Dong Thap (VNA) –Solutions to help agricultural cooperatives in the Mekong Delta adapt to themarket mechanism and climate change were discussed at a forum held in theMekong Delta province of Dong Thap on April 16.

Addressing the event, Deputy PrimeMinister Vuong Dinh Hue said the Government has always paid attention to thecollective and cooperative economic sectors. He affirmed that agriculturalcooperatives have made important contributions to socio-economic development andpoverty reduction in the Mekong Delta.

While acknowledging thedevelopment of cooperatives in the region, the Deputy PM noted that they facenumerous challenges at present, such as shortages of human resources andinfrastructure. Many cooperatives only focus on reducing production costswithout paying due attention to increasing the value of farm produce.

To help local cooperativesenhance their efficiency, Deputy PM Hue instructed the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural (MARD) to make the project on agricultural cooperative development animportant item in the agenda of the Government’s Resolution 120/NQ-CP on sustainabledevelopment of the Mekong Delta in adaptation to climate change.

The Ministry of Planning andInvestment was told to research and submit to the Government a project oninfrastructure development support for cooperatives, while relevant ministries,agencies and localities were requested to increase support for agriculturalcooperatives.

The Deputy PM also asked citiesand provinces to multiply advanced and effective models of agriculturalcooperatives.

It was reported at the forumthat there are 1,803 agricultural cooperatives in the Mekong Delta, accountingfor 13 percent of the total nationwide.

Secretary of the Party Committeeof Dong Thap province Le Minh Hoan shared the view that cooperatives shouldbecome the mainstay of small-scale household production and play the role asthe link between farmers and firms.

Most ministries, agencies andthe administrations of 13 Mekong Delta cities and provinces along withrepresentatives from research institutes, universities and cooperatives in theregion agreed at the forum to ask the Government to allow the MARD to add theproject on enhancing the operation effectiveness of agricultural cooperatives inresponse to climate change to the list of tasks under the Government’sResolution 120. They also requested that the Ministry of Planning andInvestment and Ministry of Finance to propose the Government provide morecapital to help cooperatives develop production infrastructure.-VNA