Ahead of the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union: A Major Boost from 6,000 Cooperatives and Cooperative Groups Inspiring Farmers to “Think Big, Act Big” (Part 4)
With more than 1,000 newly established cooperatives and 5,225 cooperative groups formed during the past term, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) has reaffirmed its core role in promoting the collective economy. By strengthening value-chain linkages, VNFU at all levels have helped members and farmers shift from fragmented small-scale production to cooperative models, thereby reinforcing farmers’ role as key actors in the modern rural economy.
VNFU establishes 1,028 cooperatives and 5,225 cooperative groups
Speaking at Cooperative Economy Forum 2025, Mr. Luong Quoc Doan, Member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Committee of the VNFU, emphasized that the development of the collective economy and cooperatives is a major, consistent and long-term policy of the Party and the State. To strengthen the collective economy together with the state economy as a solid foundation of the national economy, the 5th Plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022 on continuing to innovate, develop and improve the efficiency of the collective economy in the new period.
Implementing the Party and State’s policies, the VNFU has identified participation in developing the cooperative economy as one of its key tasks.
Mr. Luong Quoc Doan, Member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the VNFU Central Committee, visited a linked farming model for tam vong bamboo cultivation in Nui Cam Commune, An Giang Province. Photo by Pham Hung
Over the years, the Central Committee of the VNFU has issued a series of resolutions and documents to guide implementation, including Resolution No. 04-NQ/HNDTW dated July 29, 2011 on strengthening communication, mobilization and guidance for the development of the collective economy in agriculture and rural areas for the 2011–2020 period; Projects No.24-DA/HNDTW dated June 23, 2016 on establishing professional farmers' union groups and branches as a foundation for promoting cooperative groups and cooperatives; Resolution No. 04-NQ/HNDTW dated August 5, 2019 on promoting the development of professional farmers’ union groups and branches; and Resolution No. 10-NQ/HNDTW dated Jylu 27, 2020 on the VNFU’s participation in developing the collective economy in agriculture and rural areas for the 2020–2025 period.
A major highlight during the past term has been the VNFU’s advisory role to the Government in promoting the collective economy.
Most notably, the VNFU proposed the Prime Minister to issue Decision No. 182/QD-TTg dated February 20, 2024 approving the project “The Vietnam Farmers’ Union Participates Collective Economy Development in Agriculture until 2030.” The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 182/QD-TTg approving the Project “The Vietnam Farmers’ Union’s Communication, Mobilization and Guidance for Farmers in Collective Economy Development in Agriculture until 2030.” The Decision created an important legal framework for VNFU at all levels to further strengthen their role in promoting agricultural collective economic development.
To implement the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 182/QD-TTg, the VNFU launched the emulation movement “VNFU Officials and Farmer Members Actively Participating in Collective Economy Development in Agriculture” in early 2024, generating positive social impacts and tangible results.
Reviewing the outcomes of the 8th Congress term, many positive and breakthrough results have been achieved in supporting farmers to participate in collective economic models, high-tech agricultural cooperatives and digital transformation.
Specifically, VNFU at all levels guided the establishment of 1,028 new agricultural cooperatives, reaching 240.7% of the target and 4.1 times higher than the target set under Decision No. 182/QD-TTg. In addition, 5,225 agricultural cooperative groups were established, equivalent to 258.3% of the target and 3.5 times higher than the assigned goal. These collective economic models attracted nearly 1.3 million farming households to participate in cooperative groups and cooperatives equivalent to 136.8 % of the target and 2.8 times higher than the assigned goal.
Mr. Phan Nhu Nguyen, VNFU 1st Vice Chairman, and Ms. Bui Thi Thom, VNFU Vice Chairwoman, present commemorative certificates to outstanding agricultural cooperatives nationwide in 2024. Photo by Pham Hung.
Strengthening farmers’ role in agricultural value chains
To improve knowledge and building capacity related to collective economic development, the Central Committee of the VNFU organized 143 training courses for more than 20,000 VNFU officials, members and farmer of the cooperatives.
At the same time, Farmers’ Union organizations at all levels promoted the establishment of professional Farmers’ Union branches and groups to strengthen production linkages, develop concentrated raw-material areas and encourage the application of high technology in agriculture. Therefore, there are now 3,697 professional Farmers’ Union branches with nearly 85,000 members and 29,206 professional Farmers’ Union groups with more than 422,000 members, laying an important foundation for the development of cooperative groups and cooperatives.
VNFU at all levels have also diversified their communication and outreach activities to mobilize farmers to engage in cooperative production and business models linked to new rural development and the growth of household and farm economies.
Notably, trade fairs, supply-demand connection events and agricultural product promotion activities have been organized through approximately 600 safe agricultural product stores and booths, including more than 200 directly managed by the VNFU.
In the digital era, cooperatives supported by the VNFU have actively invested in processing, branding and product value enhancement. The VNFU has played a key role in helping farmers and cooperatives participate in the “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) Program, contributing to transforming local specialties into competitive market products.
Tuan Tu Cooperative’s green asparagus cultivation model in An Hai Commune, Ninh Phuoc District (formerly Ninh Thuan Province) was recognized among the 63 outstanding cooperatives nationwide in 2024. Photo by Duc Cuong
In addition, VNFU at all levels have focused on supporting agricultural cooperatives in building geographical indications, collective trademarks, barcodes and traceability labels, while also assisting the application of technology and technical innovations through pilot value-chain linkage models.
During the past term, the VNFU guided and supported farmers in developing and expanding 4,977 production models applying technological advances and biotechnology.
To support farmers in developing the collective economy, the VNFU has strengthened financial support for cooperative groups and cooperatives in crop cultivation, livestock, aquaculture and services. Currently, the Supporting Fund for Farmers at all levels have reached VND 5.523 trillion, financing 14,314 projects benefiting 25,383 households. In addition, the VNFU coordinated with banks to provide loan to farmers without collateral totaling more than VND 194 trillion for farmers’ production and business activities.
Looking ahead to the 9th National Congress, the VNFU identifies collective economic development as a long-term strategic mission. The focus will not only be on increasing the number of cooperatives but also on building governance capacity, promoting high-tech agriculture, green agriculture and the circular economy.
During the 2026–2031 term, the VNFU will continue promoting its role in communication, mobilization and support for farmers to strengthen production and business linkages. The VNFU has therefore proposed on the Prime Minister, ministries and local authorities to continue providing mechanisms and resources to support the development and replication of pilot agricultural models aligned with the orientations of “green rural livelihoods – digital agriculture – value chains – brand building – and agricultural product marketing.”