Being established in 2010, so far, cooperative group growing safety vegetables in Uyen Hung ward, Tan Uyen town has now 22 participants with an area of over 10 ha.
Effectiveness
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Loc, Chairman of Uyen Hung ward Farmers’ Association, said, cooperative group was a place for farmers to exchange and share their experiences to improve quality and yield of vegetables. Every month, the group holds a meeting to inform the production, next directions, and discuss to find suitable crops for the coming season and weather. Besides, the group cooperated with Plant protection station to introduce new scientific – technical knowledge or growing models of vegetables to members for reference.
Safety vegetables production at cooperative group in Uyen Hung ward.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thoi living at the fourth quarter in Uyen Hung ward is a member of safe vegetables cooperative group and a typical example. He has grown vegetables for over 10 years, with diverse varieties, like: green onions, beans, okra..., in an area of 10,000m2. Thanks to the assistance from Farmers’ Association and Plant protection station, his profits from growing vegetables have increased. Mr. Thoi said: “Joining the group, I can learn many experiences in vegetables production. Moreover, we also can rotate crops to avoid planting the same vegetables, facilitating consuming and creating diversity in the production of vegetables, meeting market demands”.
Uyen Hung ward safe vegetables cooperative group received one tractor from provincial Farmers’ Association. The effective use of this tractor brought an extra annual profit of VND 31 million for the group fund. Members of the group were also supported in fertilizers, seeds, capital… Therefore, safe vegetables growing model has brought huge profits. According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Hien, Head of the group, members are aware of the importance of safe vegetable production, economic efficiency of this model compared with the old production. Moreover, vegetables were grown safely, which helps consumption to be easier.
Searching for stable outputs
Annually, the group supplies about 33 tons of vegetables to supermarkets, 24 tons of vegetables to markets in Tan Uyen town and Hang Bong market (in Phu Hoa ward, TDM City). The average annual revenues of the group are VND1.4 billion. Mr. Hien said, daily volume ordered Co.opmart supermarket is from 100 - 180kg, while their capacity is 1 ton/day. Therefore, most vegetables have to sell to traders in markets. Their safe vegetables are considered as ordinary vegetables, causing the price to be much lower. Thus, members have sought for stable outputs for their products.
Production of safe vegetables requires significant investment in irrigation system, net house, and the application of modern techniques. Farmers must have large initial capital, be knowledgeable, and willing to learn new things. However, safe vegetables are equated with ordinary unsafe vegetables in markets. Hence, income of farmers growing safe vegetables is not high.
In order to expand the model of safety vegetables, localities in the province have implemented various measures to support cooperative groups in production, technical guidance, and production process. At the same time, competent authorities have also helped to search for stable outputs, facilitating delivering safety vegetables to consumers through wholesalers, retailers and supermarkets.
Reported by Q.Nhien – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
