Developing cooperatives in ethnic minority areas

Identifying cooperative development as the “key” to effectively exploiting the potential and strengths of local products, as well as preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities, in recent years, Tan Son district has coordinated with functional sectors to implement many programs and projects to support the development of cooperative economy. Thereby, contributing to improving people's lives and reducing the rate of poor households in the district.

Xuan Dai Agricultural and Forestry Service Cooperative supplies the market with about 3 tons of dry tea each year, with revenue of 160 - 170 million VND/year.

Tan Son is a mountainous district with 32 ethnic groups living in 17 communes, of which ethnic minorities account for 83.5%. Implementing Program 1719 for the period 2021 - 2025, the district has focused on reviewing and selecting priority subjects in agricultural and forestry production to invest in developing production linkage models to effectively promote regional potential and strengths as well as increase the value of local products. Accordingly, the district has focused resources on supporting the construction and creation of product brands for a number of typical cooperative models in the area through projects such as: "Improving the quality of green tea associated with building the Phu Tho tea brand" of Long Coc safe tea production cooperative; "Improving the quality of green tea associated with building the green tea brand in Xuan Son National Park area" of Xuan Dai agricultural and forestry service cooperative; Project "Linking breeding, processing and consumption of Tan Son salted chicken products" of Tan Son breeding, production and processing cooperative.

Orange and tangerine products of Muong Kit fruit and medicinal plant cooperative have been supported to create and develop collective brands.

Comrade Nguyen Cao Cuong - Vice Chairman of Xuan Dai Commune People's Committee said: As the main crop in the commune, previously local tea growing models were developed on a small scale, with scattered areas, uneven output and quality, so economic efficiency was not high. In recent times, thanks to the province's practical agricultural development policies and projects, the locality has mobilized people to participate in the cooperative production model and invested in equipment and machinery to synchronize the tea production process. Currently, Xuan Dai is effectively maintaining the Xuan Dai Agricultural and Forestry Service Cooperative model with 36 members; managing a tea growing area of ​​20 hectares concentrated in 3 communes (Xuan Dai, Kim Thuong and Xuan Son). In 2023, the cooperative's "Xuan Son Morning Dew Tea" product was recognized as a 3-star OCOP, supplying the market with about 3 tons of dry tea each year, generating revenue of 160 - 170 million VND/year; creating regular jobs for many local workers. Thereby contributing to gradually raising the value of traditional and typical agricultural products, increasing the income of local people.

As an organization that plays an important role in developing the cooperative movement in the province, in recent times, the Provincial Cooperative Union has also actively advised and supported cooperatives in ethnic minority areas to strengthen their operations through many forms such as: Organizing training courses to raise awareness for members and workers in cooperatives; supporting facilities, product display booths; supporting product labels, packaging and building propaganda videos on sales websites; supporting cooperatives to borrow preferential loans from funds managed by the Provincial Cooperative Union... In 2023, Muong Kit Fruit and Medicinal Plants Cooperative (Kiet Son commune, Tan Son district) is an organization supported by the Provincial Cooperative Union to implement the scientific project "Creating, managing and developing Muong Kit collective brands for oranges and tangerines in Kiet Son commune, Tan Son district".

OCOP products of cooperatives in the district participate in display and promotion at trade promotion fairs of the province.

Mr. Dang Quang Tiep - Director of the Cooperative said: The Cooperative established in 2021 currently has 50 hectares of organically grown citrus, of which 5 hectares are Thai citrus that have been certified to meet VietGAP standards. The model is currently developing steadily, but the production scale is still small, many areas are not according to the planning, so it cannot fully exploit its potential and efficiency. In 2023, it was selected by the Provincial Cooperative Union as the unit to implement the scientific project "Creating, managing and developing the Muong Kit collective trademark for orange and tangerine products in Kiet Son commune, Tan Son district". Through this project, Muong Kit orange and tangerine products will be registered for intellectual property protection and a set of tools for managing and using collective trademarks will be established. This is a great opportunity for households producing and trading "Muong Kit oranges and tangerines" in the cooperative to develop typical products with local cultural identity, avoiding confusion with oranges and tangerines in other regions and localities, thereby helping to increase product value, increase people's income, and contribute to local socio-economic development.

Tan Son currently has 41 cooperatives, of which about 30 are operating effectively. The average revenue is estimated at 1 billion VND/cooperative/year. Currently, the cooperatives attract about 590 members; creating regular jobs for 548 workers with an average income of 62.5 million VND/person/year. Of the total 23 OCOP products of the district, 12 OCOP products are owned by cooperatives, accounting for 52.2%.

Developing cooperatives is a practical economic solution that contributes to improving the lives, preserving culture and sustainable development for the Tan Son ethnic minority area. To support cooperative models to develop commensurate with their potential and strengths, in addition to the attention, companionship and support from the government and mass organizations, it is necessary to have the efforts and initiative of the people themselves in innovating production activities, diversifying typical products, grasping market demand... so that highland products can reach consumers more closely, helping cooperatives develop sustainably; thereby contributing to building the mountainous district of Tan Son to become increasingly rich, beautiful and civilized.

Bich Ngoc

Source: https://baophutho.vn/phat-trien-hop-tac-xa-vung-dan-toc-thieu-so-229756.htm