A bright spot from models

Considered a bright spot in collective economic development, for many years, the Hồng Phước Cooperative in Nà Tấu commune has been gradually expanding its scale, building raw material zones, linking with households, organizing the processing of specialty arrowroot vermicelli, and supplying it stably to the market. This model creates regular jobs for dozens of local workers, with incomes ranging from VND 5 - 10 million /person/month.

Lò Văn Pâng, Director of the Hồng Phước Cooperative, said: Previously, the consumption of arrowroot depended on traders. Profits fell into the hands of a few small merchants, leading to low efficiency, and farmers were not interested in investing in planting and caring for the crop. To overcome this situation, the cooperative has linked production with people, supplied seeds, provided technical training, and equipped them with knowledge on labor safety. In cases where the price of arrowroot falls, the cooperative still purchases it at a minimum price that ensures farmers make a profit.

Thanks to this flexible approach, linking production with consumption, production efficiency has improved, and many households now have a stable income from the arrowroot plant. Lò Văn Thanh, a member linked with the Hồng Phước Cooperative, shared: Compared to corn and cassava, arrowroot fetches a better price. In seasons with high prices, production efficiency increases 3-4 times. By joining the cooperative, we receive technical training and are equipped with knowledge to ensure safe and effective production.

The Hà Ân Agriculture Service and Production Cooperative in Nậm Kè commune is a new example of collective economic development in the border region. The cooperative was established in 2021 with 7 members and a total charter capital of VND 5 billion. Although it has not been established long and has few members, with the attention and support of relevant levels and sectors, the cooperative has proactively expanded production, focusing on key products with regional advantages. As a result, the average income of its members has continuously increased, reaching an average of VND 15 - 17 million/person/month.

Nguyễn Tiến Nghĩa, Director of the Hà Ân Agriculture Service and Production Cooperative, said: To improve product quality, expand the consumer market, and increase income for members, the cooperative has linked with people in the area and neighboring regions to grow winter melon to supply the Hanoi market. Currently, with an area of 1.2 ha (planting 2 crops/year), the cooperative harvests about 150 tons. The average selling price is from VND 4,000 - 5,000/kg, and at times has reached VND 18,000 - 20,000/kg, creating a stable source of income and helping members feel secure in their production.

Not stopping there, the Hà Ân Agriculture Service and Production Cooperative is promoting processing and diversifying products from local agricultural produce. Currently, 3 of the cooperative’s products have been recognized as OCOP certified: Cực Tây Rose Tea, Cực Tây Sappanwood Tea, and Cực Tây Winter Melon Tea.

According to Nguyễn Tiến Nghĩa, processing and brand building are important steps in enhancing the value of agricultural products and creating jobs for people, while also preserving indigenous plant varieties. The cooperative is gradually expanding its raw material zones, investing in machinery, and perfecting its production processes to improve quality and meet the increasing demands of the market. The cooperative is developing distinctive products linked to local identity, which both enhances economic efficiency and affirms the position of Điện Biên-branded products in the market.

Innovating to adapt

As the organization representing and protecting the legal rights and interests of the collective economy sector, the provincial Cooperatives Alliance has recently proactively implemented many programs to support digital transformation, e-commerce training, and agricultural product consumption management for cooperative officials. In 2025, the province organized 5 training classes on using online markets and digital business skills for over 260 trainees from cooperatives in ethnic minority areas. It also supported several pilot cooperatives in applying production management software and registering for trademarks and product traceability.

The coordination program between the Cooperatives Alliance, other departments, and telecommunications enterprises has opened a new direction in agricultural digital transformation, helping cooperatives connect to the market. The signing of a cooperation agreement between the provincial Cooperatives Alliance and Viettel Điện Biên to support IT solutions for cooperatives is seen as an important step in bringing the collective economy closer to the digital economy.

Despite these positive results, the collective economy sector still faces many challenges. Over 98% of cooperatives are currently micro-scale, with limited capital and weak management capacity, and have not formed many large-scale value chain linkage models. The application of science, technology, processing technology, and digital transformation is slow, and a portion of cooperative managers lack market economy knowledge. The specific conditions of a mountainous province with dispersed terrain and difficult transport create many obstacles for cooperatives’ support, market connection, and trade promotion activities.

Phí Văn Dương, Chairman of the provincial Cooperatives Alliance, said: “To improve the efficiency of the collective economy, Điện Biên has determined to continue focusing on consolidating and developing new-style cooperatives linked to the value chains of key products such as rice, pineapple, arrowroot, medicinal herbs, and OCOP products. The provincial Cooperatives Alliance aims to consult and support the establishment of at least 10 new cooperatives and 10 new cooperative groups by the end of 2025, prioritizing high-tech agricultural cooperatives, medicinal herb cooperatives, and afforestation cooperatives. At the same time, it encourages cooperatives to proactively register trademarks, traceability, and participate in programs honoring outstanding products at the provincial and Central levels.”

The province continues to promote communication and training on the 2023 Law on Cooperatives, improve the management capacity of the cooperative official contingent, and promote digital transformation in production and business, aiming for a comprehensive digital cooperative model. It will also strengthen coordination with banks, support funds, and national target programs to expand preferential loan sources for cooperatives.

The entire province currently has over 350 cooperatives with nearly 10,000 members and 7,900 regular workers. Of these, agricultural cooperatives account for nearly 70%, focusing on cultivation, animal husbandry, agricultural services, and processing. Although most are small and micro-scale, the collective economy sector has been proving effective in the lives of rural people, especially in remote areas. In the first 6 months of 2025, the average revenue of each cooperative reached over VND 1 billion, average profit was approximately VND 100 million, and the income for regular workers reached about VND 31 million/person.