The "key" to improving highland agricultural products

In the context of Lao Cai agriculture entering a new stage of development, aiming at producing high-quality goods and expanding domestic and foreign markets, improving the capacity of agricultural cooperatives has become an inevitable requirement. Strengthening management knowledge, applying digital technology and modern processing not only helps cooperatives escape from small-scale production thinking, but is also the "key" to increasing value, bringing highland agricultural products to the far and integrating sustainably.

Lao Cai currently has 1,429 cooperatives, of which 816 are agricultural cooperatives. This is the core force, the "backbone" of the rural economy . Cooperatives have contributed to introducing new varieties of plants and animals into production according to VietGAP and organic processes, while also elevating many local products such as cinnamon, tea, salmon, medicinal herbs, sturgeon, safe vegetables, hawthorn, honey, etc. to become OCOP products. More than 50% of the province's OCOP products currently come from cooperatives and cooperative groups, clearly demonstrating the "midwife" role of cooperatives for farmers.

Cooperatives and cooperative groups have clearly demonstrated the "midwife" role of cooperatives for farmers.

Some typical models such as: Vietnam Cinnamon Cooperative, Kien Thuan Cooperative, Van Hoa Cooperative, Thang Loi Vegetable and Fruit Cooperative... have affirmed their brands and created stable output. Through links with businesses, supermarkets, wholesale markets and especially e-commerce platforms, cooperatives are becoming a bridge to bring highland agricultural products closer to consumers.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Duc Lam - Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Province Cooperative Union, many cooperatives are still struggling with "bottlenecks": small scale, low charter capital, difficult access to credit; limited management capacity; unsynchronized digital transformation. In particular, the fragmented production mindset of many members is still a major barrier that makes it difficult for cooperatives to participate in the value chain and meet increasingly stringent market requirements.

In the fierce integration flow, improving management and technology capacity is no longer an option but the way to survival of cooperatives.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Lam - Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Province Cooperative Union affirmed: Cooperatives need to promote the application of digital technology , processing, and preservation to improve product quality and increase competitiveness. At the same time, it is necessary to build brands, standardize products, and expand consumption links. This is the "key" to breakthrough. Those words are not just slogans, because on Lao Cai land, great changes have been and are being created. The determined steps have brought about clear results, turning challenges into opportunities and helping many cooperatives make spectacular breakthroughs.

The story of Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet Tea Cooperative, Phinh Ho Commune is a typical example of the power of knowledge and technology. Thanks to the support from the Provincial Cooperative Union, Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet Tea Cooperative has participated in training courses on marketing, business and e-commerce applications. Since then, Shan Tuyet tea buds are no longer confined to the mountains and forests but have a new "name" - the TDG Tea brand. The product is now put on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop and promoted through the TikTok platform with hundreds of thousands of followers. Thanks to that, Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet tea is not only consumed strongly domestically but also confidently reaches out to "difficult" markets such as Europe, the US and Japan.

Not only Shan Tuyet Tea, T&D Clean Agriculture Cooperative, Lao Chai Commune is also an inspiring story. With specialty products such as chayote, hawthorn, peach, chicken..., this cooperative has been supported to apply information technology in production and business management. Thanks to that, the products quickly crossed the village boundaries, appeared in major supermarkets in Hanoi, Hai Phong and were sold online via e-commerce and livestream.

Phinh Ho Shan Tuyet Tea Cooperative and T&D Cooperative pioneer digital transformation, paving the way for highland agricultural products to reach the international market.

The above stories have proven that when cooperatives are equipped with new knowledge, skills and technology, the added value of highland agricultural products is significantly enhanced, opening a solid path for sustainable development. This is a change not only in economics but also in thinking, helping highland farmers confidently take control of their future.

To make the breakthrough aspirations of agricultural cooperatives become reality, the whole system needs to join in and participate. The solution does not lie in one point but in a tightly linked chain, creating a solid foundation, both protecting and promoting the development of cooperatives.

The first key and decisive factor is human resources. When cooperative managers are equipped with modern management knowledge, market understanding and digital technology proficiency, they will become real “leaders”, leading the cooperative on the path of professionalism and integration.

Along with improving knowledge, digital transformation must be implemented vigorously. Cooperatives need support in terms of technology infrastructure, management software and e-commerce skills so that highland products can access a larger, more transparent and effective market.

Production is one thing, but how to increase value and minimize post-harvest risks is a difficult problem. Therefore, investing in processing and preservation technology is an indispensable solution. Only with modern production lines can cooperatives reduce losses, improve product quality and meet the strict standards of demanding markets.

In addition to self-efforts, building a comprehensive support ecosystem is extremely important. It is necessary to encourage the construction of a new cooperative model: transparent, professional and effectively connecting the "four houses" - the State, Scientists, Enterprises and Farmers. This connection will create a synergistic strength, helping cooperatives develop sustainably.

At the policy level, Lao Cai province and the Cooperative Alliance have accompanied cooperatives through many programs. A typical example is the SPRINT Project, funded by the Canadian Ministry of Global Affairs, which organized 34 training courses with more than 1,400 participants, supporting cooperatives in accessing e-commerce, applying renewable energy and adapting to climate change.

Leaders of the Provincial Cooperative Alliance and a working delegation from the Canadian Ministry of Global Affairs visited the hawthorn processing process of Doan Luong Cooperative.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union Nguyen Duc Lam emphasized: In the coming time, we will continue to advise the province to issue mechanisms and policies to support the training of cooperative staff in a professional direction; promote digital transformation, build brands, support preferential loans and expand value chain linkages. These are key solutions for cooperatives to develop sustainably, bringing Lao Cai agricultural products further into the market. Improving the capacity of agricultural cooperatives is not only an objective requirement, but also an important driving force for Lao Cai agricultural products to affirm their brands, increase value right at home and gradually reach out to the world. When cooperatives are strong, farmers will be steadfast, highland products will be able to conquer demanding markets, bringing confidence and expectations for a sustainable integrated agriculture.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chia-khoa-nang-tam-nong-san-vung-cao-post882963.html