Establishing 'Eco-friendly Agriculture, Modern Rural Areas and Farmers'

The Yen Bai province's 10th Provincial Farmers' Union Congress was attended by Deputy Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, Ms. Bui Thi Thom, leaders of Yen Bai province's government, and 215 delegates representing nearly 120,000 farmer union members from across the province.

During the previous term, Yen Bai province has adopted various policies and initiatives to promote the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas. Most notably, the province's agricultural sector achieved a growth rate of 5.95% in 2022, which is the highest in the North Central and Northern Mountainous regions. There has been a shift in the internal structure of the sector, with a decrease in the proportion of agriculture and an increase in the proportion of forestry and aquaculture.

Between the years 2018 and 2023, farmer union members and the Union's organizations have played a central role in encouraging farmers to participate in the development of agriculture, rural economy, and construction of new rural areas.

The National Target Program on New Rural Development has achieved remarkable and comprehensive results, which has subsequently became an exemplary model in the North Central and Northern Mountainous regions.

The province currently houses 99 out of 150 total communes that have been recognized as meeting the new rural standards. Accordingly, this figure represents 66% of the total communes in the province. Additionally, 27 communes are qualified for advanced new rural standards, and 6 communes are qualified for model new rural standards. Most notably, Yen Bai city and Nghia Lo town have completed their new rural development tasks; Tran Yen district has become the first mountainous district in the Northwest region to be qualified for new rural standards.

Within the last 5 years, the Yen Bai Provincial Farmers' Union have effectively implemented three resolutions issued by the 7th Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Congress regarding the organization of a transparent and robust Vietnam Farmers' Union.

During this term, the Union has established 51 grassroots unions with 765 union members, and 498 vocational farmer groups with nearly 2,500 members. Additonally, four vocational farmer groups have been developed and upgraded into cooperative groups. These organizations have admitted over 13,600 new members, bringing the total number of union members in the province to nearly 120,000, accounting for 80.6% of agricultural households.

Consulting, support, service, and vocational training activities for farmers have been significantly enhanced to provide remarkable results. Furthermore, the total funding from the Farmers' Support Fund throughout Yen Bai province has reached 33.9 billion VND, which is an increase of 22.7 billion VND compared to the beginning of the term.

The Support Fund has provided capital for 170 projects involving nearly 800 households to develop production and trading activities. Subsequently, the provided capital has been used for its intended purposes, resulting in positive outcomes. Accordingly, multiple member households have achieved financial independence and created employment opportunities for the local labor forces. Thanks to the Support Fund, several project models have demonstrated high effectiveness.

During the Congress, Ms. Bui Thi Thom commended the efforts and dedication of the Yen Bai Provincial Farmers' Union. She also suggested the Yen Bai Provincial Farmers' Union to focus on building a comprehensive and effective organization, renewing methods for attracting and engaging members with an emphasis on scientific, intellectual, and agricultural business fields. In addition, she emphasized the need to improve the quality of patriotic movements, with a focus on the "Farmers' competing for excellent production, unity, wealth, and sustainable poverty reduction" program.

It is vital to tap into the province's potential and strengths by developing models for organic, eco-friendly, circular, and technology-driven agriculture. Moreover, the province will need to enhance the organization of service, consulting, and support activities for farmers and promote their participation in various forms of collective economic activities, including cooperatives and cooperative groups.

For the 2023-2028 term, the Yen Bai Provincial Farmers' Union aims to innovate thinking, inspire, and harness the aspirations of farmers in promoting agriculture, rural economy, sustainable rural development, with a focus on building "Ecological Agriculture, Modern Rural Areas and Farmers." These tasks will contribute to the successful realization of Yen Bai's goals for a "Green, Harmonious, Distinctive, and Happy" province.

With solidarity, democracy, and high consensus, the Congress elected 30 members to the Executive Committee of the Provincial Farmers' Union for the 2023-2028 term. Additionally, Mr. Giang A Cau was re-elected as the Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Union.

The Yen Bai province's 10th Provincial Farmers' Union Congress for the 2023-2028 term has set 20 key targets for the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, including: recruit over 8,000 new union members, establish 350 new vocational farmers' groups, and 45 vocational farmers' group branches. The organization will provide vocational training for more than 1,000 union members. Additionally, 60% of union households strive to achieve excellence in production and business across all levels every year. Moreover, the Union aims to provide advice and support for the establishment of 250 new cooperatives and 30 cooperative unions annually.