Ia To Commune Farmers' Association actively innovates its operating methods

Chairman of the Commune Farmers' Association Le Van Chin said: The commune has 8 Kinh villages and 7 ethnic minority villages. People mainly rely on agricultural production, life in the villages is still difficult. Therefore, the Association focuses on supporting members in economic development and proposes many measures to implement it.

In particular, it focuses on propagating and mobilizing farmers to change the structure of crops and livestock; organizing study tours and exchanging experiences; mobilizing member families to help each other in production and life. Every year, the Association proactively coordinates with functional agencies to open training courses to transfer scientific and technical advances to farmers, and build many models for agricultural economic development.

In order to develop the collective economy in association with the National Target Program on New Rural Development, the Commune Farmers' Association coordinated with Son Huyen Phat Gia Lai Company Limited to mobilize farmer members to participate in sustainable coffee professional associations; thereby establishing 11 groups with 300 participating households. In the commune, there are currently 4 collective economic models, including 2 cooperatives, 1 agricultural association and 1 production association.

Farmers in Ia To commune (Ia Grai district) build and develop the rambutan brand. Photo: TN

Collective economic models have initially brought certain results in guiding science and technology, linking product consumption and finding output for agricultural products, helping farmer members to change the structure of crops and livestock; coordinating to guide members to register OCOP products...

A typical example is the Ia To Agricultural Service Cooperative. Currently, the Cooperative has more than 100 members with a total fruit tree area of ​​nearly 170 hectares, mainly specializing in durian and rambutan. Mr. Le Trung Giang - Director of the Cooperative - said: "The conversion from some traditional local crops to growing fruit trees such as rambutan and durian initially brings stable income. The Cooperative has received active support from the district and commune in building parent orchards, registering trademarks, contributing to enhancing the brand and consuming products".

To support capital for members in production and housing construction, the Commune Farmers' Association coordinated with the Social Policy Bank to implement capital trust programs with about 330 members borrowing more than 13.5 billion VND; coordinated with the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to implement a number of production capital channels. The branches also actively mobilized members to participate in contributing to building internal funds and disbursing loans to households in difficulty to develop the economy...

With the promotion of the movement "Farmers compete in good production and business, unite to help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably", the whole commune has more than 500 households achieving the title of good farmers in production and business at all levels. Typical examples include Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (village 6) with a model of combined crop cultivation and livestock breeding; Mr. Ro Cham Pich (village De Lung 2) with a model of multi-cropping many types of crops including rice, coffee, cashew, durian and cattle breeding, bringing in an income of nearly 400 million VND/year...

Rewarding individuals with achievements in the Association's work and the grassroots farmers' movement in Ia To commune. Photo: TN

In implementing the criteria for new rural construction, the branches/groups have actively mobilized members and farmers to donate land and participate in nearly 250 working days to build roads, construct production facilities, and install 100 lighting bulbs on provincial road 664...

Members and farmers also participate in dredging canals, clearing streams, collecting garbage and used pesticide packaging; regularly taking care of trees on rural roads. The association also established an environmental service team to collect waste in the area. Up to now, the commune has 3 villages meeting new rural standards and has completed the application to the District People's Committee to recognize 1 more village meeting new rural standards.

Along with that, the Farmers' Association also coordinated with the Commune People's Committee and benefactors to build 5 houses and repair 3 houses for poor households; mobilized members to contribute 145 million VND to help people in difficult circumstances; mobilized farmers to support the "For the Poor" Fund; coordinated with units to sponsor seedlings and livestock for production... Thereby contributing to reducing the poverty rate of the commune by the end of 2024 to 3.63% (equivalent to a reduction of 99 poor households compared to 2021).

Mr. Chau Tan Lap - Chairman of the Ia Grai District Farmers' Association - assessed: The Ia To Commune Farmers' Association has played a good role in supporting members and farmers to exploit their available advantages and potentials in terms of land and labor to develop production and business and increase income. The Association has also implemented many solutions to help ethnic minority farmers gradually change their thinking and working methods, and rise up to escape poverty sustainably.

Source: https://gialai.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoi-nong-dan-xa-ia-to-tich-cuc-doi-moi-phuong-thuc-hoat-dong.81904.aspx