Workshop "Policies and solutions to promote cooperative startups associated with OCOP program" in the Central Coast

On 17 April 2021, at the Hall of People's Committee of Yen Thanh district, Nghe An province, Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) held a workshop on "Policies and solutions to promote cooperative startups associated with OCOP program". The workshop is under the framework of the scientific research: "Cooeparive startups of associated with one commune one product (OCOP) program in the new rural construction" requested by the Central New Rural Coordination Office, and the Investment Development and Service Company Limited of Vietnam National University of Agriculture is the executing agency.

The delegates attending the workshop, on the side of VNUA, were lecturers from the strong research group "Cooperation and association in agricultural production and business", Faculty of Accounting and Business Administration. From the local regions, the participants were representatives of the provincial and district agencies involved in the management and development support for cooperatives, and representatives of the Board of Directors/Executives and members of cooperatives in the area.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Lam presented his report in the workshop

At the workshop, participants presented their reports on the following topics: Current situation of cooperative start-up under the OCOP program; Results and shortcomings in implementing policies and solutions to promote cooperative start-ups under the OCOP program; Access to policies and support of cooperatives in local regions. Representatives of cooperatives attending the workshop enthusiastically discussed the difficulties and problems that cooperatives encountered during the operation and development of the OCOP products. Successful cooperatives also shared their experiences in the start-up process under the OCOP program.

Some pictures of participants in the Workshop

Representatives of the research team took photos with representatives of People's Committee of Yen Thanh District

(Mr. Nguyen Van Duong - Vice President of the District and Mr. Phan Ba Long - Officer of Agriculture Office who are Alumni of VNUA)

The workshop clarified some of the following contents: Affirming the leading role of the cooperatives to agriculture, rural areas and farmers; Role of the OCOP program in new rural development and in agricultural product development; The workshop also clarified the difficulties and challenges of cooperatives in general and also difficulties under the OCOP program in the current period in regards of resources (human resources, capital, land), administrative procedures, market for products and mechanisms to keep executive officials  engaging in  and their commitment in the job in the long run; Clarifying the status of implementing supporting policies, promoting cooperative start-ups under the OCOP program and the bottlenecks of the policies.

The workshop also reached an agreement on some recommendations to promote cooperative start-ups under the OCOP program. The organizing committee of the Workshop also acknowledged and adopted the opinions of representatives from cooperatives.

Vu Thi Hai – The research team on cooperation and association in agricultural production and business

Falculty of Faculty of Accounting and Business Administration