Vinh Long: 11 “Billionaire Farmers” Clubs from the Excellent Production and Business Movement
In the period 2023–2025, the movement “Farmers emulating good production and business, uniting to get rich and reduce poverty sustainably” has become an important driving force, arousing the spirit of self-reliance and creativity of farmers, contributing to effectively implementing the goal of sustainable poverty reduction, development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas, and building model new rural areas.
Currently, the whole province has about 172,515 households achieving the title of excellent production and business at all levels.
Every year, more than 302,659 farmer member households (accounting for about 67% compared to agricultural households) register for the title “Excellent production and business farmers” at all levels (reaching 111.4% of the assigned target). The whole province currently has about 172,515 households achieving the title (accounting for 57% compared to registered households, exceeding the assigned target). The movement is increasingly spreading widely in many fields, contributing to restructuring the agricultural economy, building new rural areas and increasing income for farmer members.
Through the movement, many production and business models with high economic efficiency have appeared and been replicated. Typical examples include: models of planting and propagating sweet pomelo seedlings, Thai jackfruit, pomelo, durian; high-tech shrimp farming; organic coconut gardens; seedling production; rice cultivation saving fertilizers; ornamental flowers; vegetables; seedless lemon; broiler chicken; civet farming; boxed crab; grape and greenhouse melon production,...
The Standing Committee of the Farmers’ Union nominated 17 outstanding farmers to participate in voting for the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer”, as a result 11 farmers were recognized; nominated 01 member to participate in voting for the title “Scientist of Farmers – 5th time” and the contest “National Farmers’ Technical Innovation – 10th time”, achieving a consolation prize and being awarded a certificate by the Central Committee of the Union as “Scientist of Farmers”.
From this movement, all levels of the Union have mobilized excellent production and business households, organizations and individuals to support poor households and households in difficult circumstances with capital, breeds, techniques, lending land for production... with a total value of over VND 13.4 billion, creating regular jobs for 1,866 members.
At the same time, the Union actively directed the establishment, consolidation and strengthening of “Billionaire Farmers Clubs”, “Millionaire Farmers Clubs”, production and business clubs, rotating savings groups to create internal resources helping members develop sustainable household economies. The whole province currently has 11 billionaire farmer clubs with 53 members. Through their activities, the clubs have become effective bridges connecting members with enterprises, scientists and banks; supporting members to update knowledge, market information, apply technical advances, and build geographical indications, trademarks and brands for products.
All levels of the Union promote training, fostering and improving knowledge, qualifications and skills in production and business for farmers; organizing 32 training courses to improve capacity and skills for 1,486 lượt officials, members and excellent farmers. Through training courses, members and farmers are equipped with knowledge of ecological, organic, circular and smart agriculture; environmental protection; proper use of fertilizers and chemicals; economic, market and digital transformation knowledge; production, marketing, sales and IT skills. As a result, many households have boldly invested, changed their mindset and actively participated in cooperation and linkage in production and business.
Many exemplary farmer models in environmental protection, landscape improvement and development of community agricultural tourism have been formed, such as models of “ecological gardens combined with orchard tourism”, “farmers doing tourism” in islet communes and specialty fruit-growing areas.
In implementing agricultural restructuring, all levels of the Union have mobilized farmers to convert nearly 3,500 hectares of ineffective land to vegetables, fruit trees, organic rice combined with giant freshwater prawn farming with high economic efficiency; deploying a model of linkage for export seedless lemon on 40.6 hectares in Song Loc and Tap Son communes; forming professional branches with 23 members and professional groups with 12 members.
The Union also supported fertilizers and plant protection drugs for members participating in models worth VND 400 million from the National Target Program on building new rural areas; coordinated with the Sustainable Development Office – Central Vietnam Farmers’ Union to train, hand over breeds and materials to 33 farmer households with a total budget of over VND 920 million to implement 18.7 hectares of models applying microbial and organic products on durian, green-skin pomelo and cucumber.
All levels of the Union coordinated with professional sectors to guide farmers to develop diverse household and farm economic models suitable to conditions and practical needs, such as: implementing 19 production models applying scientific advances, linkage models and value chains; developing 335 hectares of pomelo and durian according to VietGAP standards, 1,876 hectares of organic coconut, 400 hectares of high-tech shrimp, 150 hectares of seedless lemon according to GlobalGAP standards with consumption linkage. At the same time, implementing 02 pilot models under the Project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice at 02 cooperatives…
The Union continues to coordinate implementation of the OCOP Program (One Commune One Product) for the period 2022–2025… Up to now, the province has 1,083 OCOP-certified products, including 13 five-star products, 189 four-star products and 881 three-star products.
The provincial Farmers’ Union also signed cooperation programs with media and technology companies to support farmers selling online; maintaining 67 agricultural product connection points and supporting 53,177 farmers to have accounts on e-commerce platforms.
To support farmers’ access to credit, the Farmers Support Fund currently reaches VND 145.6 billion for 4,904 households to implement 474 projects. At the same time, entrusted lending through VBSP reached VND 4,600 billion for 112,637 households…
In the coming time, the Union will continue to innovate and improve the effectiveness of farmer movements; promote movements of excellent production and business, and participation in collective economic development associated with startup and innovation.