Female leaders keep the flame alive in cooperatives.

With meticulousness, perseverance, and a spirit of innovation, many female cooperative leaders are forging new directions in production organization, technology application, and market development.

In the city, an increasing number of cooperatives owned and managed by women are operating effectively. Photo: TRUNG KIEN

Enhancing the value of agricultural products.

The Nam Vu Clean Agricultural Products Cooperative (Ha Nam commune) and the VietGAP VAC Agricultural Production Cooperative (Thanh Ha commune) are exemplary models run by women. Leveraging the meticulousness and diligence of female laborers, these cooperatives cultivate approximately 30 hectares of raw materials according to VietGAP standards, researching and processing herbal teas from guava leaves and various medicinal plants. Using clean raw materials, the cooperative's guava bud tea product has been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, gradually establishing its position in the market.

Cooperative societies are also proactively embracing new business methods. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, head of communications at Nam Vu Clean Agricultural Products Cooperative, approximately 80% of their products are currently sold through online channels and e-commerce platforms. The application of digital technology has helped the cooperative expand its market and create stable employment for about 20 workers, with an income of nearly 10 million VND per person per month.

In Ha Bac commune, the Tan Viet Commercial Chicken Farming Cooperative, headed by Ms. Nguyen Thi Chuyen, is developing in the direction of concentrated farming, applying modern techniques. The cooperative sells approximately 100,000 commercial chickens to the market each month, while maintaining a herd of 200 breeding sows. Ms. Chuyen's farm alone uses biological bedding, raising 23,000-24,000 chickens per batch, contributing to reduced environmental treatment costs and improved farming efficiency.

To expand production, the cooperative accessed over 10 billion VND from the Cooperative Development Support Fund of the Vietnam Cooperative Union , investing in barns and machinery for livestock farming. Organizing production according to the cooperative model helps members, especially rural women, to link production, share technical experience, and be more proactive in finding markets for their products.

In Kien Thuy commune, the Thuy Huong Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, headed by Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, has been a shining example of introducing mechanization into the fields over the years. The cooperative provides agricultural services such as tray seedling cultivation, machine transplanting on approximately 900 hectares, land preparation on 400 hectares, machine harvesting on 220 hectares, and aerial spraying of pesticides on approximately 1,200 hectares in the locality and surrounding areas. As a result, production costs have decreased by 30-40%, and productivity has increased by 15-20% compared to traditional farming methods.

Faced with the reality of many rice fields being left fallow due to labor shortages, the cooperative proactively leased land from farmers to consolidate over 300 hectares, developing a high-quality rice farming model combined with aquaculture, gradually increasing the value of rice crops and changing the production mindset of farmers.

Cooperative societies help members, especially rural women, to link production and increase their income.

Spreading socio-economic values

Many female cooperative managers have also affirmed their roles in service and environmental sectors, contributing to job creation and improving the quality of life in the community.

The Thanh Vinh Environmental and Commercial Services Cooperative (Hung Dao Ward), headed by Ms. Doan Thi Mo, currently has over 120 members and employees, operating in the field of collecting and transporting household waste, and cleaning urban and rural environments. The cooperative's annual revenue reaches 7-9 billion VND, providing stable employment for many local workers. The cooperative also implements various models for waste sorting at source, processing organic waste at households, and establishing "from waste to vegetables" cooperative groups with the motto "give and receive," contributing to raising environmental awareness in the community.

Currently, the city is seeing an increasing number of cooperatives owned and managed by women, operating effectively and diversely in the fields of agriculture, environment, services, and trade, such as: Thang Thuy Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative (Vinh Thinh commune), Song Gia Investment and Development Cooperative (Luu Kiem ward)... With their dynamism, creativity, and flexible production organization capabilities, these women-led cooperatives have created jobs, increased income for members, and contributed to promoting socio-economic development.

According to Nguyen Minh Hoang, Vice Chairman of the City's Cooperative Union, the unit has coordinated with the Women's Union and other departments and localities to implement many practical support programs for cooperatives owned by women. A notable example is the implementation of the "Support for Cooperatives Managed by Women, Creating Jobs for Female Workers by 2030" project.

The Women Leaders Club of Cooperatives and Cooperative Groups in Hai Phong City was established with 51 members, all of whom are exemplary female cooperative leaders. This forum provides a platform for female cooperative directors to share management experiences, access policies, capital, and science and technology; and to support each other in building brands, expanding markets, and developing product value chains.

The city's Cooperative Union also promoted training and capacity building for women-owned cooperatives. More than 2,500 officials, members, and cooperative members received training on online sales and e-commerce; approximately 250 female cooperative directors and entrepreneurs received support in brand building, intellectual property registration, and product promotion.

With their courage, intelligence, and dedication, female cooperative leaders are daily "keeping the flame alive" for the collective economic sector, enhancing the value of agricultural products, creating jobs, and spreading the image of dynamic and creative women in Hai Phong.

THANH VAN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nhung-nu-thu-linh-giu-lua-hop-tac-xa-537413.html