A seminar to thoroughly grasp a project on the cooperative economy andbuilding new-style cooperatives in the Mekong Delta was held in Can Thocity on July 15.

The event was co-organised by theMinistry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Southwestern RegionSteering Committee (SRSC).

In his opening remark, MPI DeputyMinister Dang Huy Dong emphasised the significance of the Party andState’s policies in developing the collective economy.

Theproject aims to promote the sustainable development of the collectiveeconomic sector in the region, especially agricultural cooperatives,thus helping improve farmers’ economic, cultural and social lives, headded.

According to Dong, the Mekong Delta regionhas developed the individual economic model for years. However, themodel has not yet proved its effectiveness and people’s livingconditions are still low with unstable incomes.

Lack of cooperation, management and guidance are behind the failure of the model, said he.

Thecooperative model is said to be suitable to deal with the problem, saidDong, adding that by joining cooperatives, members will be providedwith low-cost input materials and technical support as well as beassisted in selling their products in the most effective way.

Theinitial step will see the formation of three cooperative models in ricecultivation, tra fish breeding and fruit growing, Dong said.

Accordingto Deputy Head of the SRSC Duong Quoc Xuan, there are more than 1,300cooperatives and 45,000 agricultural and seafood cooperative groups in13 Mekong Delta localities, accounting for 14 percent of the country’stotal number.

Agricultural cooperatives have madepositive contributions to socio-economic development and povertyreduction in the region, however, there are still shortcomings that needto be addressed, he said.-VNA