Scene at the signing ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development andnon-governmental Good Neighbors International (GNI) signed a pact on March 7 todevelop new cooperative models and farm produce value chains in Vietnam.
Theagreement will support the establishment and operation of agriculturalcooperatives and development of farm produce value chains in areas where theGNI is running its income-generation projects.
Between2018 and 2020, the two sides are set to build a suitable action plan, carry outresearch and surveys on demand and consumption of agricultural products,promote the products, and help producers build trademarks for their goods.
MaQuang Trung, Director of the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development,said only 38 percent of Vietnam’s 12,000 cooperatives are working effectively.Vietnamese cooperatives often have small scale, and their members earn lowincomes and face various difficulties in selling their products.
Accordingto An Yong Sic, chief of GNI representative office in Vietnam, the organizationhas collaborated with more than 1,000 farmers in Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, and TuyenQuang provinces, and with a numbers of shopping malls and convenience stores inHanoi. Currently, many of the farmers’ goods are on shelves of Kmart, Lottemart, and Vinmart stores in the capital city.
Establishedin 1991, GNI implements community development projects globally to improvequality of life and access to education, as well as to provide aid in areas ofcivil unrest or natural disasters. Opened in 2005, GNI Vietnam has initiatedmany programs in underprivileged areas of the country, including sponsorship,case management, education and protection, health care, water-sanitation,income generation, raising awareness of local residents, and emergencyrelief.-VNA
VNA
