Collecting fees for raising buffalo and cows: Cooperatives go against the Party's policy

Could you please tell us your opinion about Minh Anh Service Cooperative forcing people to pay pasture fees and mortgages for grazing livestock and poultry if they want to graze buffalo and cows?

Up to this point, I have only known the whole incident through the press, the local authorities have not reported it yet, but in my opinion, this is an unreasonable and unacceptable act.

Dr. Le Duc Thinh - Deputy Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation and Rural Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

I think that Minh Anh Service Cooperative's request for people to pay pasture fees of 100,000 VND/head/year is not based on any legal basis. Both the government and the Cooperative must review this matter, what is the basis for the collection, the reasons why, and then discuss and reach an agreement with the people, and cannot impose it in such an unprincipled manner.

“In case the commune organizes and plans a separate grassland area, with surrounding fences, grass planted and regularly cared for, then it is allowed to collect fees if people want to graze livestock and poultry there. Of course, the fee collection must also be carried out publicly, transparently, with the participation and supervision of the government, associations and people on the basis of reaching consensus.

What about the Minh Anh Service Cooperative requiring individuals who buy combine harvesters and threshing machines to pay a 5 million VND mortgage to the Cooperative, and in addition, each machine must pay an additional 10%/sao service fee, sir?

Personally, I support this work if the cooperative, during the process, must organize transparently, with the participation of relevant parties. However, the people say they are forced, the cooperative says the collection is done voluntarily and there is a written meeting of the people. This proves that the process is not truly democratic.

Thieu Duong commune residents are upset about the unreasonable fee.

As I understand it, the collection of mortgages for harvesters and drum machines is for the cooperative to have the cost of repairing and upgrading the infrastructure system if these machines cause damage or landslides during operation. In reality, the infrastructure system in rural areas is mainly built on the spirit of "the State and the people work together", in which the people's contribution is very large, the State cannot have enough funds to repair and restore if there is damage.

Therefore, in localities, there must be someone in charge of management. If during operation, agricultural machines of organizations and individuals are damaged or cause landslides (on roads), the mortgaged money must be used for repairs. However, if after the harvest season, these machines do not affect the infrastructure, in other words, do not cause any problems, the money must be returned to the organizations and individuals who paid in advance.

I would like to reiterate that no matter what form it takes, transparency, public disclosure of all information, and people's participation in supervision must be given top priority and strictly followed. It seems that this has not been achieved in Shaoyang.

Does the incident at Minh Anh Service Cooperative, Thieu Duong commune, go against the Party and Government's policy of always giving priority to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, sir?

I think what the Thieu Duong commune government needs to do now is to step in to clarify the problem, immediately stop collecting fees in such an unreasonable and arbitrary manner, and make it public to all people to regain their trust.

Obviously, while the Party, State and Government have paid much attention and given priority to agriculture, farmers and rural areas, several years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development directed the review and reduction of taxes and fees in agriculture to the maximum extent, reducing the burden on farmers and is in the process of reducing administrative procedures and business conditions to facilitate individuals and businesses in the production process.

Recently, the Prime Minister also directly dialogued with farmers to listen to all their feelings and difficulties encountered in the production process, but Minh Anh Service Cooperative set up such fees without legal basis, which is contrary to the policy on agriculture and rural development, and disregards the interests of farmers.

Thank you!