Hanoi (VNA) – 𒈔With the encouragement of the Farmers’ Union of Thai Binh city in the northern province of Thai Binh, its members have set up and taken part in many cooperative groups to boost crop and animal production, which has proved highly effective.

Raising different animals on 2 hectares of land, Bui Van Khang, a resident in Tong Tho Trung hamlet of Dong My commune, currently owns three chicken farms covering over 3,000 square metres while the remaining area is used for pisciculture and herb cultivation. Since joining the animal production cooperative group of Dong My commune, he has participated in training courses, accessed scientific and technical advances, learned from others’ experience, and got help to improve farming techniques. That has helped his family earn nearly 1 billion VND (43,600 USD) in revenue per year. Established in 2017, the animal production cooperative group of Dong My commune now has over 50 members. The group’s management board has kept coordination with local animal health workers to monitor the farming process and prevent diseases on livestock and poultry. The farmers’ union of Dong My commune has held quarterly meetings to share animal farming experience and help members boost sales. It has also assisted 192 members to get more than 6.7 billion VND in loans to fund animal husbandry, organised classes to transfer scientific - technical advances, provided vocational training, and introduced jobs to its members. Tran Thi Hien, Vice Chairwoman of the Farmers’ Union of Thai Binh city, said the union is managing six production cooperative groups with over 300 members, noting that the participation in such groups will enable farmers to assist one another, thus facilitating sales and loan access. In the time ahead, the union will further promote communications to encourage more farmers to take part in cooperative groups, she added./.