100% of Thanh Nam Orange Cooperative members grow apples in greenhouses
Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative was established in 2019 with 12 members and now has 50 members, of which more than 30% are women. The cooperative initially specializes in producing and trading fresh apples and will provide materials, fertilizers, and pesticides to members. Then, it will construct greenhouses for members' apple orchards.
Cam Thanh Nam apple products, Cam Ranh City ( Khanh Hoa ) have become known to many people. Photo: Cong Tam
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong - Director of Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative said that in the early days, some members still grew apples in the traditional way, very few people covered the garden with nets, so every time there were fruit flies, people had to spend money to catch or kill this type of insect, which was very expensive.
After many sleepless nights thinking about why apples are often damaged by fruit flies every time they bear fruit, in 2014 - 2015, his apples and those of the surrounding households were damaged by fruit flies quite a lot, some households even lost everything due to this type of insect.
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong - Director of Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative is one of the pioneers in growing apples in greenhouses. Photo: Cong Tam
In 2016, Mr. Cuong decided to order 5,000m2 of nets to test in his garden. After success, he decided to expand it to his own area.
Realizing the advantages of covering apple orchards with nets, the net's lifespan lasts 5-6 years and the market and selling price are more stable than the traditional method, many members of the cooperative have actively participated and up to now 100% of members grow apples covered with nets.
Apple making creates jobs for dozens of local workers and helps two poor households.
Currently, members of the cooperative have boldly invested in growing apple trees according to VietGAP standards. Thanks to that, output, quality and price have all increased, and apple trees bring good income to local farmers.
The cooperative's production and business targets have increased continuously over the years, creating jobs for nearly 50 local workers with an average income of 8 million VND/person/month, actively contributing to job creation, economic development, and poverty reduction in the locality.
Freshly harvested apples from farmers in Cam Thanh Nam. Photo: Cong Tam
Currently, the cooperative's production scale with an apple growing area of 50 hectares, the average annual revenue is 13.5 billion VND. Of which, revenue from apples is 12 billion VND; revenue from agents purchasing apples, custard apples, mangoes is 1 billion VND and revenue from agents purchasing agricultural materials (nets, seedlings, fertilizers...) is 500 million VND. In addition to creating jobs, the cooperative also mobilizes well-off households to help 2 poor households in the locality.
Video: Mr. Ho Tan Cuong, an apple farmer in Cam Thanh Nam commune, Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province.
Mr. Cuong shared that the unit holds meetings twice a month in the evening at 7:00 p.m. The meeting focuses on reviewing the work of the week, sharing experiences in production, farming methods, apple prices on the market, and input material prices for members.
Mr. Cuong said that the reason for the meeting in the evening is because during the day many people are busy with apple growing, apple purchasing, apple sorting, etc.
Many farmers in Cam Thanh Nam commune have applied nets in their apple orchards. Photo: Cong Tam
According to Mr. Cuong, thanks to the support and facilitation of local authorities at all levels, especially the Commune Farmers' Association in providing capital support to the cooperative in the amount of 500 million VND from the Farmers' Support Fund, coordinating with sectors to open training classes to instruct farmers to use nets to protect apple orchards from insects.
With the improved form of growing apples in greenhouses, preventing fruit flies, not using pesticides, through applying the model, apple yield increased from 5 tons/sao to 8 tons/sao/crop, reducing the cost and labor of spraying pesticides, as well as watering.
In addition, the cooperative also invested in water-saving irrigation systems, grass covers, etc. to help improve the quality of apples, creating consumer trust.
Mr. Cuong said that member revenue depends on the contributed area, for every 1 hectare, members will have revenue of about 600 million VND, minus expenses, the profit is about 400 million VND/ha/year.
Currently, people grow apples all year round, both in the main and off-season, so the products are regularly supplied to customers nationwide.
Thanh Nam Orange Apples are currently supplied to many provinces and cities across the country. Photo: Cong Tam
Cam Thanh Nam apple products have been widely promoted, trusted and welcomed by many customers inside and outside the province. They are always invited by agencies and organizations to participate in markets, especially at agricultural markets organized by the Khanh Hoa Farmers' Association.
Thanh Nam Orange Apple has formed a specialized apple production area and has been recognized by the Intellectual Property Office as a collective trademark for Thanh Nam Orange Apple.
Mr. Ho Tan Cuong, Cam Thanh Nam commune, is very passionate about apple growing. Photo: Cong Tam
With the achieved results, the Executive Committee of Khanh Hoa Provincial Farmers' Association awarded a Certificate of Merit to Thanh Nam Orange Apple Cooperative for its outstanding achievements in participating in the 2023 Agricultural Products and OCOP Products Market.
Khanh Hoa Provincial Cooperative Union awarded a Certificate of Merit to Thanh Nam Apple and Orange Growing Cooperative for its outstanding achievements in building advanced collective economic models and typical cooperatives in the month of action for Cooperatives in 2024 and many levels and sectors awarded.
Currently, Cam Thanh Nam Apple Cooperative is honored to be voted into the list of 63 typical cooperatives nationwide in 2024.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Ho Tan Cuong said: "My family has received information to represent Khanh Hoa province to attend the national typical cooperative in Hanoi and this is a great joy not only for me personally but also for the whole collective that has strived in the past time.
Previously, Mr. Cuong was voted by the Central Final Council as one of the 100 Outstanding Vietnamese Farmers in 2023.
Mr. Cuong said that in the past time, he and the cooperative have received attention and support from all levels. Mr. Cuong recommended that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the Ministry of Agriculture create the best conditions for people and cooperative members to easily access capital for economic development, and provide specific instructions on the process, mechanism and procedures for borrowing capital.
From 12 initial members, it has now grown to 50 members and brought Cam Thanh Nam apple products to many provinces and cities. Photo: Cong Tam
At the same time, it is recommended to support the promotion of digital transformation so that clean apple products of members and farmers can reach consumers in the best way. In addition, it is recommended that all levels promote awareness raising among members, towards a green, circular, safe model, and deep processing of post-harvest products.
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