Promoting the fulcrum role of the Farmers Support Fund

In recent times, the Farmers Support Fund (FSF) has become a support for many farmers in the area. From this support, thousands of farmers have quickly risen up, improved their livelihoods, and stabilized their lives. Quang Tri Newspaper reporters recently interviewed the Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, TRAN VAN BEN, about the advantages, difficulties, and solutions to improve the effectiveness of the fund.

- First of all, thank you for taking the time to answer the interview of Quang Tri Newspaper. Could you please briefly introduce the Farmers' Association Fund established and managed by the Provincial Farmers' Association?

- With the attention and facilitation of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and relevant levels and sectors, in December 1999, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Farmers' Association issued a decision on the establishment of the Farmers' Association Fund, under the Provincial Farmers' Association. The fund was established to support capital for members and farmers to build and replicate economic development models in agriculture and rural areas. After its establishment, the activities of the Farmers' Association Fund have developed steadily with positive results, highly appreciated by the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and relevant levels, sectors and organizations. Currently, in addition to the provincial level, the Farmers' Association Fund has been established in 9/9 districts, towns and cities. The organizational structure of the fund includes the executive board and the fund control board.

The Provincial People's Credit Fund is one of the non-budgetary state financial funds. This is a non-profit lending support fund. The loan amount of the fund is suitable for the production and business level and the repayment capacity of the subjects. The loan period is carefully studied, ensuring that it is suitable for the practical life and work of farmers.

The People's Credit Fund ensures access to capital for subjects by simplifying loan procedures with conditions and criteria suitable for the borrowers... Despite being in a situation where financial resources are still limited, the fund has created a huge impact, being a fulcrum to support capital for farmers. The fund's capital is always preserved and developed.

Thanks to the support of the Provincial Farmers' Association, farmers in Vinh Linh district have access to loans for economic development - Photo: TL

- How effective has the People's Credit Fund been over the past time, sir?

- True to its name, over the past time, the Farmers' Support Fund has played a good role as a support for farmers in the area. From its establishment until the end of 2023, the fund's revolving loan turnover reached over 67 billion VND. Through the fund, more than 2,200 farming households have received loans. From the capital entrusted by the Central Vietnam Farmers' Union and the provincial Farmers' Support Fund management source, 58 projects on crop cultivation, livestock breeding and other industries are being disbursed. At the district level, the Farmers' Support Fund currently has 9.6 billion VND, disbursed for 299 projects, focusing on the livestock and crop farming industries.

After 24 years of establishment and development, the Farmers' Association Fund's capital has helped thousands of farmers' households borrow to develop their economy. From this capital, many farmer members have expanded their production scale. Production has gradually shifted from extensive, small-scale, fragmented farming to intensive farming, linking to build large-scale economic models. This is also the basis for forming specialized areas and concentrated production. According to records, the average income of households borrowing capital from the Farmers' Association Fund has increased compared to before participating in the loan project. Not only developing the family economy, becoming well-off, many households borrowing capital have created stable jobs for many workers in rural areas.

Not stopping there, the Farmers' Association Fund has contributed to promoting the association's work and the farmers' movement. Thanks to this fund, farmers' associations at all levels have more advantages in mobilizing farmer members to participate in agricultural and rural development; enhancing the role, position, and capacity of mastery, comprehensively improving the material and spiritual life of farmers and rural residents in effectively implementing the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas.

The number of households achieving the title of good production and business increases every year. Up to now, the whole province has over 26 thousand farmer households achieving the title of good production and business households at all levels. The activities of the Farmers' Association Fund have contributed to the economic restructuring, the construction of new rural areas, the reduction of social evils, political stability, and security and order in rural areas; the professional capacity and expertise of the association's staff at all levels have been significantly improved; farmers are excited and confident in the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws...

- From the above reality, it can be seen that maintaining and promoting the effectiveness of the People's Credit Fund is very necessary. However, it is known that the fund's operations are still facing difficulties and obstacles. Could you share more about this issue?

- Currently, the capital demand for farmer members is very large. Meanwhile, the capital of the Farmers' Association Fund established and managed by the Provincial Farmers' Association is quite small, only nearly 5.9 billion VND. That capital only meets a small part of the needs of members. At all levels of the association, the growth of the Farmers' Association Fund is still slow. The fund source provided by the state budget is low. In order for the operation of the Farmers' Association Fund to meet the increasing demand for investment capital for agricultural development associated with the value chain in production and consumption of products, the investment of the State, including investment through the Farmers' Association Fund of the Provincial Farmers' Association, is extremely necessary.

- So, how does the Provincial Farmers' Association resolve the above difficulties and problems, sir?

- Recently, we have developed a Project to improve the organization and operation of the Farmers' Association Fund. Accordingly, the Provincial Farmers' Association Fund is headquartered at the Provincial Farmers' Association. The Fund operates on the principle of financial autonomy, not for profit; ensuring publicity, transparency, capital preservation and development...

The Fund performs its assigned functions and tasks in accordance with the provisions of law. The purpose of the Provincial Farmers' Association Fund is clearly defined: Supporting farmer members in building and replicating effective production and business models, contributing to increasing income and improving farmers' lives; creating resources, conditions and tools to unite and gather farmers into the association, contributing to building the association and the farmers' movement...

In a recent working session, the leaders of the Provincial Farmers' Association presented the above project and requested the Provincial People's Committee to consider adding charter capital to the Provincial Farmers' Association Fund by 2031 to reach nearly 30 billion VND. Initially, the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee agreed in principle. Currently, the Provincial Farmers' Association is coordinating with relevant departments and branches to complete the project for the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Provincial People's Council for approval.

We look forward to receiving good news from the Provincial People's Council. This is not only the wish of the association's officials but also of the majority of farmers in the area. To improve the effectiveness of the Farmers' Association Fund, in the coming time, the Provincial Farmers' Association officials will continue to make efforts to overcome existing shortcomings and limitations, and maximize the fund's role as a support.

Thank you!

Tay Long (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phat-huy-vai-tro-diem-tua-cua-quy-ho-tro-nong-dan-188947.htm