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/animal/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, then discuss and agree 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 is 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's requirement that individuals who buy combine harvesters and threshers must pay a 5 million VND mortgage to the Cooperative, and that each machine must also pay an additional 10%/sao service fee, sir?

Personally, I support this if the cooperative in the process of doing it, must organize in a transparent manner, with the participation of relevant parties. However, the people say they are forced, the cooperative side says the collection is done on a voluntary basis 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 fact, 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 eroded (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, disclosure of all information, and public supervision must be given top priority and strictly adhered to. 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 issue, 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 all 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 unfounded fees, which is contrary to the policy on agriculture and rural areas, and disregards the interests of farmers.

Thank you!