Garden Economy Associated with Cooperative Economy

Co Do district has recently obtained many achievements in agricultural development, promoted the role of the collective economy and garden improvement, and replaced seasonal fruit gardens by orchard models. In the coming years, Co Do district will continue to focus on implementing the "Project on developing a collective economy and a garden economy in the district for the period 2020 - 2025, with a vision to 2030", thereby boosting agricultural development and the district’s economy.

Garden economic development

Recently, Co Do's garden economy has developed quite effectively; by the end of 2019, the total area of ​​orchards was 3,823 hectares (the area in Thoi Hung commune was 3,359 hectares), including 2,191 hectares of mangos, 420 hectares of custard-apples, 248 hectares of bananas, 116 hectares of coconuts, and 321 hectares of longans, creating profit 3-5 times higher than rice cultivation. However, limitations for the garden economy include small scale; no factory for preliminary processing, preservation, or full processing; and lack of linkage between farmers and businesses means products are mainly sold to traders resulting in dependent and unstable prices.

The requirements for the development of the garden economy in the area in the current period must be in the direction of safety, combining with various economic types (especially ecotourism). It is necessary to form a value chain from production to processing and consumption; attract investment from enterprises; apply new scientific and technological achievements to cultivation; thereby improving the scientific and technical levels, producing clean products towards building brands according to market standards.

On that basis, in 2020 - 2025, the district will accelerate the improvement of inefficient gardens to develop high-value fruit trees; build gardens toward food safety and hygiene with traceability and development in a chain of links; form areas specializing in fruit trees. In 2025 - 2030, the district will focus on consolidating and improving the quality of fruit-growing areas associated with ecotourism development in Thoi Hung commune and durian planting area, citrus trees associated with ecotourism in Trung Thanh commune.

To accomplish the above objectives, the district is promoting propaganda and mobilization of cadres, party members, union members, and people to create strong improvement in awareness for economic development of gardens in the current period; strengthening leadership and direction of the Party Committee and authorities and promoting exemplary and pioneering role of cadres, Party members in the development and implementation of projects and plans for the development of concentrated production areas; the district also encourages replacing inefficient orchards with specialty fruit trees; mobilizes people to plant fruit trees according to planning to improve the efficiency of agricultural production. Along with that is the promotion of technical training, transfer of scientific and technical advances of planting fruit trees and encouraging people to apply organic production and develop models according to safety standards.

The district also coordinates with the City's departments and sectors to support the construction and registration of trademarks and logos for products; in addition, Co Do district will strengthen coordination among unions to set up loan support programs for farmers to increase production scale and improve income for horticultural farmers.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Tho, Acting Chairman of the District People's Committee, said: With the engagement of the entire political system in the area, especially the active initiative of farmers, it was believed that the Co Do's garden economy development would bring good results, thereby increasing people's income and contributing to promoting local socio-economic development.

Promoting cooperative economy

By the end of 2019, Co Do district had 20 agricultural cooperatives operating in the fields of cultivation and fisheries, and having consumption links, with a charter capital of VND0.45 million - VND7 billion; three non-agricultural cooperatives (construction, transport and trade, service) with a charter capital from VND500 million to VND9 billion and 312 cooperative groups operating in the fields of cultivation, animal husbandry, fisheries and irrigation services. However, the collective economic development still has many limitations. Most of the cooperatives do not have their own headquarters, have poor facilities, simple machines and equipment, lack capital and still rely on the support of the State.

From that situation, the district has set the direction in the coming years including: developing the collective economy with building and improving the quality of new rural communes; promoting solidarity for farmers to overcome barriers to boost cooperation in production and development integration. Agricultural cooperatives must ensure production activities according to market needs, value chains, good application of scientific and technological achievements, provide clean products to the market, thereby increasing income for cooperative members and people. Non-agricultural cooperatives must meet market requirements and promote the development of industry, handicraft, trade and services.

The district has also set specific targets for agricultural cooperatives: In 2020 - 2025, completing 15 cooperatives with 50% of them having revenue of over VND1.5 billion /cooperative/year, with linked consumption of products, registered trademarks, bar codes, geographical indications and traceability; in 2025 - 2030, it will develop 10 more cooperatives, bringing the total number to 45 cooperatives. For non-agricultural cooperatives, in the 2020 - 2025 period, there will be four more cooperatives with revenue of over VND2.5 billion/ cooperative/year; 100% of cooperatives will be assessed annually, of which over 80% will operate efficiently; in 2025 - 2030, it will develop six more cooperatives, bringing the total number to 14 cooperatives.

To accomplish the above objectives, the district will focus on propagating the policies and guidelines of the Central Government and Can Tho City on the development of the collective economy; Cooperative Law 2012, Decree 98/2018/ND-CP dated July 5, 2018, on policies to encourage the development of cooperation, linkage of production and consumption of agricultural products. Besides, the district will pay attention to training human resources to meet the management and administration. The district will also regularly survey and assess activities of cooperatives, cooperative groups and linkage models; thereby timely supporting the consolidation of the apparatus, guiding the operation and management skills, taking advantage of capital sources and project programs for cooperatives and cooperative groups.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Tho added: Co Do district would effectively apply preferential policies and incentives to create conditions for cooperatives to develop in accordance with the reality, combining the consolidation and development of cooperatives under the new rural development program with the need to develop the collective economy to become one of the key economic components of the district.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum