To implement the scheme on renovating and raising the efficiency of Farmer Assistance Fund (FAF), in recent years, the provincial Farmers’ Association has directed its affiliates to develop a project to develop the fund from local budget. Together with the capital entrusted, every year, all levels of the Association are actively involved in mobilizing capital with diversified forms.
Safe vegetable cooperative group in Tan Vinh Hiep commune, Tan Uyen town.
Many households have access to funds
In order to renovate and improve the operation of FAF, Farmers' Association of districts, towns and cities in the province have developed a project to develop FAF from local budget. Together with the authorized capital, all levels of the Association are active in mobilizing capital in various forms, thereby raising the total funds by over VND110 billion. From this fund, the associations grants loans to more than 4,000 household loans for production development; implementation of 269 projects on production, husbandry, cultivation and service, helping farmers improve their livelihood; heighten income from agriculture; the number of well-off households increased, and many farmers have become farm-owners.
In addition, FAF has contributed to the formation of many collective economic models in the countryside. Most prominent were models of planting orchids, ornamental plants, raising fish, cows, pomelos ... The support from FAF has met farmer’s capital needs, encouraging the application of science - technology, new technologies into production, creating many products with high quality and competitiveness in the market.
For example, Bui Van Sang, living in Tan An Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, was loaned VND50 million from FAF from Feb 2017 to Feb 2020 to investment in orchard garden. His family invested in an automatic irrigation system to reduce production costs, save irrigation water and reduce labor. Currently, his garden area of over 2,500m2 brings a stable monthly income of over VND15 million to the family.
The cooperative of safe vegetable cultivation, in Tan Vinh Hiep Commune, Tan Uyen Town, was established in 2014, has now 9 members, cultivated area of about 10 ha. Owing to the propaganda about the benefits of participation, especially the benefits of mobilizing capital to set up a rotation fund to help members, the cooperative has attracted more and more participants. In addition, owing to the support of FAF and short training courses on safe vegetable cultivation of Tan Uyen Town vocational center, members have good knowledge to invest efficiently in safe vegetable cultivation. Do Cam Tu, a member of the cooperative, said that due to joining the cooperative group, preferential loan from FAF, every year, his family earned a profit of about VND120 million from the vegetable garden.
Phung Thanh Con, in Thanh Phuoc Ward, Tan Uyen City, said his family borrowed VND40 million from the ward FAF to buy beeves. His herd now increases by 15 beeves. He will sell some on Lunar New Year 2018 to prepare for Tet holidays.
According to Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung, Director of the provincial FAF, the fund is one of the effective means to support and instruct farmers in setting up collective economic models, household models. Cooperative forms in production are able to meet practical requirements of commodity agriculture in the new period, help members escape poverty.
To improve performance
In order to further innovate and improve the operation efficiency of FAF, along with the strengthening of the capital, all-level associations in the province have instructed farmers to build and multiply their efficient production models, especially high-tech agricultural models, in order to further promote farmers’ role in agricultural and rural development. In addition to supporting farmers by granting loans from FAFs, in 2017, the associations cooperated with agriculture, science and technology sector, fertilizer companies... to organize 686 training classes and seminars on breeding, cultivation techniques for more than 28,000 farmers; organize 185 field trips to study models in and out of the province for more than 2,000 members…
Ms. Nhung said, after examination and appraisal, all projects using the fund in 9 districts, townships and city fulfilled their objectives, met requirements. Funds were preserved and developed in a sustainable way; carried out correctly the process of loan appraisal to ensure the right subjects, publicity and democracy.
According to leaders of the provincial Farmers' Association, in order to use the loans for the right purposes and achieve high efficiency, in the coming time, all levels of Farmers' Association will continue to closely collaborate with agencies and local authorities to survey areas, grant loans to the right subjects; offer consultancy on production and business plans, management and use of loan capital. All levels of the association will regularly organize experience exchange, visit efficient economic models, so that farmers could learn and exchange experiences in the production process; collaborate with departments and branches to give training courses on technology transfer in order to improve the efficiency of capital use. In 2018, strive for 100% associations to have a fund of VND5 million or more; 100% branches to have an average fund of VND40,000/member.
Reported by Quynh Nhien – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
