"Shake hands" to win together

Building production models linked to value chains in general and safe, sustainable chains in particular is the shortest way to contribute to improving the quality of life and income for farmers; building modern, sustainable agriculture , competitive enough in the market.

Duong Hoa Cuong Tea Cooperative (Hai Ha District) was established in 2017 - the most difficult time for Hai Ha tea. At that time, tea could not be exported, domestic consumption was limited, tea prices were low, people stopped picking tea, some households started to consider destroying tea trees to replace them with other crops. Faced with this situation, Hai Ha tea growers decided to gather together, promote solidarity and mutual support, sit down to assess the situation and find ways to overcome difficulties.

Mr. Nguyen Sy Dung, Director of Duong Hoa Cuong Tea Cooperative, said: We have more than 40 people, all of whom are tea growers and roasters. We have agreed to change our farming methods to organic; divide the time and objects for making refined tea and making raw tea; avoid mass harvesting at the same time, avoid making the same type of tea and selling it to the same market, otherwise we will step on our own feet... Mr. Nguyen Duc Minh (village 8, Quang Long commune), a member of Duong Hoa Cuong Tea Cooperative, said: My family chose to apply VietGAP procedures in farming, limit the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and instead use biological substances; ensure enough water for the plants, gradually switch from picking tea by machine to picking by hand, meeting the requirement of 1 bud and 2 leaves to be able to process delicious dry tea.

Director of Duong Hoa Cuong Tea Cooperative Tran Sy Dung (left) discusses tea cultivation techniques with cooperative members.

After a period of complying with the general principles set forth by Duong Hoa Cuong Tea Cooperative, Hai Ha tea has shown signs of stable consumption again. Since 2019, Hai Ha tea has gradually increased its selling price and tea growers have made a profit. Currently, Hai Ha's total dry tea output is about 1,000 tons, of which 60% is exported as raw materials to foreign markets, the rest is refined tea products, consumed domestically. Domestic consumption profits are 3 times higher than raw exports. "Solidarity and cooperation are the operating principles, as well as the foundation and basis for achieving results. Hai Ha tea will not be devalued if the 43 of us still sit together and "shake hands" to do business" - the Director of Duong Hoa Cuong Tea Cooperative affirmed.

Along with Hai Ha tea, many other agricultural products in the province are in production chain models, processing chains, or consumption chains, promoting agricultural product development and bringing revenue and profit to people. For example, the DT37 rice planting linkage project between 190 farming households in village 2, Nguyen Hue commune (Dong Trieu town) with the Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative of Nguyen Hue commune and Quang Ninh Seed Joint Stock Company. The area linking the planting of Ba Kich trees in Thanh Lam commune (Ba Che district) with Dap Thanh Forestry Trading Joint Stock Company, this is the premise for Thanh Lam commune to set a goal of planting over 10 hectares of Ba Kich trees each year, by 2025 becoming a center supplying high-quality Ba Kich tubers for the whole region.

Promoting linked production, Quang Ninh aims to develop cooperatives and cooperative groups, considering them as core production organizations in promoting collective economic development in agriculture. In the Phuong Nam early ripening lychee area (Uong Bi City), Phuong Nam Early Ripening Lychee Cooperative is a pioneer in leading members as well as Phuong Nam lychee growers to apply advanced science and technology in cultivating early ripening lychee, prioritizing organic farming, minimizing and eliminating the abuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, replacing them with biological fertilizers and pesticides. In Dong Trieu Town, receiving active technical support and input material supply from Binh Khe Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative, nearly 200 hectares of lychee trees of Binh Khe commune people have developed very well over the years. The Cooperative also links to organize direct production with models applying high technology and techniques, such as growing green vegetables and cucumbers in greenhouses, greenhouses, etc.

Linking production and “joining hands” to win together is an inevitable requirement in the trend of economic development in general and agricultural economy in particular. Quang Ninh farmers have been implementing this relatively well, creating solidarity and common strength to reach victories.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/bat-tay-de-cung-thang-3316449.html