In the heart of Vietnam’s agricultural landscape, a quiet revolution is taking place, driven by innovation and the relentless pursuit of higher yields and economic returns. This shift is epitomized by the journey of Bui Van Kha, Director of the Dong Thap Flower Cooperative in Dan Phuong Commune, Hanoi. With a background steeped in rice cultivation, Kha’s fortunes changed when he married into the Tay Tuu Flower Village. This serendipitous event led him to experiment with growing chrysanthemums, roses, and mimosa in rice fields in 2000. However, after a decade of trial and error, Kha realized these flowers were not well-suited to the soil and offered limited economic returns. Undeterred, he switched to gerbera daisies, a decision that proved to be a game-changer. The success of gerbera cultivation spurred Kha to form a cooperative, pooling resources and expertise with other households. Today, the cooperative cultivates flowers over 27 hectares, utilizing greenhouses and net houses to enhance quality and yields, significantly boosting economic returns compared to traditional methods.
Meanwhile, in Hai Phong City, the Thuy Huong Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative is tackling the issue of abandoned fields by leasing land for large-scale, high-tech farming. Nguyen Thi Ha, Director and Chairwoman of the cooperative, shared insights into their innovative models, such as high-quality rice and rice-fish farming, which achieve an efficiency of 70 million VND per hectare per year—three to five times higher than conventional farming. The cooperative also engages in rice-worm farming on 222 hectares, employing organic methods that reduce fertiliser costs by 15-20%, enhance soil fertility, and limit pests and diseases. The cooperative’s rice is now available in stores and supermarkets nationwide, with approximately 200 tons of clean rice supplied annually under the brand name of rice from rice-worm fields.
Similarly, the Dong Xuyen Integrated Livestock Cooperative in Hung Yen Province is making strides with its integrated VAC economic model, which includes rice-fish-sea duck farming, poultry farming, snail farming, and black carp farming. Director Ngo Van Duan emphasized the importance of applying science and technology to enhance production value. The cooperative’s bio-secure duck farming, using biodegradable bedding, has led to healthier ducks, quicker growth, and flavorful meat and eggs. These products are now recognized as 4-star OCOP products, with significant profits reported by member households.
Despite these successes, challenges remain. Vietnam has approximately 26 million hectares of agricultural land, but this area is shrinking due to various factors. The market demand for clean and safe products is increasing, necessitating the application of technology to boost value and farmer income. Currently, over 35,000 cooperatives exist with nearly 6 million members, but only a fraction apply high technology or participate in value chain linkages. Cooperatives play a crucial role in organizing the application of high technology in production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products. However, the percentage of cooperatives applying science and technology remains low, and most cooperatives are small in scale with limited management and production capacity.
To address these issues, localities need to continue training and educating cooperatives and farmers, supporting them in applying technology and digital transformation in management, production, and business operations. Strengthening linkages between people, cooperatives, and businesses is essential to ensure a stable market for high-quality agricultural products. Cooperatives must innovate and apply digital technology in management and operation to guide farmers effectively in production, promotion, and trade. This approach will not only reduce intermediaries and costs but also lower product prices and increase farmer income, contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector in Vietnam.