Development of agricultural cooperative attach to collective economy

On April 10, the MARD organized a Worshop to celebrate the 78th anniversary of Vietnam Cooperative.

Giving an overview of Agricultural Cooperatives (AC) in Vietnam in 2023 and the results of building a typical agricultural cooperative model COOP.66, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dinh, Head of Cooperation Economics Department, Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development, emphasized that 2023 was a special year for agricultural cooperatives, with many important events related to the development of collective economy and rural areas.

The National Assembly passed the Cooperative Law in 2023 and the government issued Resolution No. 106 on the development of agricultural cooperatives in restructuring agriculture and building new rural areas, including some tasks and solutions to attract investment and support the development of agricultural cooperatives.

Conferences and forums organized by the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development have contributed significantly to promoting the development of agricultural cooperatives. The results of 2023 show that the number of agricultural cooperatives has increased to 20,789. Hanoi continues to lead in terms of the number of cooperatives, followed by provinces such as Son La, Thanh Hoa, Bac Giang, Nghe An...

The effectiveness of agricultural cooperative activities has also been improved, especially in the application of advanced technology and the development of agricultural tourism services. Over time, agricultural cooperatives have played an important role in value chain development, promoting green agriculture, and reducing emissions. Pilot projects such as raw material areas and emission reduction have achieved positive results.

Typical cooperative models such as COOP.66 have made significant contributions to creating a social network forum among cooperatives and experts to connect and share information. This group has also supported the effective establishment and implementation of agricultural cooperatives, while spreading and replicating these models nationwide.

However, COOP.66 still faces some challenges, such as limitations in consulting and sharing experiences. In the coming time, COOP.66 aims to enhance communication about the group and replicate cooperative models, while strengthening exchanges and connections among members to achieve the best operational efficiency.

According to the representative of the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development, in recent efforts to transform mindset, 66 typical cooperatives have helped farmers, the direct producers, realize the need to transition from small-scale farming to concentrated commodity production. Cooperatives have become symbols, representing the rights of farmers, providing opportunities for them to take control and enrich themselves from their professions.

Minister Le Minh Hoan believes that approaching cooperatives as a philosophy and ideology is essential. According to him, a cooperative is a circle with interconnected relationships, where the success of each individual, each unit relies on the diameter of this circle. The wider the diameter, the more interconnected relationships among members, the more successful the cooperative will be. Alongside existing activities related to cooperatives such as credit, warehouses, and management, the Minister also emphasizes the necessity of soft skills training for cooperative leaders to ensure that the establishment and development of cooperatives are not just superficial but substantive and effective.

According to the leadership of the MARD, raising awareness of market risks and connecting with markets, businesses, and supply chain partners is still limited and lacks a clear development strategy. Training policies often focus on small-scale skills, but later, when cooperatives operate, there needs to be a persuasive story, a way to create engagement from members and partner customers.

The Minister emphasizes that the spirit of cooperation is crucial within cooperatives, necessary for cooperation among members and between cooperatives themselves to create new space and spirit for cooperatives in the future, making the cooperative ideology become a "reflection" of farmers, thereby increasing the value of production multiple times through the development of collective economy.

Farmers possess diligence, intelligence, and creativity, but they still hesitate to participate in the cooperative model. To address this issue, cooperatives need to transparently answer farmers' questions, and cooperative directors must also demonstrate their understanding of the members' needs.

The Minister encourages the dynamism and development of cooperatives not only related to economic issues but also to change rural life, becoming leaders in rural communities and bringing welfare to local people.

COOP.66 is a leading platform for cooperatives in Vietnam, providing a tightly knit connection through an active exchange forum and modern agricultural management features. The platform, initiated by the Green Innovation and Development Center in Agriculture and Food of Vietnam (GIC VN), the German Cooperation Organization (GIZ), and the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development (DCRD), helps efficiently monitor and manage daily tasks; connect cooperatives with a vast network of agricultural experts; provide an overview of production activities, optimizing processes and enhancing productivity; manage household finances; offer updated and reliable information on plant protection products and the latest crop varieties; ensure quality and transparency in the supply chain through product traceability...