Cooperatives help increase the value of agricultural products in Tay Gia Lai

(GLO)- Through production chains, many cooperatives in the Tay Gia Lai region have become important nuclei to help farmers increase the value of agricultural products, develop markets and move towards sustainable and modern agriculture.

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For many years, coffee and pepper growing areas in Bo Ngoong, Ia Tiem, Kon Gang, Nam Yang (formerly Gia Lai province) have been struggling with the problem of low productivity and low quality. One of the main reasons is that people are used to using old varieties, cultivating in the traditional way, and depending heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

“At first, it was effective, but after just a few crops, the plants fell very quickly, and productivity and quality both decreased sharply,” said Tran Quoc Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ia Ring Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ia Ring Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative Tran Quoc Hung (left) shares experiences in coffee garden care with cooperative members. Photo: NS

Unable to bring agricultural products “far away” if they are still produced in the old way, people are forced to find a new direction. In December 2017, the Ia Ring Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative was established, gathering 40 members with 100 hectares of crops.

The turning point came when the Institute of Strategy (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ) invested in a 30-hectare organic coffee model, applying synchronous techniques from fertilization, watering, weeding to harvesting. All are done according to sustainable processes, minimizing chemicals.

Each training course was held right at the model garden, giving people the opportunity to directly observe the difference between the new and traditional methods. After a short time, the transformation was evident: the plants were healthy, green, less prone to pests and diseases, and had higher and more stable yields than the surrounding gardens.

That success has become a strong driving force. Up to now, the cooperative has grown to 500 members, taking care of 600 hectares of coffee in a sustainable organic direction, achieving 4C and RA certifications for export. If before 2019, the yield was only 2-3 tons of beans/ha, by 2022 it had increased to 5 tons/ha, even some replanted gardens reached 7 tons/ha, a very high number for robusta coffee.

Nam Yang Agricultural and Service Cooperative is famous for its Le Chi pepper brand, which achieved 5-star OCOP. Photo: MP

Not only Ia Ring, Nam Yang Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Kon Gang commune) is also a prominent example. Established in 2017, the Cooperative currently has 130 members with more than 200 hectares of crops, of which over 30 hectares have been certified organic according to US and European standards. The remaining area is also being converted according to the roadmap, to ensure consistent quality and towards a comprehensive sustainable production model.

Director of the Cooperative Nguyen Tan Cong said that the unit has invested in a modern processing line, controlling quality from harvesting to processing. Thanks to that, the Fine Robusta coffee products, Dak Yang coffee and Le Chi organic pepper of the Cooperative were recognized as 5-star national OCOP at the end of June 2025. This is considered an important step to help products easily access demanding markets and raise the position of local agricultural products on the export map.

Coffee beans “go further” thanks to organic and bonding

For Ia Ring Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, the biggest wish is to “bring coffee beans further”. To do that, organic farming is the inevitable direction.

The entire 600 hectares of coffee are equipped with sprinkler irrigation systems; technical classes are held to instruct farmers on how to produce biofertilizer from manure, rice husks, and bio-fermentation, materials available locally.

Mr. Tran Minh Tri (Ia Ring village, Bo Ngoong commune) takes care of his coffee garden. Photo: NS

The abundant water source from Ia Ring Lake helps the garden maintain its vitality during the dry season. In areas far from the lake, people proactively dig wells to ensure adequate watering for the plants. Thanks to organic farming, the plants are not dependent on chemicals, the topsoil is restored, humus content increases, microorganisms develop, making the garden more durable and more productive.

Leading households like Mr. Tran Minh Tri (Ia Ring village) clearly feel the change. “2.6 hectares previously yielded only 6 tons of kernels per year, but in 2024 I harvested 13 tons of kernels, all of which met export standards,” said Mr. Tri.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Van Binh's family owns 3 hectares, harvested 18 tons of kernels and earned 1.2 billion VND in profit. The result made his family boldly invest in more shade trees, irrigation systems and organic fertilizers.

Many members of the Ia Ring Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative have high incomes thanks to organic coffee cultivation. Photo: NS

Importantly, the cooperative's coffee has been present in the international market thanks to being purchased by large enterprises such as Vinh Hiep, Son Huyen Phat, and Ngoc Chuong. These enterprises continue to process using modern production lines, meeting the strict requirements of foreign customers. This is the important "link" in the chain, helping farmers no longer worry about output, thereby being assured of high-quality production.

According to Chairman of Bo Ngoong Commune People's Committee Nguyen Huu Ty, the three-party linkage model between farmers, cooperatives and enterprises has proven to be remarkably effective. Products meeting export standards have helped people increase their income, many households have escaped poverty and become rich right on their land. The commune aims to replicate the model, aiming for the entire coffee area to be grown organically, meeting export standards.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga - Deputy Director of Nam Yang Agricultural and Service Cooperative introduces some of the Cooperative's OCOP products. Photo: DVCC .

In Kon Gang commune, Head of the Economic Department Nguyen Kim Anh assessed that cooperatives are playing an extremely important role in transferring techniques to people, especially ethnic minorities, groups that are vulnerable in agricultural production. When participating in cooperatives, people are trained in techniques, produce according to strict control processes, and are also guaranteed by businesses at stable prices.

Not only increasing the value of products, cooperatives also help change the farming mindset of farmers: from small-scale production to large-scale linkage; from working based on experience to working according to standards; from chasing output to focusing on quality. This is an important condition for Tay Gia Lai agriculture to transform itself into a modern, sustainable and market-oriented direction.

Thanks to the close connection and synchronous participation between cooperatives - farmers - enterprises, many coffee and pepper products of Tay Gia Lai have been finding a firm foothold in the domestic and international markets. Thereby, Tay Gia Lai agriculture is facing a great opportunity to break through, when new linkage models not only help increase income for people, but also create sustainable value for the whole region.

With the right direction and consensus of the community, Gia Lai coffee beans and pepper can absolutely "go further", contributing to raising the level of Vietnamese agricultural products in the world market.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nhung-hop-tac-xa-giup-nang-tam-gia-tri-nong-san-o-tay-gia-lai-post573524.html