Dutch organisation aids agricultural cooperatives in Quang Nam
How to build development plans for agricultural cooperatives was the main topic of a workshop jointly held in the central province of Quang Nam on October 31 by the provincial People’s Committee and the Netherlands-based agricultural organisation Agriterra.
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Quang Nam is now home to 172 agricultural cooperatives and one alliance of agricultural cooperatives. However, cooperative members lack comprehensive knowledge about cooperatives, especially the 2012 Law on Cooperatives, while cooperatives management boards’ leadership and planning capacity remain weak.
In addition, local cooperatives are still facing difficulties in getting access to markets and capital sources as well as advanced machines and technologies.
Harm Haverkort, a representative of Agriterra Vietnam, emphasised the need to set up a transparent and modern financial system to provide members with updated information.
He also suggested some solutions, such as offering preferential policies to encourage university graduates join cooperative management boards, organising training courses on production planning and marketing, and enhancing connections with businesses in processing, distribution and technology transfer.
Previously, experts from Agriterra Vietnam paid fact-finding trips to cooperatives in Dien Ban town and Dai Loc district to offer consultancy on business strategies, marketing plans, brand development, and basic financial management.
Founded 20 years ago by the Dutch farmers association, Agriterra has become an international development organization providing support for cooperatives in terms of financial management, business administration and development.-
