Song Ma district is home to 75 cooperatives with nearly 800 members, operating mainly in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, with total charter capital approaching 100 billion VND (3.84 million USD). Annual revenue per cooperative is estimated at 1 billion VND. 

According to Lo Thi Bach, head of the district’s Agriculture and Environment Division, cooperatives play a key role in crop and livestock restructuring, technology transfer, and the adoption of high-tech farming practices.

Currently, 52 cooperatives produce fruit under VietGAP standards, covering over 982 hectares and yielding more than 14,400 tonnes annually. The district has 1,000 hectares of fruit grown using high-tech methods and another 1,000 hectares under organic-oriented cultivation.

Song Ma maintains 50 growing area codes, including 12 for longan exports to the US, 25 for longan and mango exports to China, and 13 for longan exports to Australia and New Zealand, with a total area exceeding 710 hectares.

Adapting to market trends, cooperatives in Song Ma district are revamping their operation models and actively building linkages between farmers and enterprises. To date, they have established eight product development chains and 31 safe agricultural supply chains.

The district has issued 10 growing area codes covering 182 hectares, helping raise the total VietGAP-certified area to over 600 hectares. Additionally, 72 hectares now utilise efficient irrigation and moisture control technologies. Local cooperatives have also developed five products under the OCOP (One Commune, One Product) programme.

The Bao Minh Agricultural Services Cooperative in Chieng Khoong commune has 13 members cultivating 50 hectares of fruit trees, mainly longan, mango, and pomelo. All orchards are VietGAP-certified, producing around 350 tonnes annually. Its products are provided for domestic supermarkets and exported to the Chinese market.

In the 2024 longan season, the cooperative recorded revenue exceeding 3.5 billion VND, creating jobs for 150 local labourers. Members earn an average annual income of nearly 300 million VND. 

Le Danh Phuc, Deputy Director of the cooperative, said the cooperative prioritises brand building, product traceability, and partnerships with major enterprises and supermarkets to integrate agricultural products into modern distribution systems. Going forward, it plans to expand market reach by signing agreements with distributors in the central region to ensure stable sales of longan, mango, and pomelo for its members.

The Toan Thang Agricultural Services Cooperative in Na Nghiu commune, led by war veterans, is gradually establishing itself as a key player in fruit production. The cooperative currently has 17 members cultivating 45 hectares of longan, mango, and pomelo, supplying around 400 tonnes of fresh fruit to the market annually.

Its Director Duong Tu Than said the cooperative has invested in a dried mango production facility, enhancing product value, extending shelf life, and expanding market reach.

The cooperative’s dried mango product has been awarded a 3-star OCOP certification. Additionally, the cooperative purchases cassava and corn from local farmers, supplying raw materials to processing factories both within and outside the province.

The cooperative economy is increasingly proving its vital role in the socio-economic development of Song Ma district, boosting incomes and improving living standards for members and local residents, while driving the restructuring of the agricultural sector in a modern and sustainable manner.