Commodity-oriented rice production - an effective direction of Huong Trang Cooperative

Commodity-oriented rice production is the goal that Huong Trang Cooperative (Huong Trang hamlet, Binh Hoa Trung commune, Moc Hoa district, Long An province) is aiming to exploit potentials and strengths in the locality, ensuring the link between production and consumption, helping farmers reduce costs and increase profits.

Members of Huong Trang Cooperative take care of summer-autumn rice crop 2021

Huong Trang Cooperative was established in June 2015, it has gradually affirmed the effectiveness and cohesion between the cooperative and its members after more than 5 years of operation. At first, the cooperative had only 19 members. During the operation, many farmers saw practical benefits so they voluntarily participated, the total number of members has increased to 169 people up to now. The total production area of the cooperative is about 502 hectares.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Huong Trang Cooperative - Tran Van Sua said: "As soon as it comes into operation, we develop specific plans and schedule for production and business to meet the needs of local situation every year”.

Accordingly, when participating in a cooperative, members (especially small and retail farmers) can link together to improve operational efficiency, create commodity rice products and bring benefits to for farmers. Every month, the cooperative holds regular meetings to implement production plans, unify crops, rice varieties, use fertilizers, plant protection drugs as well as schedule irrigation at each appropriate time. When the season comes, members will simultaneously sow seeds, so they can limit pests and diseases. After harvesting, members are contracted to sell their products by Loc Troi Group, Ngoc Loi Company, Dai Tai Company, and so on, so the price is stable.

Sharing about the benefits of joining the cooperative, Ms. Le Thi Muoi - a member of Huong Trang Cooperative said: "My family has 1.6 hectares of rice, we mainly produced in the traditional, small and odd style. Therefore, it is still limited in applying science and technology, or traders buy with low prices. Seeds are mainly purchased from drying plants, so yield and quality are low. Since joining the cooperative, I have regularly attended training courses on science and technology transfer organized by the cooperative in collaboration with functional departments. Moreover, I don't worry about the output because it is bought by the cooperative, the price is stable, the price of rice is 300-500 VND per kilo higher than the market price.

Promoting the advantages of traffic and on-farm irrigation because of the electric pumping station and closed embankment, Huong Trang cooperative members are actively involved in irrigation, drainage and crop production. Each year, the members can produce 2 main rice crops: Winter-Spring and Summer-Autumn, mainly rice varieties: OM 18, OM 5451, and so on with relatively high yield and quality.

In addition, the cooperative is supported by the VnSAT project to build a 2.2 kilometer long inland road and a rural traffic bridge on the east bank of Go Ong Trang canal to serve travel and trade. In 2019, the cooperative was also supported with a seeding machine combined with spraying in the first phase from the Project on High-tech application on rice in the period 2016-2020 implemented by the Provincial Center for Agricultural Service.

“During the cultivation process, we coordinate with the professional industry and the company to visit the fields regularly to monitor the development of the rice plant and then take timely measures. In particular, we guide members to apply technological advances to production, find outputs and sign contracts with companies to provide a full range of fertilizers, drugs and seeds for farmers from the beginning of the crop to the harvesting time so that farmers can feel secure in production, improve the quality and efficiency of farming" - Mr. Tran Van Sua added.

Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Moc Hoa district - Le Van Tung informed: "In order to achieve the goal of gradually forming a concentrated quality rice production area with a large area, rice production towards goods and branding of local rice and rice, in the coming time, we will continue to take advantage of the attention and support of the functional industry in terms of capital, varieties and science - technology. In addition, we continue to seek and mobilize agricultural companies and enterprises to invest and directly support farmers, especially guide people to apply the VietGAP production process. In addition, we continue to encourage farmers to join cooperatives to expand their area and create high-quality goods, reduce production costs, increase profits, competitiveness and stabilize output".

Although there are still many difficulties, but with the efforts of the Board of Directors, the Directors of the cooperative and the attention of the professional sectors, it is hoped that Huong Trang Cooperative will increasingly show the role of "Bridge between farmers and enterprises", contributing to increase income and improve living standards for members.