To develop sustainable agriculture and transition to green and circular agriculture it is necessary to ensure sustainable development throughout the agricultural value chain, rather than focusing solely on individual stages such as cultivation, animal husbandry, processing, and distribution. And in this process, agricultural cooperatives play a crucial role, a recent conference heard.

At the “Develop cooperative models, promote agricultural sustainability” conference jointly held by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance on November 24, Dr. Vu Manh Hung, Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said green transformation in agriculture is a difficult journey, requiring patience and high political will, but more than a few members of cooperatives have failed to fully exercise their rights and duties.

According to Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance Cao Xuan Thu Van, government Resolution No. 106/NQ-CP dated July 2023 on the development of agricultural cooperatives in the restructuring of agriculture and building of new-style rural areas sets the target of enhancing the quality and efficiency of agricultural cooperatives by 2025. The Resolution also emphasizes the sustainable development of agricultural cooperatives and prioritizes their integration with the green economy, the circular economy, and the knowledge-based economy.

Therefore, she added, it is essential to have synchronous solutions to develop cooperative models that are sustainable, efficient, and suitable to each area, sector, region, and locality.

Mr. Le Duc Thinh, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development, said that as of October, there were 95 alliances of agricultural cooperatives in the country and 20,309 agricultural cooperatives. It is expected that the number of cooperatives will reach 20,357 by the end of 2023.

Each cooperative has earned average revenue of VND2.5 billion ($103,000) this year and posted average profits of VND400 million (nearly $16,500).