(HBO) – All data of cooperatives in Lac Thuy district has been connected to the national information system on cooperative registration. Cooperatives have applied high technology to make products that meet One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme, organic or global good agricultural practices (GlobalGAP) standards. In addition to expanding consumption markets, many have pioneered in putting their products on sale on e-commerce platforms namely Voso.vn and Postmart.vn as well as social networks like Facebook or Zalo.

Implementing digital transformation in cooperatives, the district Steering Committee for Collective Economic Development, in coordination with the provincial Post Office and Viettel Post, has organised training courses and communication campaigns for cooperatives on digital transformation; provided guidance on online sales skills and posted products on the e-commerce trading floors. The cooperatives have been supported in building a collective brand for Lac Thuy oranges; using certification marks for Lac Thuy chicken, Lac Thuy goat, Lac Thuy custard apple, Song Boi tea and OCOP products. They have also received assistance in the application of science and technology which served the development of key products with export potential; and in promotion of research on post-harvest preservation and processing technology suitable to the locality’s condition. The development of organic and clean agricultural cooperatives has been encouraged.

The district currently has 47 cooperativesoperating under the Law on Cooperatives 2012, including 38 agricultural, four handicraft, two transport service and three commercial service ones.

The implementation of digital transformation in cooperatives has changed their operation organisation and management compared to traditional methods; improving the quality and efficiency of their activities.

As one of the province’s outstanding cooperatives, Son Nam Cooperative has created jobs for many local workers with an average income of 6 million VND (253 USD) per month. The annual revenue of the cooperative is over 4.6 billion VND.

Bui Thi Lan, Director of Son Nam Cooperative, said the cooperative has poured capital into raising chickens, pigs, buffaloes and cows, planting fruit trees; and many other services. It also focuses on investing in advanced technology and equipment to reduce the environmental pollution.

Son Nam Cooperative now has a flock of over 5,000 chickens, supplying the market with about 3,000 eggs a day. The Ngoc Han egg of the cooperative has been certified as a provincial-level OCOP product and put on the e-commerce platform Postmart.vn.

According to the district Steering Committee for Collective Economic Development, there are still difficulties in the implementation of digital transformation in cooperatives.

A number of cooperatives have applied high technology in their production and business activities, but due attention hasn’t been paid to the application of technology in product processing and promotion. Low capacity of human resources, especially managers at agricultural cooperatives, is also a matter.

In the coming time, it is necessary for the district to get support from agencies and sectors at all levels in terms of capital and technology to help cooperatives with modern and sustainable production, especially facilitating the introduction of their products on e-commerce trading floors./.