Developing cooperative models for veterans and women

The province's collective economic sector currently has 530 cooperatives operating in various economic sectors and fields; of which, the agricultural sector alone has 418 cooperatives, attracting 314,074 individual and household members, and creating jobs for 4,903 workers. The activities of cooperatives in the province have been linked to social needs, aiming at the goal of job creation, poverty reduction, economic development, and new rural construction. In addition to new models, advanced examples in economic sectors, there are also specific cooperative models, making important contributions to the province's collective economic sector such as cooperatives of war veterans, women, etc.

Ngoc Tra Ecological Medicinal Cooperative of Ms. Do Thi Gam in Hai Tay commune (Hai Hau) creates jobs for many female members.

Established in 2014, Van Xuan Truong Veterans Cooperative, Hien Khanh Commune (Vu Ban) has now grown to 61 members. The Cooperative has promoted market research and trade promotion activities; identified key products as rice, livestock and poultry farming, and freshwater aquaculture. Thanks to organizing production in the direction of strengthening links between members, links between the Cooperative and businesses from the stage of providing seeds to product consumption, the Cooperative has built a stable and highly competitive market; boldly signed contracts to consume products for members with clean chicken products, clean eggs, herbal rice, clean pork, clean vegetables, rabbit meat, beef, and seafood supplied to the market in the province and neighboring localities. In 2024, the total value of the Cooperative's products will reach 44 billion VND. In the process of raising and producing livestock, from selecting breeds, land, water sources to pesticides, feed, and veterinary drugs, all members of the cooperative comply with and apply food hygiene and safety procedures. Most members invest in a closed livestock model with a scientifically designed, synchronous barn system to ensure sustainability according to VietGAP standards. Therefore, the cooperative's products are not only highly productive but also ensure the right quality and food hygiene and safety requirements, and are 100% purchased and consumed.

Binh Minh Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative, Nam Dien Commune (Nghia Hung) was established in 2017. It is a new type of cooperative established and operated by women, with limited capital and land contributed by members. However, with a Board of Directors consisting of young, formally trained technical staff, after 8 years of operation, with determination and not afraid of difficulties, the number of participating members has increased significantly. The main agricultural services of the cooperative include the supply of fertilizers, pesticides, biological products, high-tech products for application in cultivation, especially the production of tomatoes, melons, watermelons, mustard greens, onion seeds, etc. Cooperative staff regularly meet, exchange information and guide members on planting seasons, cultivation techniques, and pest and disease situations; Advise people to apply scientific and technical measures such as: using plastic to cover the bed surface, watering with automatic hoses, increasing organic fertilizers, using biological products, nanotechnology products. The organization of safe agricultural production (chives, melons, tomatoes) according to the chain is promoted. The motto of the cooperative is to take agricultural material supply services as the foundation for organizing production according to the value chain; scientific and technical advice is a lever to increase productivity and quality, converting from small-scale production to commodity production; organizing the production of safe vegetables according to the value chain, gradually expanding the scale in parallel with quality management. Therefore, the cooperative always strengthens the role of cross-monitoring among member households to ensure product quality; regularly trains, guides, exchanges, and shares experiences among members in each production group.

A special type of cooperative owned by women is the Hai Loc medicinal plant cooperative (Hai Hau). Taking advantage of land, female cadres and members have boldly introduced some medicinal plant varieties such as Polyscias fruticosa and Gymnema sylvestre, which bring high economic value. However, in the beginning, due to fragmented and small-scale production, technology, machinery and equipment were not invested; the technique of caring for medicinal plants was not strict and did not meet the requirements, so the productivity and quality of products were not guaranteed, the output was not stable and the economic efficiency was low. From the policy of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union, under the guidance of the Provincial Women's Union, since July 2014, the medicinal plant cooperative was established, attracting 30 members who are female cadres and members; the total cultivated area is 150 sao, mainly growing Gymnema sylvestre. The Central Committee of the Union supported the cooperative with a medicinal plant dryer with a total value of 90 million VND. The Provincial Women's Union supported 40 million VND to buy fertilizers, and coordinated with other sectors to organize training courses for members on the process and techniques from planting, caring, harvesting to processing according to VietGAP technology. Participating in the medicinal plant cooperative, female cadres and members are also supported with loans from the National Employment Fund, savings funds, especially preferential policies for members in difficult circumstances to borrow interest-free loans. Members are also guided on technical processes, investing in seeds, fertilizers, building support systems, trellises, etc., thereby improving productivity and product quality, 5-6 times higher than rice cultivation. The medicinal plant cooperative model has supported many members to develop their economy, improve their living standards, and create conditions for women to build prosperous, equal, progressive, and happy families. In addition to the above cooperatives, the Women's Union at all levels in the province has strengthened coordination and supported the establishment of dozens of models of association groups, cooperative groups, and cooperatives managed by women; organized training courses to improve management and operation capacity for members of the Board of Directors of cooperatives. Typical examples include Tam Sang Cooperative (Nam Dinh city); Hai Dang Aquaculture and Fishing Cooperative, Con town; Son Hai Clean Agricultural Products and Livestock Cooperative, Hai Son commune; Ngoc Tra Ecological Medicinal Herbs Cooperative of Ms. Do Thi Gam's household in Hai Tay commune (Hai Hau)... Promoting autonomy, dynamism, creativity, and quick grasp of the market, cooperatives of veterans and women have recently created conditions for members to expand production scale, apply advanced science and technology, support product consumption and promotion; ensure harmony of interests with the goal of enriching members and accumulating investment for development of cooperatives.

In the coming time, the Provincial Cooperative Union will continue to develop and expand effective cooperative models, including specific cooperative models of war veterans and women, contributing to the collective economy and cooperatives increasingly playing an important role and making important contributions to the socio-economic development of the province.

Article and photos: Lam Hong

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/xa-hoi/202505/phat-trien-cac-mo-hinh-hop-tac-xacua-cuu-chien-binh-phu-nu-2d00b85/