New delta co-op project approved

HCM CITY — The Prime Minister has approved a project for three new farm co-operative models for rice, aquatic products and fruit in the Cá»­u Long (Mekong) Delta by 2020.

The project aims to promote connections between co-operatives and farmers, as well as improve the conditions of local people.

It will be carried out in three phases in the delta’s 13 provinces and cities.

The first phase, which begins this year and will end in 2017, will evaluate the Delta’s existing co-operatives based on the 2012 Co-operative Law and reorganise them according to the region’s three key products. Establishing new co-operatives is another task of the project.  

The second phase, to end in 2018, is for implementation of a model of provincial co-operative unions for each product, while the last phase is for establishing co-operative unions for the region.

Local authorities are in charge of encouraging individual farmers and farming households to join the co-operatives.

They are also responsible for working with the co-operative to find ways to generate more capital to promote their operations.

After two years of implementing the project, the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Planning and Investment will work with the Southwestern Region Steering Committee and the region’s provincial authorities to review the work and create a plan to expand new co-operative models across the country.