Focus on the grassroots, take care of practical benefits for farmers

(Baonghean) - In recent years, in response to the demands of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas and the implementation of the new rural development program, the activities of the Nghe An Provincial Farmers' Association have had many positive changes. The Association not only represents politically but also directly participates in implementing a number of programs and projects for socio-economic development in rural areas, worthy of its core central role in farmers' movements and new rural development.

Comrade Nguyen Huu Nhi (left) visits the association's orange farm. Photo: Hoang Minh

The Provincial Farmers' Association Standing Committee regularly focuses on propaganda and political and ideological education; conveying to cadres and farmer members the Party's Directives and Resolutions, policies and laws of the State; especially the policies and guidelines directly related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers' lives. Propagating and mobilizing cadres, members and farmers to turn to the sea and islands, always showing patriotism and acting in compliance with the law, not being exploited or incited by bad guys. Responding to the campaign "Farmers with Truong Sa" launched by the Central Association, the whole province mobilized over 900 million VND to transfer to the "Beloved Truong Sa Fund" and organized a delegation of cadres to visit and give gifts to the coast guard, fisheries surveillance, officers and soldiers of Mat island and 49 poor families with children on duty in Truong Sa and Hoang Sa. Successfully organized the Farmers' Competition from the branch to the province, becoming a large and effective propaganda campaign to all cadres, members, and farmers about scientific and technical knowledge, policies in the fields of agriculture, farmers, rural areas, and the national target program on new rural construction.

Implementing Conclusion No. 61 KL/TW of the Central Party Secretariat and Decision 673 of the Prime Minister "on the Vietnam Farmers' Union directly implementing and coordinating the implementation of a number of programs and projects on rural economic, cultural and social development in the period of 2011 - 2020", the Standing Committee of the Provincial Farmers' Union proactively signed a coordination program with the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches for effective implementation. In 2014, the Union coordinated with the Provincial People's Committee and departments and branches to successfully organize the North Central Region Agricultural - Trade Fair, promoting and bringing potential local products to participate in the Fair's booth. Continue to develop the Farmers' Support Fund (HTND) at all levels of the Union to help farming households have conditions to develop production.

Up to now, the outstanding capital of the People's Credit Fund of the whole province has reached over 25 billion VND, 92 models have been built, creating conditions for 1,141 farming households to borrow capital; of which the provincial fund manages 23.4 billion VND, the district fund 1.6 billion VND. In addition, the Association has also coordinated with Nghe An Agricultural Materials Joint Stock Corporation to provide credit to farmers for over 13,000 tons of fertilizer with deferred payment worth over 80 billion VND; received entrustment through the Social Policy Bank for 99,755 poor farming households and other policy beneficiaries to borrow 1,926,725 million VND, and credit through the Agriculture and Rural Development Bank for 692 households to borrow 10,469,297,000 VND.

Goat farming, one of the effective poverty reduction models in Nghia Dan. Photo: Dinh Thuy

Continue to promote vocational training activities, transfer of scientific and technological advances to farmers. Last year, the Association at all levels in the province coordinated with schools, vocational training centers and functional sectors to open 956 training sessions to transfer scientific and technological advances to 49,218 people, 155 short-term vocational classes. Particularly, the Provincial Vocational Training and Farmers Support Center organized 15 scientific and technological training classes for more than 800 members on livestock breeding, crop cultivation, aquaculture, and mushroom growing techniques; coordinated with districts to advise and open 248 short-term vocational training classes for 7,992 rural workers.

In addition, the Association at all levels also focused on implementing 287 economic development models to restore and develop local specialties and traditional industries. Selected products proposed by the Central Association to honor typical agricultural products in 2014; including 3 products: Nam Dan soy sauce, herbal purple rice of Vinh Hoa Company Limited (Yen Thanh), rice varieties of Nghe An Agricultural Materials Corporation were honored. Continued implementation of the ADDA project on "Strengthening the capacity of farmer groups with similar interests of ethnic minorities in Nghe An province" to help farmers of ethnic minorities in the highlands know how to apply scientific and technological advances in production and business, know how to analyze the market, make production plans and how to sign contracts to buy and sell products.

Developing livestock farms and building new rural craft villages in Hung Dung ward (Vinh city).

The movement "Farmers compete in good production and business, unite to help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably" launched by the Association has become a widespread mass movement in rural areas. Through the summary conference of the Association at all levels, 98,021 farmer households have been honored with the title of good production and business households at all levels; including 432 households at the central level, 3,047 households at the provincial level, 11,452 households at the district level and 82,720 households with good production and business at the commune level. The Conference to honor typical good production and business farmers in Nghe An province in the period of 2011-2014 honored 121 typical good production and business farmers who were awarded certificates of merit by the Provincial People's Committee.

Practically contributing to the construction of new rural areas, Farmers' Associations at all levels in the province have propagated and mobilized farmers to actively respond and participate, and directly undertake a number of works and projects suitable to their organization's activities. Up to now, members and farmers in the province have voluntarily donated over 1,230 thousand square meters of rice fields and garden land; contributed nearly 3,600,000 working days and 4,024 billion VND to expand roads, build bridges, repair canals and cultural houses. Contributing to the whole province to build 27 communes that meet 19/19 new rural criteria.

Entering 2015, the Farmers' Association at all levels in Nghe An province determined to continue to consolidate and build a strong organization, play a central and core role in the farmers' movement and the new rural construction. Focus on promoting service activities to support farmers; constantly improve the quality of the Association's staff at all levels and the combined strength of the entire political system, in order to gather a large number of farmers into the Association, build a strong peasant class, and become a great revolutionary force in the new rural construction.

Nguyen Huu Nhi

Provincial Party Committee member, Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association