Collective economic development: Let quality go hand in hand with quantity

However, to improve the efficiency of KTTT, quality goes hand in hand with quantity, so appropriate solutions are needed.

Growing in numbers

The province currently has 488 cooperatives, an increase of 23 cooperatives compared to the end of 2024. Of which, the common fields of operation are agriculture with 389 cooperatives; industry and handicrafts with 13 cooperatives; transportation with 40 cooperatives; construction with 14 cooperatives; trade with 26 cooperatives and 6 people's credit funds.

Cao Nguyen Agricultural Cooperative (Ia Grai district) has established 2 durian growing area codes for 2 years but has not yet found a partner to purchase the product. **Photo: Ha Duy**

The number of cooperatives has been continuously increasing recently, showing positive signs in the development of collective economy. Ms. Pham Thi Tu Van - Director of An Loc Agricultural, Forestry and Service Cooperative (Mang Yang district) shared: "To raise people's awareness in production, first, the cooperative guides them to apply technology and use biological products in the entire process of plant care to improve product quality; then change production thinking associated with linking product consumption".

Similarly, Mr. Pham Van Kha - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tam Diep Xanh Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Dak Doa district) said: "The cooperative currently has about 30 hectares of high-quality coffee. We have received attention from departments, branches and localities, guidance in developing plans and solutions for organizing production and business, accessing preferential loans and promoting and consuming products. Thanks to that, the cooperative's activities have gradually stabilized, and the members are also very excited."

According to Mr. Nguyen Mau Phong - Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union: In recent times, most agricultural cooperatives have been operating stably. The linkage between cooperatives and farmers, enterprises and related organizations participating in the product value chain (production - processing - consumption of agricultural products) has had positive changes. Thereby, gradually improving productivity, quality, stabilizing product output, creating a strong link between farmers, cooperatives and enterprises.

To date, the province has nearly 240,880 hectares of crops linked to production and product consumption with 17 crop production chains; 7 livestock chains. Participants include 101 cooperatives, 72 cooperative groups, 23,902 farming households and 81 enterprises.

Some agricultural cooperative models operate effectively according to the production method associated with the value chain, applying high technology such as: production, association and trading of durian of the North Central Highlands Agricultural Export Cooperative (Duc Co district); association, production and consumption of coffee products of Tam Thanh Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative (Ia Grai district); application of high-tech machinery and equipment in production and association of consumption of key products of Tan Tien Agricultural Cooperative (Ia Pa district); model of both production and market participation of Hung Thom Gia Lai Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Mang Yang district)...

Cooperatives are still facing many difficulties in product output as well as difficulty in accessing loans. **Photo: Ha Duy**

In addition, the whole province has 54 agricultural cooperatives applying high technology such as: applying water-saving irrigation, automatic irrigation and drip irrigation; greenhouse technology, membrane house technology, quick cold preservation of agricultural products, freezing products; applying VietGAP, GlobalGAP production processes...

Mr. Nguyen Mau Phong informed: "Newly established agricultural cooperatives are diverse in production and business models, sensitive in applying technological processes to production, products are registered with trademarks, and have clear traceability.

In recent times, the Provincial Cooperative Union has implemented many support activities for cooperatives such as: training and guiding founders; consulting on production and business plans, cooperative operating regulations; training on professional skills and financial management of cooperatives.

To let quality go hand in hand with quantity

Although the number of cooperatives in the province increases every year, the number of dissolved cooperatives is also not small. Accordingly, in 2023, the whole province had 16 dissolved cooperatives, in 2024, 11 dissolved cooperatives, and in the first 4 months of 2025 alone, 6 cooperatives dissolved. At the same time, from 2012 to now, 69 cooperatives have stopped operating.

According to the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union, the limitations in operations that have prevented many cooperatives from surviving include: lack of qualified staff, failure to attract many members and workers; weak internal capacity, lack of investment capital for production; limited technical facilities, old machinery and equipment, outdated technology, manual production is common... Some agricultural cooperatives even do not have a working office, and have to temporarily borrow working rooms in the commune People's Committee headquarters or village cultural houses.

Products of cooperatives are displayed and promoted at the 2024 cooperative meeting. **Photo: HD**

Talking about difficulties in operations, Mr. Dao Duy Quynh - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Cao Nguyen Agricultural Cooperative (Ia Grai district) said: "We have built 2 codes for growing areas and traceability of durian products 2 years ago, but most of our customers are still traders.

Up to now, the cooperative has not found a partner to purchase products for the people. Another difficulty is that we still cannot access loans because the cooperative has no assets to mortgage. Capital is not only our problem but also a common difficulty of many cooperatives."

In order to improve the organizational and operational capacity of the collective economy sector, especially cooperatives in the province, on May 12, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 1277/KH-UBND on the development of collective economy and cooperatives in 2025.

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee requested the Cooperative Union, departments, branches and localities to continue to consolidate and promote the effective operation of existing cooperatives; advise and support economic organizations in applying advanced scientific and technological achievements to improve productivity and product quality; improve the quality of human resources for the economic sector; support trade promotion, expand markets for agricultural products, handicrafts, traditional products of cooperative unions, cooperatives, cooperative groups, farmers; implement production and consumption linkages of agricultural cooperatives with enterprises.

On May 27, the Provincial People's Committee continued to issue Official Dispatch No. 1437/UBND-KTTH on the direction and tasks in developing collective economy and cooperatives in 2025 with clear assignment and division of tasks, ensuring quality goes hand in hand with quantity.

In particular, the Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment to select a number of key large-scale crop varieties, linked to the consumer market and of high economic value to build chains linking cooperatives and enterprises, linking production with product consumption; prioritizing products under the OCOP Program; continuing to implement the policy of sending young university and college graduates to work for a limited period at pilot models of agricultural cooperatives in the province; effectively implementing preferential land policies for cooperatives, especially agricultural cooperatives; creating favorable conditions for cooperatives to lease land stably and long-term, serving production, business and service activities.

The Department of Industry and Trade strengthens research activities to forecast market demand, advises cooperatives to be able to produce according to consumer demand; gradually guides cooperatives to apply information technology in business, reduce traditional marketing costs; provides full information to customers quickly and thereby increases opportunities for association and cooperation with domestic and foreign enterprises; supports cooperatives and cooperative groups to participate in fairs, conferences, trade promotion events, exhibitions to promote products, expand markets, and enhance the competitiveness of local products.

The Department of Science and Technology is assigned to support the application of new science, technology and technology; management, quality, traceability, and improvement of product quality. The Provincial Cooperative Union promotes the effectiveness of the province's Cooperative Development Support Fund, mobilizing capital from the Central Cooperative Development Support Fund system to mobilize and support capital for cooperatives to invest in development; at the same time, presides over the organization of learning and application of effective operating models for cooperatives in the area.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Doan Ngoc Co - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment - said: "The Department continues to support cooperatives and enterprises in building codes for growing areas and packaging facilities, helping to trace the origin and enhance the reputation of Gia Lai agricultural products.

At the same time, the Department also supports and promotes the development of forms of cooperation in chain production; guides and supports farmers and businesses to bring agricultural, forestry and fishery products, especially key products and OCOP products, to e-commerce platforms to expand the market and reach more new customers.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/phat-trien-kinh-te-tap-the-de-chat-di-doi-voi-luong-post325366.html