Phu Hau Cooperative succeeds in rice seed production

(Baonghean) - While many agricultural service cooperatives in the province are operating at a standstill due to limited management capacity and lack of capital, Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative in Dien Tan Commune (Dien Chau) has linked up with businesses to provide essential services for production, bringing high economic efficiency.

LAs one of the typical agricultural cooperatives in the movement of transforming the structure of crop varieties; bringing scientific and technical advances and new technologies into production, in recent years, Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative has truly been a reliable address for the people of Dien Tan commune in economic development and improving their lives.

Established in 1989 with 430 members, the main business of Phu Hau Cooperative is trading in plant protection products; agricultural and irrigation extension services; supplying agricultural materials, animal feed, construction materials, electricity services and internal credit business. Up to now, the Cooperative has created prestige and trust with 625 shares. All members fulfill their responsibilities and obligations to the Cooperative; the Cooperative's charter stipulates 400,000 VND/share, thereby creating attachment and responsibility between members and the Cooperative. Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative also clearly defines the motto "serving wholeheartedly, caring to the place, being responsible to the end" with people, members and workers to support each other to develop together...

Mr. Luu Van Ngu, Chairman of Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative, said: Phu Hau Cooperative is assigned to manage 152 hectares of agricultural land (mainly rice land). After many years of providing good support services to members in production, the Cooperative Management Board found that the land here is suitable for rice seed production, so since the spring crop of 2011, the Cooperative has proactively cooperated with Southern Seed Joint Stock Company to conduct a trial production of KN2 rice seed on an area of ​​15 hectares (with 70 participating households).

Mr. Luu Van Ngu - Head of Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative inspects BC15 rice variety in summer-autumn crop 2013.

According to the form of association, the seed company provides original rice seeds, the cooperative processes the production based on the technical standards for rice seed production set by the company. The results show that the land is very suitable for rice seed production, the productivity and product cost are much higher than that of commercial rice. Moreover, there is a stable output, so the members of the commune are very supportive, the commune government is interested and creates favorable conditions.

On that basis, for the past 3 years, Thai Binh Seed Joint Stock Company has signed a contract with BC15 Rice Seed Production Cooperative. "In the service of producing super-original rice seeds, not only the Cooperative but all member households benefit from this service. That is, while producing rice seeds, member households do not sell all the products to the purchasing company but always keep a part to serve production on their family's fields, so every crop achieves outstanding productivity." - Mr. Luu Van Ngu added.

Through discussions with us, most of the members affirmed: They are completely assured that the products they make have a stable outlet and are always sold at a price 25-30% higher than the price of rice and meat on the market.

Mr. Dinh Huan (in hamlet 3, Dien Tan commune) said: "Like the summer-autumn crop of 2013, after harvesting, we sold it to the company for 8.5 million VND/ton, while the outside price was only over 6,000 VND/kg. The process of producing rice seeds requires more stringent requirements than rice. For example, before soaking and incubating, the seeds must be processed, removing empty seeds, and transplanted for 1 to 2 days in concentrated areas. The care and pest control process must be carried out according to the correct techniques; when harvesting, it must be done simultaneously, ensuring that the rice seeds meet the standards for seeding. But in return, we are provided with good quality original seeds by the company."

Thai Binh Seed Joint Stock Company always has strict requirements in selecting partners to sign contracts. However, according to Mr. Dang Trong Xuyen, Officer of the Seed Production Department - Head of the purchasing team of the company: "The level of intensive rice seed cultivation as well as the experience and hard-working nature of the members of Dien Tan commune are very valuable. Therefore, although having to apply a strict rice seed production process, the implementation of the Corporation's contracts with the people through Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative in the past 3 years has always been favorable, the product quality is good, meeting the requirements set by the Company"...

Promoting linkages will contribute to increasing productivity, product quality, reducing production costs, increasing profits for farmers, especially stable product output so that farmers can feel secure in production. This is also the goal that the agricultural sector is aiming for.

With that spirit, in the past time, Phu Hau Cooperative has always maintained stable and sustainable development, the efficiency of each year is always higher than the previous year. On average, each year the Cooperative supplies 2,100 tons of construction materials, 1,150 tons of various supplies, purchases more than 150 tons of rice; organizes effective and practical internal credit activities for local members, with an average outstanding debt of 2.2 billion VND/year; the average revenue of the Cooperative reaches nearly 10 billion VND/year.

In 2013, the cooperative invested nearly 3,000 million VND in production and business activities, an increase of more than 10% compared to 2011. Revenue in 2012 reached nearly 3,500 million VND, average profit reached 150 million VND/year; creating regular jobs for 33 workers, with an income of over 2 million VND/person/month. The cooperative always maintains a profit margin of 15-18%.

Despite certain difficulties and challenges, the staff and members of Phu Hau Agricultural Cooperative have made continuous efforts to develop the cooperative and increase income for members and workers. In 2012, the cooperative was honored to receive the Emulation Flag from the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance for Cooperatives with outstanding achievements in the North Central region.

Ngoc Anh