Actively support farmers in economic development

In recent years, the Farmers' Association at all levels in Sop Cop district has increased activities to support farmers in accessing preferential loans, applying advanced science and technology in agricultural production; implementing many effective economic models, contributing to promoting local socio -economic development and improving people's quality of life.

Officials of the Farmers' Association of Nam Lanh commune exchange techniques on fruit tree care.

The District Farmers' Association has more than 8,600 members, operating in 8 association bases and 101 branches. Every year, the Association coordinates with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the District Agricultural Service Center, and the district's sectors and organizations to propagate and encourage farmers to develop agriculture and rural areas, support business-farmer linkages; encourage people to organize production according to VietGAP, GlobalGAP processes, and organically; build brands and geographical indications; develop production according to the policy of one product per commune. From 2023 to present, the Association has coordinated to organize 24 training courses on techniques for raising buffaloes and cows in barns, breeding buffaloes and cows, preventing cold for crops and livestock, fruit tree grafting techniques and renovating mixed gardens...

The Farmers' Association of communes and economic development loan groups have been entrusted with over 125 billion VND with the Social Policy Bank and the District Branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development for over 2,300 members to borrow capital to develop production and business. At the same time, it has effectively managed over 4.6 billion VND of the "Farmer Support Fund" for over 200 member households and farmers to borrow. In addition, the Association has coordinated to supply over 330 tons of fertilizer, 4,500 seedlings, 450 tons of deferred animal feed to members and farmers, worth over 12 billion VND to develop production. From 2023 to present, the Association has mobilized over 74 million VND in cash, over 3,000 working days and 2,000 seedlings, helping 19 member households and farmers escape poverty.

Mr. Luong Van Do, Chairman of the District Farmers' Association, informed: The key movement of the Farmers' Association is to compete in good production and business, helping each other to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, which has been effectively implemented by all levels of the association, with officials and members responding and participating. In 2023, the whole district has 1,360 households achieving the title of good production and business farmers at all levels. Of which, 52 households are at the provincial level, 368 households are at the district level, and the rest are at the commune level.

Farmers' Association, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Sop Cop district, trained people in Nam Lanh commune to grow bamboo shoots.

Every year, farmers in the district cultivate nearly 6,800 hectares of food crops; grain output reaches nearly 23,210 tons/year; intensively cultivate nearly 2,240 hectares of fruit trees; of which, 35 hectares are certified to meet VietGAP standards. Livestock development is stable, with a total herd of nearly 30,800 buffaloes and cows, 910 horses, 4,630 goats, 19,880 pigs, and 313,060 poultry.

Mr. Tong Van Phuong, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Muong Va Commune, said: The Association has promoted, mobilized and developed the Commune Farmers' Support Fund with nearly 200 million VND, providing loans to poor households to develop production. Maintaining and developing the model of growing Na Mon oranges, Muong Va sticky rice, and plant nursery. People in the commune have applied technical advances to plant and animal care, improving productivity and quality of agricultural products.

Farmers in Huoi Ai village, Sop Cop commune, raise cattle in cages.

As a good farmer and businessman at the provincial level, Mr. Vi Van Hien, Dom village, Dom Cang commune, shared: In 2017, my family borrowed 100 million VND from the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, District Branch, to invest in growing coffee, combined with raising chickens, and selling seedlings. Currently, my family has more than 5 hectares of coffee trees, of which more than 4 hectares have been harvested. In 2023, my family harvested nearly 50 tons of coffee fruit, earning over 500 million VND. In addition, we also maintain raising 200 free-range chickens; and raising about 20,000 coffee seedlings to sell to people, with a total income of nearly 600 million VND/year. In 2023, my family was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Provincial People's Committee for our achievements in participating in the first Son La Coffee Festival.

Continuing to help farmer members develop the economy, increase income, and get rich on their homeland, in the coming time, the Farmers' Association of Sop Cop district will continue to promote the emulation movement of good production and business; improve the effectiveness of consulting, supporting, and coordinating vocational training for farmers, creating conditions for members and farmers to access preferential loans to develop the economy, eliminate hunger, and reduce poverty.