Through the FFF program, cooperatives and associations produce high-quality, attractively designed products, while members leverage social media to promote them, expand markets, and share their community stories. Photo: Ngoc Minh.

At all levels, the Farmers’ Union has actively promoted awareness and encouraged members to apply environmentally friendly production techniques, adopt organic farming, and engage in the protection and development of large timber forests, thereby increasing the value generated under forest canopies.

In addition, training courses on forest plantation techniques and large timber forest transformation have been organized. These include the cultivation of valuable native tree species and the development of forest landscapes. Experts from the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Agriculture and Forestry have been invited to share valuable insights on the benefits of large timber plantations, native species cultivation, and FSC certification.

The Union has also actively organized cultural exchange activities of the Dao ethnic group, such as the “Dancing Festival” in Quan Chu Town and the “Coming-of-Age Ceremony” in Hop Tien Commune, Dong Hy District. These meaningful cultural activities aim to preserve and promote ethnic traditions while enhancing the spiritual well-being of local communities.

Moreover, continuous support has been provided to Yen Duong Cooperative to maintain experiential tourism activities in Phieng Phang village. The cooperative also participates in local festivals and regularly organizes cultural, artistic, and sports activities, contributing to stronger community cohesion and solidarity.

Efforts have also been made to ensure that women account for at least 40% of participants in FFF Program activities at the local level. The program has supported the production of promotional video clips for cooperatives and their products, and regularly publishes news and articles about FFF activities on the Provincial Farmers’ Union website. In addition, members of cooperative groups and cooperatives actively promote program activities via social media platforms such as Zalo and Facebook.

Thanks to the active involvement of the Farmers’ Union at all levels, the capacity of Union staff has been strengthened, enabling them to provide more effective support to farmers. Cooperative groups and cooperatives have become more capable of selecting suitable products, organizing production and business activities along value chains, shifting toward market-oriented production thinking, conducting market research, developing business plans, managing production and quality, jointly investing, processing products to add value, and diversifying their product offerings.

The program has also strengthened linkages among forest and farm producers, enhanced solidarity and cooperation within farming communities, and fostered stronger connections between cooperative groups, cooperatives, local authorities, and relevant agencies. It has promoted the effective use of financial resources from the FFF Program alongside other government, local, and community programs.

At the same time, the program supports cooperative groups and cooperatives in developing sustainable agricultural and forestry production and business plans, applying environmentally friendly farming practices, promoting organic production and biodiversity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with sustainable forest management and protection.

Despite these achievements, several challenges remain. Linkages among cooperative members and producers to form concentrated raw material areas are still weak. Infrastructure, particularly access roads to production areas, remains limited. Production land is fragmented and small-scale, while cooperative leaders often lack adequate skills in business and production planning. Market access remains unstable, with fluctuating prices.

In addition, some farmers are not yet fully aware of the benefits of organic production and large timber plantations, resulting in limited adoption and insufficient value generation under forest canopies. Cooperative groups and cooperatives also face capital constraints for investment in production.

To further enhance the effectiveness of the program in the coming period, relevant departments and sectors will continue to support the development and scaling up of forest and farm economic models under cooperative, group-based, and professional association structures. Efforts will also focus on strengthening value chain linkages between enterprises and farmers in agricultural and forestry production and marketing, thereby increasing farmers’ incomes and expanding their market opportunities.

The Farmers’ Union at all levels will continue to support cooperative groups and cooperatives in organizing production and business activities, developing certified products, promoting trade, and expanding large timber plantations in line with FSC standards. Capacity building will also be prioritized, particularly in leadership and management skills, as well as the application of science and technology in production, especially digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

At the same time, awareness-raising efforts on the collective economy will be strengthened, alongside support for the establishment of new cooperative groups and cooperatives. These entities will continue to develop forest and farm models, including large timber plantations and medicinal plant cultivation under forest canopies. Support will also be provided to maintain cultural and sports activities, preserving and promoting ethnic identities.