Amid growing pressures from market fluctuations and climate change, Nam Thành Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative (Nam Thành Cooperative), located in Nam Đồng Commune, has become a bright spot in Ninh Bình Province by boldly renewing its operating model, applying science and technology, expanding partnerships, and prioritizing the green economy.

These transformations have not only improved productivity and product quality but also increased incomes for hundreds of farming households, creating a sustainable local production ecosystem.

From Service Innovation to Digital Transformation: Elevating the Cooperative

According to the Board of Directors of Nam Thành Agricultural Production, Business and Service Cooperative, 2023 was a challenging year due to severe cold spells, unseasonal rains, and pest outbreaks. However, instead of reacting passively, the cooperative proactively invested in and strengthened its essential service systems, including irrigation, land preparation, canal dredging, product off-take, and the supply of agricultural inputs. As a result, average productivity in 2023 remained stable, particularly for the ST25 rice variety, which достиг 10.5 tons per hectare—among the highest yields in Nam Định Province (now Ninh Bình).

Mr. Cồ Văn Nghiễn, Vice Chairman of the Cooperative’s Board, stated: “The cooperative is truly a ‘midwife’ for farmers. We take care of everything from land preparation and water management to harvesting and product off-take. Most importantly, we apply new varieties such as ST25—the rice variety that our cooperative pioneered in bringing to Northern fields, delivering outstanding yields and value.”

Alongside varietal innovation, the cooperative has implemented the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for seeding and fertilizer spraying—a major step forward in agricultural digital transformation. At a cost of only VND 18,000–20,000 per sào, UAV services are far cheaper than traditional methods and significantly reduce farmers’ direct exposure to crop protection chemicals.

Mr. Đỗ Khắc Dũng, Chairman of the Cooperative’s Board, affirmed: “Introducing UAVs into the fields is a practical way to cut costs, reduce labor, and ensure safety for farmers. The cooperative is encouraging the expansion of this model in larger farming areas.”

At the same time, the cooperative has received digital transformation equipment such as computers and production management software (sponsored by Dutch partners), helping to standardize operations, record data, and enhance transparency.

Value Chain Linkages to Increase Agricultural Value

One of Nam Thành Cooperative’s most notable achievements in recent years is its value chain linkage model for rice with multiple enterprises, especially Toản Xuân Co., Ltd. (Ninh Bình), a major processor and distributor of clean rice in the province.

According to Mr. Đỗ Khắc Dũng, this was a model that Nam Thành Cooperative was the first in Nam Định Province (formerly) to successfully implement. “Without business linkages, farmers would always be pressured by traders. Toản Xuân Co., Ltd. invests in seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection products, and purchases all fresh paddy directly in the fields. As a result, farmers can produce with confidence, knowing that everything they grow will be sold.”

Beyond stabilizing market outlets, this model has created a standardized clean rice production chain, using organic fertilizers and crop protection products with clear origins (mainly from An Giang and Atara—low-toxicity products), moving toward safe and environmentally friendly production. These factors make important contributions to green economic development, emissions reduction, and the resilience of local rice farming.

A member of Nam Thành Cooperative shared: “Since the cooperative guarantees our output, my family feels much more secure growing rice. There is no longer the struggle to find traders or worry about being forced to sell at low prices. Each season, the cooperative supports us with seeds and fertilizers and purchases the rice directly in the fields, saving us both costs and effort.”

Thanks to its effective operations, Nam Thành Cooperative has repeatedly received Certificates of Merit from the People’s Committee of Nam Định Province (formerly). Notably, in 2018, it was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) for outstanding achievements over five years of implementing the Agricultural Sector Restructuring Program for the 2013–2018 period.

From a traditional cooperative, Nam Thành Cooperative has transformed into a new-style cooperative—autonomous, accountable, and centered on the effectiveness and benefits of its members. Its experience has been widely studied and replicated by many localities in Nam Định (formerly) and Ninh Bình (currently), as well as other provinces and cities, especially at conferences on rice, digital transformation, and UAV applications.

Mr. Đỗ Khắc Dũng affirmed the cooperative’s future direction: “The cooperative will continue to expand concentrated production areas, deploy more UAVs, increase the use of organic fertilizers, and broaden cooperation with enterprises to build the Nam Thành clean rice brand. The goal is to raise members’ incomes and develop modern, green agriculture.”