VnSAT contributes to the sustainable development of coffee cooperatives

The Vietnam Sustainable Agriculture Transformation Project (VnSAT) has provided assistance to many agricultural cooperatives across the Central Highlands.

As one of the two cooperatives in Krong Pak district (Dak Lak province) participating in the VnSAT project, Thang Tien Agricultural Service Cooperative  (Thang Tien Cooperative) has participated in many training courses and received assistance  to construct infrastructures to develop a sustainable farming model. After 6 years, the cooperative has achieved many successes in establishing its position in the agricultural market. At the beginning, the cooperative had 74 members and the number has now increased to 273 as more and more farmers have realized the benefits of being a member of the cooperative. The cooperative has currently planted coffee, durian and pepper on 310 hectares.

Le Tuan Dzung, Director of Thang Tien Cooperative said the cooperative has become part of VnSAT project since 2015. At that time the cooperative had just been established, thus a lot of difficulties were waiting for them ahead.

"Via internet and my friends, I knew about the VnSAT project. After that I registered for the project and received assistance from the competent authorities, Dung said,adding that when Thang Tien Cooperative started participating in the project its members were trained on how to grow and produce coffee sustainably.

After that, the VnSAT project helped the cooperative replant new coffee trees on one hectare along with one-hectare hectare under sustainable coffee farming model. Besides, the project provided funds to the cooperative to construct a two-kilometer long road and a power line network.

In particular, the project aided the cooperative in building two factories sized 500 square meters in total with an investment amount of VND1.8 billion. In which the cooperative paid 20% of the amount but then the Dak Lak People's Committee help it with 11% of the amount. By the end of 2020 the two factories were handed over to Thang Tien Cooperative for managing, bringing them into use.

"Without VnSAT project ,our cooperative can't  be as it is today. Before participating in the project, we did not have a specific direction for our development. We were in debt as investing more than VND 4billion in a power line network. Without the support from VnSAT we would have closed down," said Dzung.

Nguyen Van Thanh living in Hoa An commune, Krong Pak district (Dak Lak province) said Thang Tien Cooperative in general and its members in particular have benefited a lot from VnSAT project.

"Previously, transportation was very difficult in the rainy season because we didn't have cement-concrete roads. With the investment in power line network we are now no longer depending on electricity generators for watering our coffee plantations. As a result we can save money and reduce impacts on environment. Since the area was connected to the electrical grid farmers here have been proactive at watering their gardens and they have been no longer worried about water shortage as before.

Through training courses held by VnSAT project we could acquire knowledge and skills on science and techniques to switch to effective farming models to improve our incomes.  Moreover the project has helped to bond the members of the cooperative together," Thanh said.

Nguyen Quoc Hoan, Deputy Project Manager of VnSAT Dak Lak said VnSAT Dak Lak has been focusing on nine infrastructure projects in 2021 with the total amount of nearly VND100 billion. In which, rural roads have been under construction to connect crop-growing areas in the province. It's expected that 50% of the project will be completed by the end of 2021.

According to the VnSAT Dak Lak's manager when the roads are completed and brought into use they will make traffic and production more convenient, leading to a reduction in transportation costs, especially for coffee shipment.

"Under the project, 64 cooperatives and farmers' organizations have been funded to construct infrastructures and trained on sustainable farming techniques. Especially, 10 cooperatives were established with the assistance of the VnSAT project. They received funds to build warehouses, drying grounds and offices. These cooperatives are defined as the core for multiplying the sustainable coffee production model across Dak Lak province in the near future," said Nguyen Quoc Hoan.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak province has recognized 16 nurseries qualified for the VnSAT project. These nurseries have supplied over 3 million seedlings to growers every year to meet the demand for replacing old coffee trees in the area. The seedlings were of good quality and highly appreciated by local farmers for replanting new coffee trees.