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| Co-operation between farmers, co-operatives and enterprises in HCM City needs to be strengthened further, a seminar to promote trilateral cooperation heard on Thursday.— Photo dantocmiennui.vn |
HCM CITY — Co-operation between farmers, co-operatives and enterprises in HCM City needs to be strengthened further, a seminar to promote trilateral cooperation heard on Thursday.
Trần Ngọc Hổ, deputy director of the city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “Enterprises would like to increase co-operation with farmers through co-operatives to ensure steady supply.
“Farmers need only to focus on production if co-operatives and enterprises have a good relationship.”
The city subsidises interest on credit for enterprises to buy agricultural produce while the Government has policies to encourage co-operatives to collaborate with enterprises to increase consumption of agricultural goods, he said.
Cấn Sơn Trường, a senior department official, said: “However, co-operative managers’ low awareness and knowledge mean they are not able to meet the needs of enterprises or farmers, while many co-operatives depend on support from Government rather than do business themselves.
“Poor infrastructure, limited finance and low management skills are weaknesses that plague co-operatives.
"Agricultural lands are shrinking while farmers, co-operatives, and enterprises do not co-operate closely, he said.
To improve the situation, his department would urge the city People’s Committee to identify key agricultural products and draft policies to encourage such co-operation, he said.
“Proper financial support for co-operative staff should be considered to attract good staff.”
There are 61 agricultural co-operatives in the city but only 34 of them have been functioning for over 12 months, with 24 of them doing well. — VNS
