Vietnam Napro Cooperative: Production linkage, product diversification - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

- In recent years, Vietnam Napro Cooperative, Kep 1 village, Quyet Thang commune, Huu Lung district has proactively linked up to produce and process non-GMO corn products, thereby contributing to the preservation of purebred corn varieties, creating jobs for people and increasing product value.

Vietnam Napro Cooperative workers pack old-fashioned popcorn products

Established in 2020 with 9 members, Vietnam Napro Cooperative operates in the field of agricultural production with main products processed from corn. Accordingly, the Cooperative has invested in a processing factory with an area of ​​800 m2 and linked with corn-growing households to create raw materials.

Ms. Hoang Thi Bich Phuong, Director of the Cooperative, said: Based on the family's need to use clean, healthy foods, in 2020, through a conversation with a group of friends, I was suggested to produce and supply noodles from some grain plants. Accordingly, I researched and chose corn, because this plant has been associated with my childhood, is a food crop to feed my family and above all, corn has a lot of nutrients. However, with the strong development of the biotechnology industry, many types of genetically modified corn are grown and supplied to the market, purebred yellow corn, old glutinous corn are no longer produced by people in large quantities and have low prices, unstable output. Therefore, I researched and established the Cooperative with the desire to support product consumption for people as well as develop this corn variety to produce clean products.

With clear goals and plans, since 2020, when going into production, the Cooperative has signed a contract to link corn consumption with households in Yen Binh commune (Huu Lung district) and Dan Tien commune (Vo Nhai district, Thai Nguyen province) with an area of ​​over 80 hectares. Accordingly, the Cooperative guides people in natural corn cultivation techniques such as: using composted manure to gradually replace chemical fertilizers, not using chemical herbicides. On average, each year, the Cooperative purchases about 20 tons of yellow corn and 30 tons of old glutinous corn from farmers to produce corn noodles and old glutinous popcorn. The products of the Cooperative are produced according to a process that ensures food hygiene and safety, without using preservatives.

Mr. Phung Van Tu, Quy Xa village, Yen Binh commune, Huu Lung district shared: My family has been growing corn for nearly 20 years, but every year the area has decreased due to difficulties in consumption and unstable prices. From 2020 to now, after signing a product consumption contract with the Cooperative, my family feels more secure about the output. Since signing the contract, the Cooperative has purchased 3 tons of corn from my family per crop, at prices ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 VND/kg for regular corn and from 18,000 to 20,000 VND/kg for sticky corn.

In addition to corn products, the Cooperative also expanded the processing of other products such as: freeze-dried brown rice vermicelli, honey soaked with Mau Son forest lemon, Mau Son shiitake mushrooms... By 2024, the Cooperative was supported by the District Department of Agriculture and Environment to build a dossier with 3 products: corn noodles, old-fashioned sticky rice popcorn, freeze-dried brown rice vermicelli to send to competent authorities for evaluation, classification and achieving 3-star OCOP products at the district level. Currently, the Cooperative's products all have full packaging, labels and traceability stamps. Thanks to that, the Cooperative's product consumption market is increasingly expanding to many provinces and cities. Currently, the products of the Cooperative are consumed in organic stores and supermarkets in Hanoi , Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City... On average, each month, the Cooperative produces and consumes about 500 quintals of corn noodles, 500 old-fashioned popcorn products... bringing in revenue of about 100 million VND/month, helping to create regular jobs for 10 to 13 local workers.

Talking about the future plans, Ms. Hoang Thi Bich Phuong, Director of the Cooperative, said: In the coming time, we hope that the competent authorities will consider and approve the Cooperative's production workshop project with an area of ​​nearly 2,000 m2 so that the Cooperative can expand its production scale. At the same time, the Cooperative is currently piloting an organic corn growing model to expand the area in cooperation with farmers to provide the market with the highest quality and safest corn products.

Ms. Nong Thi Huyen Trang, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Huu Lung district, assessed: In the past time, Vietnam Napro Cooperative has been proactive and sensitive in production and business activities. In 2024, the Cooperative has built 3 3-star OCOP products at the district level, thereby gradually affirming the value of products in the market, increasing income, promoting cooperative economic development in the area. Up to now, this is the first and only Cooperative to link production and build a raw material area for growing non-GMO corn in the district.

In the context of the agricultural sector facing many challenges from climate change and the trend of consuming safe products for health, Vietnam Napro Cooperative has the right and promising goals and directions, not only helping to protect the health of consumers but also contributing to promoting clean, sustainable agriculture, bringing economic efficiency to the people.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/hop-tac-xa-vietnam-napro-lien-ket-san-xuat-da-dang-hoa-san-pham-5042869.html