Nguyen Van Sy, Director of Tan Thanh Collective and Head of the Veterans’ Association of Tan Tien hamlet, shared that among the 15 members of the collective, 13 are veterans. The cooperative was established to help veterans support each other with cocoa cultivation techniques and secure the best market prices for their products. Currently, their raw material area spans over 36 hectares, attracting the attention of multiple cocoa-processing enterprises. As a result, their cocoa beans are consistently purchased at competitive prices. Additionally, the members benefit from opportunities to exchange knowledge, visit other farms, and adopt new agricultural models.
    |
 |
|
Veteran Nguyen Van Dung (right) rejoices over a bountiful cocoa harvest. |
Nguyen Van Dung, a veteran from Thanh Cong hamlet and a member of Tan Thanh Collective, explains, “My family owns 1.8 hectares of cocoa. Last year, the weather was favorable, minimizing pests and diseases, so our trees produced an abundance of fruit from root to crown. On average, one hectare yields around 2.5 tons of cocoa beans. With the current price of VND 240,000 per kilogram, we are expecting a substantial income.”
By joining the cooperative, Dung learned sustainable intensive cocoa farming techniques and visited successful cocoa farms in other regions. More importantly, the cooperative ensures stable purchasing prices, which are higher than the market ones. “I’m also happy to share my experience with new members,” he added.
Similarly, Y Tach Bkrong, Vice Chairman of Ea Na Commune’s Veterans’ Association, has 0.25 hectares of cocoa trees planted three years ago. He states, “in the cooperative, I received hands-on guidance on cocoa care, especially in managing fruit rot disease. The knowledge shared by fellow-members has been practical.”
The Ea Na Commune Veterans’ Association, comprising 480 members across 12 village-level associations, actively promotes economic growth. Apart from Tan Thanh Collective, they also run Ea Na Clean Rice Collective in Quynh Ngoc 2 hamlet, founded by veteran Bui Van Doan.
The veterans are dedicated to mutual support and economic development, with many successful members helping their comrades by building gratitude houses for impoverished veterans, providing livestock and creating jobs for fellow-members, and donating livelihood support such as goats and cows to struggling veterans.
According to Nguyen Duc Thai, Chairman of the Ea Na Commune Veterans’ Association, “The association is like home for soldiers after their service. During meetings, they reconnect with their comrades and reminisce about the hardships and triumphs of their military years. Those experiences have instilled in them resilience and an unwavering determination to succeed in the economic front.”
Translated by Song Anh