For cooperatives to develop sustainably

Signs of improvement

Since 2023, Minh Thanh Agricultural and Construction Services Cooperative (Yen Thanh district) has implemented a model of linking production and consumption of high-quality commercial rice on an area of ​​50 hectares per year. The cooperative also supplies materials and provides land preparation services for hundreds of hectares in the locality.

With a spirit of daring to think and act, the Cooperative's Management Board invested over 3 billion VND in purchasing a range of machinery such as plows, tillers, transplanters, and 40,000 seedling trays… This has helped to mechanize all stages of production, contributing to increased productivity, reduced costs, and higher incomes for farmers.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Cong Hien, Director of Minh Thanh Agricultural and Construction Services Cooperative, the current amount of machinery is still insufficient to meet actual needs. He said that the cooperative is planning to invest in two more combine harvesters, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), and many modern plows and transplanters… The total estimated cost is expected to reach billions of VND.

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"If there were more policies to support the purchase price of machinery, cooperatives would be more proactive in production and help farmers no longer depend on external service providers."

Mr. Nguyen Cong Hien - Director of Minh Thanh Agricultural and Construction Services Cooperative

Also in Yen Thanh district, Tho Thanh General Agricultural Service Cooperative is a prime example of production modernization. This unit has invested in over 20 pieces of equipment and machinery of various types, and recently spent billions of dong to purchase seven more new-generation rice transplanters and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), serving production on over 500 hectares of rice fields. The application of modern machinery has not only improved efficiency but also affirmed the cooperative's central role in the local agricultural value chain.

In the field of high-tech agricultural production, the Quynh Minh Agricultural and Salt Production Cooperative (Quynh Luu district) is demonstrating a sustainable approach by combining cultivation with processing and product consumption. In 2022, the cooperative invested over 2 billion VND in building a greenhouse with an area of ​​3,000m², of which the province provided 200 million VND in support.

After three years, the greenhouse-grown cantaloupe model has achieved high yields and good quality, providing employment for 3-5 regular workers. Currently, the cooperative is expanding its scale to 5,000m² and investing 1.3 billion VND in a vegetable and fruit drying line, hoping to create a stable market for more than 960 members cultivating nearly 400 hectares of vegetables.

Not only in the agricultural sector, but also in the forestry sector, cooperatives in Nghe An are making remarkable progress. The Quynh Thang Forestry and General Cooperative (Quynh Luu district) is currently one of the leading units in processing timber from planted forests. Thanks to capital support from the province and its own resources, the cooperative has invested tens of billions of VND in its production line system, improving productivity and business efficiency.

A synchronized support mechanism is needed.

However, according to the Management Board of the Quynh Minh Agricultural and Salt Production Cooperative, in order to ensure a year-round supply of goods and participate more deeply in the agricultural value chain, the cooperative urgently needs additional capital support, especially during the initial phase of expanding production scale and applying advanced processing technologies.

Similarly, a representative from the Quynh Thang Forestry and General Cooperative (Quynh Luu) stated, The unit still needs further capital support to invest in new, high-yield acacia varieties, modern wood processing machinery, and land for building its headquarters. Expanding the scale and modernizing production will help the cooperative not only strengthen the value chain of planted forests but also contribute to the sustainable development of the local forestry economy.

Following proposals and recommendations from cooperatives, during a recent inspection of cooperative operations, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De highly appreciated the innovative, dynamic, and proactive spirit of many cooperatives. However, the cooperative sector in the province still faces many difficulties, especially regarding investment capital for development. Some cooperatives lack stable headquarters, working equipment, and have limited management, operation, and application of digital technology.

Therefore, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De stated: "In the coming time, departments and agencies need to coordinate to advise the province on appropriate mechanisms and policies, especially capital support for cooperatives to gradually overcome difficulties and obstacles, expand production scale, and meet the needs of farmers; create conditions for cooperatives to access technological infrastructure, management software, e-commerce, traceability... At the same time, it is necessary to focus on training and developing digital skills for cooperative staff to improve management capacity."

The cooperative economy, with cooperatives at its core, is demonstrating enormous potential in promoting modern and sustainable agricultural production in the province. For cooperatives to not merely act as an extension of farmers' arms but become crucial links in the agricultural and forestry value chain, comprehensive support is needed, encompassing mechanisms, policies, technical infrastructure, and investment capital. Only then will cooperatives truly become a pioneering force in building advanced new rural areas and developing a sustainable rural economy.