Focusing on the grassroots level and caring for the practical interests of 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 undergone many positive changes. The Association not only represents the province politically but also directly participates in the implementation of several socio-economic development programs and projects in rural areas, rightfully playing a central and core role in farmers' movements and the new rural development program.

Comrade Nguyen Huu Nhi (left) visits a member's orange orchard. Photo: Hoang Minh

The Standing Committee of the Provincial Farmers' Association consistently focuses on political and ideological propaganda and education; conveying to cadres and farmer members the Party's Directives and Resolutions, and the State's policies and laws; especially those policies directly related to agriculture, rural areas, and the lives of farmers. They promote and encourage cadres, members, and farmers to support the islands and seas, always demonstrating patriotism and acting in accordance with the law, avoiding being exploited or incited by malicious individuals. Responding to the "Farmers with Truong Sa" campaign launched by the Central Farmers' Association, the entire province has raised over 900 million VND for the "Beloved Truong Sa Fund" and organized a delegation of cadres to visit and present gifts to coast guard, fisheries inspectors, officers and soldiers on Mat Island, and 49 disadvantaged families whose children are serving in Truong Sa and Hoang Sa. The successful organization of the Farmers' Talent Competition, from the branch level to the provincial level, became a large-scale and effective campaign to disseminate scientific and technical knowledge, policies and guidelines in the fields of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, as well as the national target program for building new rural areas, to all cadres, members, and farmers.

In implementing Conclusion No. 61 KL/TW of the Central Party Secretariat and Decision 673 of the Prime Minister "on the Vietnam Farmers' Association directly implementing and coordinating the implementation of a number of programs and projects for rural economic, cultural, and social development in the period 2011-2020," the Provincial Standing Committee of the Association proactively signed a cooperation program with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and agencies to effectively implement the program. In 2014, the Association, in coordination with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and agencies, successfully organized the North Central Region Agricultural and Trade Fair, promoting and showcasing potential local products at the fair. The Association continued to develop the Farmers' Support Fund at all levels to help farmers develop their production.

To date, the outstanding loan balance of the Farmers' Support Fund throughout the province has reached over 25 billion VND, establishing 92 models and providing loans to 1,141 farmer households; of which the provincial fund manages 23.4 billion VND and the district fund manages 1.6 billion VND. In addition, the Association has coordinated with the Nghe An Agricultural Materials Joint Stock Company to provide credit guarantees for farmers to borrow over 13,000 tons of fertilizer on deferred payment terms, worth over 80 billion VND; received entrusted funds through the Social Policy Bank to provide loans totaling 1,926,725 million VND to 99,755 poor farmer households and other policy beneficiaries; and provided credit guarantees through the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank to provide loans totaling 10,469,297,000 VND to 692 households.

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

Continuing to promote vocational training and the transfer of scientific and technological advancements to farmers, last year, all levels of the Farmers' Association throughout the province coordinated with schools, vocational training centers, and relevant agencies to organize 956 training sessions on the transfer of scientific and technological advancements for 49,218 participants, and 155 short-term vocational courses. Specifically, the Provincial Center for Vocational Training and Farmer Support organized 15 training courses on scientific and technological advancements for over 800 members on livestock farming, crop cultivation, aquaculture, and mushroom cultivation; and collaborated with districts to provide advice and open 248 short-term vocational training courses for 7,992 rural workers.

In addition, the various levels of the Association focused on implementing 287 economic development models to restore and develop local specialty crops and livestock, as well as traditional crafts. They selected products to be nominated for recognition by the Central Association as outstanding agricultural products of 2014; among them, three products were honored: Nam Dan soy sauce, purple herbal rice from Vinh Hoa Co., Ltd. (Yen Thanh), and rice varieties from the Nghe An Agricultural Materials Corporation. The ADDA project on "Strengthening the capacity of ethnic minority farmer groups with shared interests in Nghe An province" continued, helping ethnic minority farmers in highland areas apply scientific and technological advancements to production and business, analyze markets, plan production, and sign contracts for product sales.

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

The movement "Farmers competing in excellent production and business, uniting to help each other get rich and sustainably reduce poverty" launched by the Association has become a widespread mass movement in rural areas. Through the summary conferences of the Association at all levels, 98,021 farmer households have been honored with the title of excellent production and business households at various 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 at the commune level. The Conference to Commend Exemplary Farmers in Excellent Production and Business in Nghe An Province for the period 2011-2014 commended 121 exemplary farmer households who received certificates of merit from the Provincial People's Committee.

To practically contribute to the construction of new rural areas, the Farmers' Associations at all levels throughout the province have propagated and mobilized farmers to actively participate, while also directly undertaking a number of projects and works suitable to their organization's activities. To date, members and farmers in the province have voluntarily donated over 1,230,000 square meters of rice fields and gardens; contributed nearly 3,600,000 man-days of labor and 4,024 billion VND to expand roads, build bridges and culverts, repair canals and ditches, and build cultural houses. This has contributed to the province's achievement of 27 communes meeting all 19 criteria for new rural areas.

Entering 2015, the Farmers' Association at all levels in Nghe An province determined to continue consolidating and building a strong organization, effectively fulfilling its central and core role in the farmers' movement and the construction of new rural areas. The focus will be on promoting support services for farmers; continuously improving the quality of the Association's cadres 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 construction of new rural areas.

Nguyen Huu Nhi

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