Products of agricultural cooperatives on the path of international integration

Speaking to Dan Viet newspaper, Mr. Pham Viet Tich, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam province, emphasized: "Agricultural cooperatives today have changed with a new look, and their production and business activities are becoming increasingly diverse."

"While agricultural cooperatives previously only provided agricultural services such as irrigation, plant protection, and harvesting, they have now expanded further. They have invested in machinery and equipment to develop production and business, increase income, and build trust in society regarding the cooperative model in rural development and other targeted programs."

Agricultural cooperatives in Quang Nam rank 9th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide.

According to Mr. Pham Viet Tich, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam province, the province currently has one agricultural cooperative union and 546 agricultural cooperatives.

Specifically, there are approximately 310 agricultural cooperatives participating in cooperation and linkages in the production and consumption of agricultural products; 129 cooperatives meeting criterion number 13 in the national criteria set for building new rural areas; 110 cooperatives are the owners of 136 OCOP products of the province that have achieved 3-4 stars; and 80 cooperatives applying high technology in production and business.

Mr. Pham Viet Tich, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam province, shared his views on the development of agricultural cooperatives in Quang Nam province. Photo: TH

"Compared to other localities nationwide, Quang Nam province has a relatively high number of established agricultural cooperatives, ranking 9th out of 63 provinces and cities (with 546 out of a total of 21,139 cooperatives nationwide); compared to 2020, the province has increased by nearly 400 agricultural cooperatives, meaning an average increase of nearly 100 agricultural cooperatives per year."

Regarding cooperative data, monitoring and compiling statistics on agricultural cooperatives is currently facing many difficulties. District-level agricultural departments do not have accurate information on the number of cooperatives established; we have regularly reminded them to provide the required data for reporting.

"Through coordination with the Department of Planning and Investment of the province, to date, the entire province has 2,880 active cooperatives, with a total of 12,001 members working regularly in these cooperatives...", Mr. Tich said.

Many agricultural models in Quang Nam province are increasingly developing and generating high incomes. Photo: TH

According to Pham Viet Tich, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam province, in implementing policies to encourage cooperation and linkages in agricultural production and consumption, Quang Nam province has issued many resolutions and decisions, and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued and advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue many guiding documents for localities to implement the construction of linkage projects and plans.

As of July 2024, 82 projects and plans had been approved. These collaborative projects and plans attracted 84 cooperatives and 74 businesses, with 17,906 households participating in the linkages.

From 2021 to 2023, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province allocated 70 billion VND from the provincial budget to support localities, including 35 billion VND for recurrent expenditures and 35 billion VND for investment. By the end of 2023, 34.731 billion VND had been disbursed. In 2024, the provincial budget will continue to allocate 9 billion VND, and localities are currently implementing the plan.

Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung stands beside a farmer's stall showcasing many "homegrown" and clean produce grown by the farmers. Photo: TH

"Overall, cooperation and production linkages have yielded practical results, helping to raise people's awareness of shifting from traditional production to market-oriented commodity production."

"Increasing income for participating parties in the linkage; applying scientific and technological advancements synchronously on a large scale, overcoming fragmentation and small-scale production; organizing production linkages also contributes to building, consolidating and developing agricultural cooperatives, encouraging and attracting businesses to invest in agriculture, especially key sectors and products, building stable raw material areas, developing deep processing of agricultural products, and serving as a basis for implementing the 'One Commune, One Product' program...", Mr. Tich emphasized.

Linking and cooperating will help the "core" of cooperatives reach further and wider.

According to Mr. Pham Viet Tich, cooperatives have essentially created conditions to support and promote the economic development of their members and households, gradually overcoming some weaknesses in household economies; and supporting members in linking up in production and business.

Leaders of the Quang Nam Department of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasized that they will promote investment attraction and support the development of agricultural cooperatives. They encourage businesses and other economic sectors to cooperate, link investments, and share resources and experience to support the development of agricultural cooperatives. (Photo: TH)

"With its new model of establishment and operation as the core of 'cooperation,' cooperatives contribute to perfecting production relations, aligning with market mechanisms, international economic integration, and market competition."

Cooperative societies play a crucial role in the household and individual economy of their members through services or employment opportunities, especially for members of agricultural cooperatives. This includes reducing input costs, increasing output, creating jobs and stable income for households and members, contributing to improved income, poverty reduction, and ensuring social security in the locality.

"Promoting the economic development of members and households, gradually overcoming some weaknesses of household economies in terms of capital, tools, technology, and production experience; supporting farmers to cooperate and link production to increase income; contributing to building new rural communes, restructuring agricultural production, and implementing the OCOP program," Mr. Tich shared.

Former Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee Phan Viet Cuong, along with leaders of the Provincial People's Committee, during a visit to a mushroom cultivation model at a cooperative in the area. Photo: TH

To develop agricultural cooperatives and cooperative groups in the coming period, Mr. Pham Viet Tich said that the Quang Nam agricultural sector will focus on implementing key solutions such as: disseminating and thoroughly understanding the viewpoints, objectives, tasks, and solutions of Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022, of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP dated July 18, 2023, of the Government; and the programs, projects, and plans of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the province on the development of collective economy and agricultural cooperatives.

Mr. Pham Viet Tich - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Nam province (in white shirt) during an inspection of a Ngoc Linh ginseng seedling garden. Photo: TH

"Build sustainable and efficient agricultural cooperative models that are suitable to the specific characteristics of each sector, industry, region, and locality. Focus investment resources on building at least 5 sustainable and efficient agricultural cooperative models that are suitable for the regions and localities within the province."

Creating a favorable and equitable business environment for the sustainable development of agricultural cooperatives. Continuing to allocate resources to support the development of agricultural cooperatives and build exemplary agricultural cooperative models; and integrating support for agricultural cooperatives into socio-economic development programs, plans, and projects in the province.

In particular, we will intensify efforts to attract investment and support the development of agricultural cooperatives. We will encourage businesses and other economic sectors to cooperate, link investments, and share resources and experience to support the development of agricultural cooperatives.

In addition, it is necessary to enhance the role of Party committees, government agencies, and political and social organizations at all levels in the development of agricultural cooperatives. There should be no interference in the production, business activities, organizational structure, or personnel of agricultural cooperatives…”, Mr. Tich emphasized.

Source: https://danviet.vn/giam-doc-so-nnptnt-quang-nam-san-pham-cua-hop-tac-xa-nong-nghiep-tren-duong-hoi-nhap-quoc-te-20240822081931048.htm