According to statistics, by the end of 2024, there were 541 agricultural cooperatives (APs) in Thai Nguyen province with 32,000 members and workers. Cooperatives have affirmed their important role in developing the rural economy, increasing income for members and workers with an average income of 4 - 4.5 million VND/person/month,
However, the development of cooperative economy in Thai Nguyen faces a number of inherent problems, one of which is land funds for cooperatives to operate production stably and long-term. The lack of land fund has greatly affected the competitiveness and sustainable development of the cooperative.
Luong Phu Agricultural Service Cooperative in Phu Binh was established in 2017, with 7 members. Currently, the cooperative has more than 3 hectares of land mainly for growing cucumbers. However, this land is dispersed according to the ownership of each member, not concentrating on a large area, making it difficult for the production orientation of this cooperative.
Ms. Au Thi Phuong Ha - Deputy Director of Phu Luong Cooperative - said, "Although the cooperative's orientation is to create safe vegetable products according to VietGAP standards, organic, it has not been implemented yet. Production on individual land is not continuous throughout the year, leading to difficulties in strictly controlling farming conditions, water resources, fertilizers, and pesticides" - Ms. Ha shared.
Not only is it difficult to improve product quality, the lack of centralized land funds also makes it difficult for cooperatives to implement mechanization plans and invest in infrastructure to develop high-tech agriculture.
At Nam Hoa Agricultural Service Cooperative, Dong Hy District, although it has been operating effectively for many years in linking the growth of some types of leafy vegetables and fruit, the cooperative still faces difficulties in applying high technology to production because of the small-scale scattered land.
"Everyone understands that applying high technology to production will improve quality, productivity and product costs, but it is not easy for us. For example, we intended to invest in greenhouses and greenhouses to grow vegetables according to new standards, but for the past 5 years we have not been able to do so because of scattered agricultural land," said Mr. Mieu Van Long - Director of Nam Hoa Cooperative.
According to the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cooperative Union, over the past 4 years (from 2020 to 2024), the whole province has increased 175 cooperatives, however, the number of cooperatives that are truly operating effectively only accounts for over 55%. One of the reasons is that many cooperatives do not have or cannot access land resources.
Ms. Vu Thi Thu Huong - Vice President of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cooperative Union - said that supporting cooperatives to have more access to preferential loans, thereby giving cooperatives the conditions to lease long-term production land from people to serve production will help cooperatives develop stably and long-term.
"Surely removing difficulties in land will help agricultural cooperatives improve their operations, bringing local agricultural products to a higher value chain, contributing to improving people's lives" - Ms. Huong commented.
