Support for mountain cooperatives

( Quang Ngai Newspaper) - To exploit the advantages of land and typical products, many cooperatives in ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province have been established, creating jobs, improving production levels and income for people. However, cooperatives need support from many sides for sustainable development.

Promote efficiency

Dong Tam Cooperative in Ba Vi Commune (Ba To) was established in May 2021, with 32 members. After 3 years of operation, the Cooperative has promoted the role of collective economy, supporting members and local farmers to sign a contract with Vinamilk Quang Ngai Dairy Farm to grow biomass corn. Thereby, creating a value chain in the production and consumption of biomass corn, helping farmers in the highlands of Ba To and neighboring areas increase their income and escape poverty.

In addition, Dong Tam Cooperative also supports local people to make additional products such as planting and processing peanut oil; exploiting, investing in designs, and increasing the value of wild honey products. However, according to Director of Dong Tam Cooperative in Ba Vi commune Nguyen Duc Tai, due to lack of production capital and limitations in applying modern techniques, productivity and product quality are not high. Therefore, the Cooperative wishes to be supported with machinery and access to preferential capital to continue expanding, investing in developing production and business, creating more profits for the Hre people in the area.

According to statistics, there are currently about 65 cooperatives located in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province, many of which are in particularly difficult villages and communes. Timely grasping the needs of consumers, cooperatives have constantly improved and upgraded products from design, packaging to quality to expand and stand firm in the market. Some products of cooperatives have been granted product labels, certificates of origin and VietGap quality such as: Subu banana molasses and banana vinegar of Son Bua Agricultural and Forestry Production and Service Trading Cooperative; sturgeon of Son Tay Agricultural and Service Cooperative; bamboo shoots, green-skinned grapefruit, Soli guava of Son Lien Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Son Tay). Some products have been certified as OCOP products such as: Ant chicken, black chicken, fish sauce, dried wild bitter melon, wild sim chili soaked in vinegar of Son Ha Clean Agricultural Cooperative.

Need help

The ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province have many potentials and advantages to exploit and develop according to the cooperative model, especially for typical products. However, large-scale concentrated production has not yet been available, and production models associated with value chains are still few. In some localities, during the operation process, cooperatives still face many obstacles in terms of mechanisms and lack of resources, especially capital.

According to the assessment of professional agencies, besides some cooperatives that have affirmed their position in the market, most cooperatives in ethnic minority areas still have low operational efficiency and have not yet spread to the community. Many cooperatives only perform one task assigned by the local government such as irrigation and environmental sanitation; some units were even established to benefit from the State's support policies, but have not created many benefits or connections for members and people.

The representative of the Provincial Cooperative Union said that, implementing the Socio-Economic Development Program for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, the Provincial Cooperative Union is taking steps to assess which cooperatives meet the conditions for support according to regulations. It is expected to support 10-12 cooperatives in ethnic minority areas to build projects to develop production linked to value chains. This policy will be a driving force to help people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have more resources for development. However, in order to exploit the advantages and gradually increase income, people also need to eliminate the mindset of waiting and relying; be more proactive and bolder in production.

Article and photos: HONG HOA

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