Sharing about activities to support women in starting a business, Ms. Luong Thi Lan, Head of the Hong My Safe Vegetable Cooperative, said: "Since 2007, we have been assigned by the People's Committee of the town and the Women's Union at all levels in the province to start producing safe vegetables. The Hong My Safe Vegetable Cooperative has 13 official members and 30 cooperative households growing seasonal vegetables, tubers and fruits.

Over many years of maintaining safe farming methods, the Cooperative has developed and brought many economic benefits to the women as well as their families. Depending on the time, there are vegetable crops, each member has an income of up to 15 million VND. From the vegetable beds, we have income to improve family life, the women are very excited."

PV: During the operation process, what difficulties did the Cooperative face and how did the members overcome them, madam?

Ms. Luong Thi Lan : At first, we encountered many difficulties. First of all, it was knowledge and safe farming methods. We were given the opportunity by the Women's Union at all levels to participate in training courses on "green" agriculture and sustainable agriculture.

From those classes, we understood how to grow vegetables safely, how to compost organic fertilizers… to ensure the quality of the products. For vegetable growers, irrigation water is very important.

This is also our difficulty. With the support of the Women's Union, we have accessed preferential loans from banks to invest in pumps and build 3-phase power lines to operate the irrigation system.

Up to now, every member of the Cooperative has a pump, which leads water to the garden. Thanks to that, growing vegetables is less difficult.

PV: You just mentioned the role of the Women's Union in the development of the Cooperative Group as well as the start-up and economic development journey of its members. So what specific support activities have the Unions at all levels had?

Ms. Luong Thi Lan : The Women's Union of Phu Tho province supported us with 20 million VND to build a well to pump clean water. The Women's Union of districts and towns opened training courses on safe vegetable growing, provided seeds, etc., motivating women in the Cooperative Group to confidently develop their economy.

We hope that in the coming time, local Associations will create conditions for us to participate in promotional programs and introduce products so that safe vegetable products can reach more customers.

In addition, we also hope to access more preferential loans so that women can build greenhouses, grow vegetables, tubers, and fruits to ensure product quality and seasonality; and at the same time, be able to distribute products to schools and large-scale industrial kitchens.

PV: Thank you for sharing!