Dong Hung clean agricultural production, trading and service cooperative of the Women's Union of Dong Lo commune (Hiep Hoa district) creates jobs for nearly 100 members.

Hong Giang is one of the communes with the largest fruit area and output in Luc Ngan district, including lychee in the summer; pomelo and orange in the winter. In the past few years, many families of women union members in Hong Giang commune have begun to grow the V2 orange. 

It is estimated that the whole commune has more than 1,500 V2 orange trees. The orange has been harvested for 3-4 crops, with stable quality and output. However, the entire area of the V2 orange has not been planned under VietGAP production, so prices are uncertain and the fruit has not yet found a place in the market.

From that fact, Nguyen Thi Hoe, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Ngot village, Hong Giang commune proposed the idea of setting up the VietGAP V2 Orange Cooperative. The cooperative’s members have discussed, surveyed, captured the market demand, developed a business plan and advertised the product. 

Da Mai dried vermicelli.

The cooperative gathers 10 households involved in producing orange according to VietGAP standards. Their orange was sold at 30,000 VND per kg. After deducting expenses, each household earned about 200 million VND (8,580 USD) in profit per year.

Since 2000, a couple of Tran Thi Su in Cao Xa commune (Tan Yen district) have bought agricultural products and then sold them at some markets in Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh and Hai Duong provinces. Gradually expanding the markets, Su has found destinations for the products of her family, neighbors and many other farmers in the province.

In 2016, Su and her husband encouraged nine members in the commune to contribute capital to establish the Vinh Quang agricultural production cooperative. With more than 3,000sq.m, the members have invested in growing breeding vegetables to supply to farmers in different places. Su has been responsible for seeking markets for products to maintain a stable output of vegetables in the year. All the agricultural products grown and cared in a right way have been consumed. The farmers did not need to worry about product sales.

In addition to the models of Hoe and Su, many startup ideas in agricultural production and business of women union members have been realized and appreciated such as production of dried vermicelli using solar energy by a group of women union members in Da Mai ward (Bac Giang city); planting and processing Son Dong bamboo products by a group of women union members in An Chau township (Son Dong district); and growing hi-end mushrooms in cool houses and boilers by women in Hoang An commune (Hiep Hoa district) ...

The group of authors in Da Mai ward wins the first prize at the contest.

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial Women's Union Pham Thi Hang said that in 2018, the provincial Women's Union assigned each district and city chapter to support at least 10 women in starting their business. 

After the final round of the startup idea contest, the union is considering feasible ideas to help them complete procedures to get loans from the Bank for Social Policy, the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and TYM (Tinh Thuong One-member Limited Liability Microfinance Institution). 

The union has also encouraged women to participate in cooperative groups and cooperatives with models of production and trading of agricultural products using modern technology. This will help find markets for products, towards stability and sustainability.

Tuyet Mai