Vietnam’s agriculture sector still remains an important contributor to the economy. But behind this vibrant industry are highly labor-intensive practices of farmers and an increasing demand from consumers for safer food and quality management systems.
The project CoopEnable: Enabling, Building Cooperative Capacity aims to address the needs of both the farmers and the consumers. Co-financed by KfW DEG and SGS Vietnam and implemented by ASSIST, CoopEnable strengthens the farmers’ competitiveness through an effective model for cooperative development.
This project also raises awareness on the GlobalGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) standards among the farmers and the consumers. These standards of GlobalGAP will ensure compliance in crop production at the primary level, as it requires expert knowledge and thorough understanding of agricultural practices too.
In the first quarter of 2019, CoopEnable gained momentum through a series of workshops for cooperative representatives in the Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces. The goal of these workshops is to promote the benefits of the Transparency-One system.This system supports the global food supply chain industry by helping companies ensure that their products are safe and follows the product safety rules and regulations.
Another series of workshops was conducted in Vietnam’s Tho and Thap provinces. The workshops guided the farmers in preparing documents that subscribe to the GlobalGAP requirements.
The farmers expressed appreciation for the CoopEnable project because it helped them improve the quality of their products by following the GlobalGAP standards. The project’s Transparency-One System also helped improve product supply chain amidst the decreasing rate of rice exports in Vietnam.
