Lam Dong (VNA)– The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has set a target of having 250well-functioning agricultural cooperatives and two cooperative alliances by 2020.

Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi, DeputyChairwoman of the provincial Farmers Association, said at a seminar earlierthis week that there are now 200 agricultural cooperatives in Lam Dong province but their scale andfunctioning are modest.

Under a jointprogramme between the provincial Cooperatives Alliance, Farmers Association andDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province also plans toestablish 154 new agricultural cooperatives by the end of next year.

It provides supportto cooperatives by offering training in management skills and helping buildbrand names and access soft loans.

During theirestablishment stage, its support includes 30 percent subsidy of the cost ofequipment and infrastructure, 70 percent of the cost of buying packaging andlabels and 40 percent of the cost of technologies.

At the seminar, cooperativerepresentatives spoke about the difficulties they face. 

Nguyen Minh Phuong ofThanh Dat Cooperative in Da Lat city’s Ta Nung commune said under the new-stylerural area programme, each commune must have at least one agriculturalco-operative, but few create favourable conditions for their functioning, hesaid.

For instance, whilehouseholds that produce to Vietnamese good agricultural practice (VietGAP)standards have the cost of applying for VietGAP certification subsidized,agricultural cooperatives do not, he said.

The province shouldconsider creating more favourable conditions for cooperatives, he said.

At the seminar,companies from neighbouring provinces like Gia Lai and Dak Lak discussed withagricultural cooperatives contracts to supply inputs and buy their produce.

Those cooperativesthat are operating efficiently help many farmers earn steady incomes.-VNA