(HBO) - Keeping up with the pace of development of science and technology, in recent years, farmers in Hoa Binh province have changed their thinking in farming and production.

Thanks to that, more households have created profitable production and business models; many groups of farmers have engaged in safe agricultural production and trade, thus forming value chains from production to consumption, applying advanced quality management processes, traceability, helping consumers identify and choose safe food.

 

Le Van Thach, Chairman of the provincial Farmers' Union said: Although there are changes for the better in the agricultural production practices of farmers, many farmers still continue with traditional production methods and do not join value chains. The linkages between farmers and businesses are not sustainable. Many contracts are broken, undermining the trust between farmers and businesses. Meanwhile, in the agricultural sector, demand for safe products meeting under VietGAP, GlobalGAP standards is increasing, requiring farmers to cooperate and associate to establish organizations to increase their capacity to meet market demand.

From 2020 till now, farmers’ unions at all levels have coordinated to organize over 280 training courses on VietGAP farming techniques for vegetable, citrus trees, and disease prevention for crops and livestock, benefiting over 124,600 union members. The  provincial union has persuaded more than 103,400 member farmer households to  sign commitments to ensure food hygiene and safety. The union also helped with the building of 32 agricultural production models applying advanced techniques. It coordinated with relevant agencies to hold four conferences informing regulations on hygiene and safety of agro-fishery-forestry products for 180 owners of establishments engaged in the production, processing and trading of those products. 

The union also made recommendations to the authorities on policies on developing cooperation and linkages in the production and marketing of agricultural products, thus pushing the transfer from small-scale independent production by households to production and value chains. In the first six months of this year, farmers’ unions at all levels in the province have helped set up 91 cooperatives and craft production groups./.