Tien Giang (VNA) – More and more farmers in Vietnam are discoveringthe benefits of working with cooperatives and export companies and using cleanfarming methods to ensure high-quality produce.

In places like Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces there are many agriculturalcooperatives that comply with VietGap standards and sell their produce toexporters like Vina T&T.

For example, all 28 large dragon fruit farmers in Tien Giang are members of cooperativeswhich instruct them to use clean farming methods and avoid certain chemicals.

They sell their entire output to export companies and not to traders. They thushave a reliable buyer whereas selling to traders often leaves them at theirmercy.

The cooperatives schedule the cultivation and harvest of its members to ensurethe harvest is spread throughout the year to ensure supply and thus prices donot fluctuate.

Huynh Van Quyen, a dragon fruit farmer said: “I have been working with the localco-operative and Vina T&T for around five years. I have been learning a lotfrom other farmers and the cooperative staff, who are very helpful and clear intheir instructions. My fruit output, quality and income also saw greatimprovements.”

Vina T&T and the cooperatives it works with assign area codes for eachfarmer as required by the US when it imports fruits.  

The dragon fruits are also exported to markets like Germany, and since theymeet international quality standards, are very well received there.

Since the cooperatives work closely with their farmers, the product quality isconsistent throughout the entire province, making it easier to export.

Longan farmers in Dong Thap are also instructed by their cooperative and VinaT&T not to use chemicals to match international standards, which greatlyboosts the quality of their fruit.

Le Thanh Loc, a longan farmer in Dong Thap’s Chau Thanh district, said:“Earlier Chau Thanh farmers would use their own individual methods withoutcaring much for clean farming, so our output was not that high and some wereeven affected by plant diseases. After working with a farming expert, Dr NguyenDang Nghia, locals have realised the importance of clean farming and changedtheir ways.” 

Overall, farmers improve quality and output when they join cooperatives andadopt clean farming practices, according to insiders.

In the past they would follow their instincts or simply copy from others, someswitching between crops regularly depending on what is popular at the time.

Now more and more farmers around the country have greater awareness and areseeing the big picture, realising the benefits of organised work, clean farmingand export.-VNA