helping members change their farming mindset, improving production efficiency".

Comrade Ly Van Giau - Provincial Party Committee member, Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association said: "Currently, Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative and An Hoa Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative are considered one of the typical local models in sustainable agricultural production. Thereby contributing to improving the value chain of tra fish and longan products of Chau Thanh district in particular and Dong Thap province in general. Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh is a person with a breakthrough mindset, hard-working, sharp, daring to think and dare to do. Comrade Binh himself always upholds the role of studying and following the ideology, style and morality of Ho Chi Minh , has a simple lifestyle, promotes the pioneering and exemplary nature of a Party member and maintains close relations with the people".

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh often visits members' homes to share pangasius production techniques to meet market demand.

Changing production thinking

From the initial successes, aiming at sustainable production for the tra fish and longan industry, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh and members of Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative and An Hoa Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative boldly expanded the production scale, built more warehouses for tra fish feed, longan warehouses... With initial effectiveness, these cooperative economic models attracted more members to participate, who are young agricultural engineers, to produce together and develop the market.

Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative has grown in both size and quality. Up to now, the cooperative has about 20 members participating in production, with a farming area of over 20 hectares. Each year, the cooperative sells more than 5,000 tons of commercial pangasius to the market. Thanks to the signing of contracts, the price of finished pangasius sold is kept stable. Therefore, over the past 5 years, members have always had stable profits.

With the goal of increasing the value of longan trees, Mr. Binh and members of An Hoa Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative have built a production process. Accordingly, farmers regularly monitor the growth process and fully record the development process. Thanks to the implementation of many synchronous solutions, the total longan area of An Hoa Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative is certified by VietGAP at 113 hectares; 20 hectares are certified by GlobalGAP and 122 hectares are granted a growing area code to meet export requirements to the Chinese market and demanding markets such as the US, EU... In addition, the Cooperative has been granted a Certificate of Appraisal of "Clean Food - Safe for Consumer Health" by the Vietnam Food Institute. Currently, the Cooperative is linked with enterprises supplying longan for export with about 100 tons/month.

Mr. Vo Van Thuan - a member of An Hoa Safe Agricultural Products Cooperative commented: "Since joining the Cooperative, Mr. Binh has steered the "ship" to develop production and business of the Cooperative, contributing to bringing longan trees of Cu Lao An Hoa "far away". Mr. Binh is also the "locomotive" in changing the mindset of longan production towards safety, towards sustainable development".

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh applies the longan production process, helping agricultural products achieve quality and reach deep into the market.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh added: “In the coming time, I will continue to work with members to produce tra fish and longan in a more modern direction, improve productivity and product quality, seek new export markets; expand production scale, storage, preservation, and processing to serve domestic and foreign markets... At the same time, during my work, I am always aware of studying and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh and determined that while I am still healthy, I must always try to work with farmers to develop the economy and enrich my homeland.”

Comrade Ly Van Giau - Provincial Party Committee member, Chairman of Dong Thap Farmers' Association shared: "In his role as Director of Chau Thanh Aquatic Production and Service Cooperative and Chairman of Canh Tan Hoi Quan, Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh has actively participated in many models and movements deployed and launched by the Farmers' Association, notably the movement "Good farmers in production and business" and the model "Dong Thap farmers reuse organic waste and agricultural by-products to create biological products for agricultural production". Thereby, contributing to reducing production costs, improving productivity and product quality, minimizing environmental pollution, increasing income, meeting consumer demands...".

Khanh Phan

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/kinh-te/nguoi-dang-vien-dau-tau-tim-huong-di-cho-nong-san-132539.aspx