Honor 100 outstanding farmers and 63 typical cooperatives

On the morning of October 3, the Central Vietnam Farmers' Union held a press conference on the Proud Vietnamese Farmers Program in 2023 with a series of main events: A ceremony to honor and award the title of Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer 2023, Praising 63 typical agricultural cooperatives propagated and advocated by the Vietnam Farmers' Union.

Mrs. Bui Thi Thom, Vice Chairwoman of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Pride Program, said that the event is an annual activity to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Farmers' Union (October 14, 1930 - October 14, 2023).

The main events will be held on October 12-13 in Hanoi, with the participation of Party and State leaders and central ministries and branches.

This is the second year that the Central Vietnam Farmers' Union has organized a vote to select 100 outstanding farmers in one year. In particular, 2023 is the first time 63 typical agricultural cooperatives have been voted to organize praise.

According to Mrs. Thom, to find and honor excellent farmers, the Central Vietnam Farmers' Union has organized many rounds of voting from millions of good farmers in production and business.

After the preliminary round, the Farmers' Associations of provinces and cities, experts, scientists, and journalists sent nominations for 250 outstanding farmers. On this basis, the Council voted for the 100 most excellent names.

Sharing specifically about the composition, the Central Vietnam Farmers' Union leaders reported 83 men and 17 women. The voting council commented that the quality of this year's typical farmers has many outstanding points compared to previous years.

"If in 2022, excellent farmers had the highest revenue of VND 70 billion, this year this number reached VND 140 billion," Mrs. Thom expressed. That is the industrial shrimp farming model of Mr. Ngo Van De in Tra Vinh.

Regarding profits, the excellent farmer with the highest profit belongs to Mr. Le Van Sam, residing in Ben Tre province, with VND 50 billion. In particular, 42/100 nominated farmers had VND 3 billion or more profits.

Outstanding Farmers of 2023 came from a variety of fields. In addition to traditional fields, some individuals honored this year also organize eco-tourism activities and develop circular agricultural economic models.

Many inventions and inventions of farmers were rewarded for being helpful and contributing effectively to the production process of farmers. Many farming households have formed production cooperation and association models for high economic efficiency.

The series of events of the Central Vietnam Farmers' Union also honored 63 typical agricultural cooperatives. This is part of 2,400 agricultural cooperatives propagated, mobilized, and guided to be established by farmer associations of provinces and cities in the past year.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Son, Head of the Central Propaganda Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and deputy head of the Organizing Committee of the Proud Vietnamese Farmers Program 2023, said that of the 2,400 cooperatives mobilized to be established, 480 cooperatives are operating effectively, accounting for about 30%.

"Voting typical cooperatives guided by the Vietnam Farmers' Association to establish them is important," Mr. Son acknowledged. According to this person, this is a way to continue affirming the collective economy's role, contributing to spreading and encouraging more farmers to participate in this model, thereby forming professional and efficient large-scale production chains.

As part of a series of events, Today's Rural Newspaper was assigned by the Central Vietnam Farmers' Association to organize the establishment of the "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmers Network" to gather outstanding farmers to be honored and voted on throughout the past 11 years.

For more information about the criteria for selecting excellent farmers in 2023, Mr. Luu Quang Dinh, Editor-in-Chief of Rural Today Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the Proud Vietnamese Farmers Program confided, in addition to the criteria set for each year. With profit, scale, and achievements in building new rural areas, the Voting Council paid special attention to two criteria: connectivity and digital transformation.

Mr. Dinh believes that this year's two criteria will reflect and motivate farmers to transform, raise awareness, and think in the spirit of Resolutions 19 and 20 that the Party Central Committee issued in June 2022.