Collective economy keeps pace with the times

In the context of the country's economy integrating and developing deeply, the collective economy and cooperatives are "transforming" to become dynamic, creative economic forces that adapt to the times. Keeping pace with the development in the new situation, many cooperatives have proactively changed their thinking, improved their operational and management capacity; applied scientific and technical advances and high technology in production and business; been sensitive and grasped the market; oriented towards the development of clean and sustainable agriculture...

Ea Tan Cooperative (Ea Tan Commune, Krong Nang District) displays and introduces specialty coffee samples. Photo: Minh Thuan

According to Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union Huynh Bai, the requirements in the new situation are challenges but also great opportunities for cooperatives to strive for development. The Provincial Cooperative Union is actively guiding and supporting cooperatives to continue to consolidate their organization and apparatus, improve the qualifications and management and operational capacity of cooperative staff; at the same time, mobilize young and capable human resources to join the cooperative management board. In addition, it is more necessary and urgent to strengthen digital transformation so that cooperatives can implement the digital economy. Therefore, the Provincial Cooperative Union is opening training courses and building programs to help cooperatives proactively apply from production, management, operation to consumption, creating high quality products, meeting market requirements.

The Provincial Cooperative Union is continuing to develop advisory programs for the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee on the issue of investing in digital infrastructure for cooperatives to apply. This will include building a cooperative product market from the central to local levels, helping units easily find potential partners. In particular, implementing the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas will increase investment in information technology and digital infrastructure in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, helping people apply digital technology to production and consumption of products. This will create a premise for cooperatives to keep up with the market, connect sustainably, and develop on the journey of innovation.

The province currently has 857 cooperatives, including 595 agricultural cooperatives, 58 industrial and handicraft cooperatives, 58 transport cooperatives, 101 trade and service cooperatives, 33 construction cooperatives and 12 People's Credit Funds. With efforts, sensitivity and flexible adaptation to market challenges, many cooperatives and People's Credit Funds in the province have made their mark through the process of formation and development, operating sustainably, creating a reliable support for members and contributing to improving the lives of rural areas.

With 14 years of establishment, Ea Kiet Fair Service Agricultural Cooperative (Cu M'gar district) has become a bright spot in production, business and provision of agricultural services. Formerly known as the Ea Kiet Fair Trade Association, in 2011 Ea Kiet Fair Service Agricultural Cooperative was established with 48 members and a production area of ​​91 hectares of coffee. From here, the cooperative has actively expanded its business lines, applied science and technology to production, helping to increase product value. At the same time, it has access to the consumer market and support policies of the state.

Macadamia products of Ea H'leo Macadamia Agricultural Production, Trade and Service Cooperative have been officially exported to the Korean market.

Up to now, the cooperative has 113 members, cultivating over 136 hectares of Fairtrade Certified (FLO) coffee, with an output of 526 tons/year and 49 hectares of 4C Certified associated coffee, with an output of 165.4 tons/year. The cooperative has also completed the warehouse area, workshop, drying yard, closed coffee processing and preliminary production machinery system, and fully equipped office. The unit actively provides input services, supports preliminary processing machinery, and cooperates with Dakman Vietnam Co., Ltd. to consume products. In addition, the cooperative also opens a roasted and ground coffee processing service, creating jobs for many workers and increasing the value of the product. Thanks to that, the cooperative's annual revenue reaches 20 - 25 billion VND and helps members' income increase by 8 - 12 million VND/household/year. Ea Kiet Fair Service Agricultural Cooperative is one of the units in the COOP.66 group including typical agricultural cooperatives nationwide.

In operation since 1996, Dak Lak Rubber People's Credit Fund from a unit with initial charter capital of just over 300 million VND contributed by Dak Lak Rubber Joint Stock Company and 15 founding members, lacking facilities, capital mobilization facing many difficulties, monotonous business products, low competitiveness, up to now the unit has nearly 6,600 members, 1 head office and 4 affiliated transaction offices, total operating capital reaching 925 billion VND, total outstanding loans of 759.6 billion VND. In the credit structure portfolio, the unit always allocates 90% of total outstanding loans for investment in the agricultural and rural sectors. The activities of the Dak Lak Rubber People's Credit Fund have created conditions for members to develop household economy, increase income, gradually limit the problem of high-interest loans and "black credit", contributing to the stability of political security and socio-economic development of the locality.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/tin-noi-bat/202504/kinh-te-tap-the-bat-nhip-voi-thoi-cuoc-d4f187c/