Developing cooperatives in ethnic minority areas.

Recognizing that developing cooperatives is the "key" to effectively exploiting the potential and strengths of local products, as well as preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities, Tan Son district has, in recent years, coordinated with relevant agencies to implement many programs and projects to support the economic development of cooperatives. This has contributed to improving people's lives and reducing the poverty rate in the district.

The Xuan Dai Agricultural and Forestry Service Cooperative supplies approximately 3 tons of dried tea to the market each year, generating revenue of 160-170 million VND per year.

Tan Son is a mountainous district with 32 ethnic groups living in 17 communes, with ethnic minorities accounting for 83.5%. Implementing Program 1719 for the period 2021-2025, the district has focused on reviewing and selecting priority targets in agricultural and forestry production to invest in developing production linkage models to effectively utilize the potential strengths of the region and enhance the value of local products. Accordingly, the district has focused resources on supporting the building and establishment of product brands for several exemplary cooperative models in the area through projects such as: "Improving the quality of green tea associated with building the Phu Tho tea brand" of Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative; "Improving the quality of green tea associated with building the green tea brand in the Xuan Son National Park area" of Xuan Dai Agricultural and Forestry Service Cooperative; The project "Linking the breeding, processing, and consumption of Tan Son salt-cured chicken products" by the Tan Son Salt-Cured Chicken Breeding, Production, and Processing Cooperative.

The orange and tangerine products of the Muong Kit Fruit and Medicinal Herb Cooperative have received support in establishing and developing a collective trademark.

Comrade Nguyen Cao Cuong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Dai commune, said: "As the main crop in the commune, tea cultivation models in the locality previously developed on a small scale, with scattered areas, and uneven yields and quality, resulting in low economic efficiency. Recently, thanks to the practical agricultural development policies and projects of the province, the locality has encouraged people to participate in cooperative production models and invested in equipment and machinery to standardize the tea production process. Currently, Xuan Dai is effectively maintaining the Xuan Dai Agricultural and Forestry Service Cooperative with 36 members; managing a 20-hectare tea growing area concentrated in 3 communes (Xuan Dai, Kim Thuong, and Xuan Son). In 2023, the cooperative's 'Xuan Son Morning Dew Tea' product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, supplying about 3 tons of dried tea to the market each year, generating revenue of 160-170 million VND/year; creating regular jobs for many local laborers." This will contribute to gradually enhancing the value of traditional and distinctive agricultural products, and increasing the income of people in the area.

As an organization playing a crucial role in developing the cooperative movement in the province, the Provincial Cooperative Union has actively advised and supported cooperatives in ethnic minority areas to strengthen their operations through various forms such as: organizing training courses to raise awareness for members and workers in cooperatives; supporting facilities and product display booths; supporting product labeling and packaging, and creating promotional videos on sales websites; supporting cooperatives in accessing preferential loans from funds managed by the Provincial Cooperative Union... In 2023, the Muong Kit Fruit and Medicinal Herb Cooperative (Kiet Son commune, Tan Son district) was supported by the Provincial Cooperative Union to implement the scientific project "Establishing, managing and developing the Muong Kit collective trademark for oranges and tangerines in Kiet Son commune, Tan Son district".

OCOP products from cooperatives in the district are displayed and promoted at trade promotion fairs in the province.

Mr. Dang Quang Tiep, Director of the Cooperative, said: The cooperative, established in 2021, currently has 50 hectares of citrus trees grown organically, including 5 hectares of Thai tangerines that have been certified to VietGAP standards. The model is currently developing steadily, but the scale of production is still small and fragmented, with many areas not following the plan, thus preventing the full exploitation of its potential and efficiency. In 2023, the cooperative was selected by the Provincial Cooperative Union to implement the scientific project "Establishing, managing and developing the Muong Kit collective trademark for citrus products in Kiet Son commune, Tan Son district". Through this project, Muong Kit citrus products will be registered for intellectual property protection and a set of tools for managing and using the collective trademark will be established. This presents a great opportunity for households producing and trading "Muong Kit oranges and tangerines" within the cooperative to develop a distinctive product reflecting the local cultural identity, avoiding confusion with oranges and tangerines from other regions and localities. This will help increase product value, improve people's income, and contribute to socio-economic development in the area.

Tan Son district currently has 41 cooperatives, of which about 30 are operating effectively. Average revenue is estimated at 1 billion VND per cooperative per year. Currently, these cooperatives attract approximately 590 members, creating regular employment for 548 workers with an average income of 62.5 million VND per person per year. Of the district's 23 OCOP products, 12 are produced by cooperatives, accounting for 52.2%.

Developing cooperatives is a practical economic solution that contributes to improving living standards, preserving culture, and ensuring sustainable development for the ethnic minority communities in Tan Son district. To support the development of cooperative models commensurate with their potential and strengths, in addition to the attention, support, and assistance from the government and mass organizations, the proactive efforts of the people themselves are crucial in innovating production activities, diversifying characteristic products, and understanding market demands. This will bring highland products closer to consumers, helping cooperatives develop sustainably; thereby contributing to building a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized mountainous district of Tan Son.

Bich Ngoc

Source: https://baophutho.vn/phat-develop-cooperative-village-ethnic-minority-229756.htm