In order to deal with this problem, farm co-operatives in Thua Thien Hue Province are helping local farmers in improving production and finding outlets.
More often than not, farmers have to suffer losses regardless of how good their crops are due to middlemen forcing prices down. However, for the past 2 years, Phung Huu Can along with many farmers in Thuy Thanh Commune, Huong Thuy Town no longer worry about this problem. They only have to focus on producing high quality rice and raising productivity.
Farmer Phung Huu Can, living in Thuy Thanh Commune, Huong Thuy Town in Thua Thien Hue Province, said: "In the past the traders forced down our prices and we had no choice but to suffer. But now, the co-operative now buy our products. Their offer is also higher than market prices! What a relief!".
Improved quality is ultimately the only way to increase the price of rice. Many farm co-operatives in Thua Thien – Hue Province are supplying high quality types of rice to the market. In Thuy Thanh Commune, the Thuy Thanh II Cooperative has purchased more than 140 tonnes of rice from local farmers, and their offers are often 2 to 3 US cents higher than market prices.
Mr.Tran Duy Minh, Deputy Director of Thuy Thanh II Farm Co-operative in Huong Thuy Town, said: "In the past the local farmers had to put up with the traders because they had to find outlets for their products by themselves. Therefore, the commune started investing in milling facilities and making connections with companies in the area to purchase rice from the local farmers. Now, the business is running very smoothly and the farmers trust us enough to produce high quality rice".
Along with finding outlets for local farmers, the farm co-operatives also provide technical training and supply good rice breeds, raising the quality and quantity of local rice products. More importantly, by buying rice at prices higher than the market offers, the co-operatives are improving the lives of local farmers.
