THANH XUAN ORGANIC VEGETABLE COOPERATIVE

Vietnam Farmers’ Union - VNFU

Brief Information of the organization

Organization: Vietnam Farmers’ Union - Centre for Supporting Farmers and Rural Development

Address: Ton That Thuyet Str., My Dinh 2, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Model on providing service on techniques and market access for organic vegetables through Thanh Xuan organic vegetable cooperative

Brief Information of the Cooperative

- Established in 2008 (farmers’ group) with support of the project funded by ADDA - Denmark and VNFU.

- In 2008, 1 farmers’ group on organic vegetable planting with area of 7,700 square meter, 11 members.

- In 2009, 2 farmers’ groups established, 20,500 square meter, 19 members; 01 inter-group established

Thanh Xuan organic vegetable coop

In 2010, 01 more farmers’ group established, the area up to 29.000m2.

In 2011, 03 groups more established, the area up to 80,240m2.

In 2012, 03 groups more established, the area up to 92.000m2

Thanh Xuan organic vegetable coop

In 2012, 01 cooperative established at village scale with 8 members and 03 groups.

In 2013 , the planting area of 15.5ha In Dec 2013, 01 cooperative established

at commune scale with 19 members and 9 groups.

Thanh Xuan organic vegetable coop

The cooperative started from small groups (head of group-board leader, Vice head, accountant, cashier, controlling staff) to inter-group, then develop to be cooperative.

Controlling staff team: Monitoring on quality, testing, inspecting the process - is one of the most effective factors for ensure the sustainability of the cooperative.

Thanh Xuan organic vegetable coop

In 2014, selling 242 tons among 440 tons in the commune.

Not enough organic vegetable for the market demand.

Programs and enterprise/business related

services to Members Type of services or programs support to

members’ enterprises: supporting farmers on organic techniques and access to market for organic vegetables through cooperation groups and cooperatives:

Training on techniques Training on market access Linking farmers’ group with buyers including

organic company, supermarket...

Programs and enterprise/business related

services to Members How the services are extended to members?

- Field staff at the famers areas.

- Good external experts on organic/marketing.

- Communication strategies for raising awareness for consumers/farmers/public on organic vegetables/ productss.

- Establishement of farmers’ groups to develop to be cooperative.

Challenges and issue

Knowledge and capacity of cooperative staff/leaders limited.

Lack of experiences: Very few effective cooperative in selling products.

Lack of skills of financial management. Lack of loan for investing in production infrastructure. Brand name for organic products. Lack of storage and experiences/techniques on

preserving the organic products, especially organic vegetables.

Factors for success

Leaders of cooperative and FU are heart felted and experienced on farmers’ issues.

Developing the farmers’ groups to be a cooperative, convenient in managing.

The model generates income and bring the practical interest for farmers with sustainable income.

Close monitor and guidance from VNFU Close cooperation from various partners. Some customers know and prefer to using organic products. Government encourages to develop the clean/green, safe and

sustainable agriculture.

Recommendations

Trainings on financial management for leaders of farmers’ groups and cooperatives.

Facilitating giving loan with lower interest for small cooperatives on short day agro - products such as vegetables… )

Supporting models on cooperatives on value chain development, particularly the special products in each locality with strong points.

Supporting models on producing organic fertilizers. Linkage between farmers and customer (marketing). Building the brand name for organic products. Supporting to build the storage. Training the technique on preserving organic products, especially

organic vegetables.