In the framework of the AIN 8748 project, on September 21, 2025, a delegation comprising representatives from agricultural and forestry cooperatives under the Hue City Cooperative Alliance and Nghe An Province undertook a study tour to the Hiệp Thuận Agricultural Cooperative in Hiệp Đức Commune, Da Nang City. This activity is part of a series of technical support and capacity-building programs for cooperatives participating in the AIN 8748 Project, funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs through the FFD organization. Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thùy Dung, a staff member of the “Strengthening Disaster Resilience” (BftW) Project -guided and accompanied the delegation throughout the trip.

The objective of the tour was to provide an opportunity for cooperatives to learn practical experiences from the effective operational model of Hiệp Thuận Cooperative. This cooperative was the first in the Quảng Nam region (previously, now Da Nang City) to pursue sustainable, large-timber plantation development, combined with high-value product processing and consumption. Currently, the Hiệp Thuận Cooperative has 16 contributing members, with a linked production forest area of over 1,400 hectares, of which 465 hectares are certified. The linkage model with nearly 260 local households has helped the cooperative secure a proactive supply of raw materials for wood processing, creating added value and stabilizing livelihoods for the community.

During the working session, the delegation received valuable insights from Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Dương, Chairman and Director of Hiệp Thuận Cooperative. He shared his experience in managing and operating cooperative members, the process of building a linkage chain with households, the financial mechanism for maintaining FSC certification, and current market access strategies for sawn timber and wood pellets. One topic of particular interest was the business model of purchasing timber from household group members and processing it into products like wood chips, sawn boards, and planks for both domestic and export markets.

In addition to the discussion, the delegation also had a field visit to the FSC-certified forest, the production facilities, and the cooperative’s wood processing plant. This hands-on experience gave members from the Hue and Nghe An cooperatives a more direct and concrete view of the organizational model, operational processes, and quality control methods—all critical conditions for maintaining FSC certification and meeting market demands.

The participating delegation included representatives from the Hue City Cooperative Alliance (TPHCA) and the following cooperatives: Thủy Phương Agricultural Cooperative, Thủy Dương Agricultural Cooperative, Phù Bài Agricultural Cooperative, Thủy Phù Agricultural Cooperative, Hòa Mỹ Agricultural Cooperative, Quỳnh Tam Agricultural Cooperative, Thanh Thủy Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative, and Minh Thành Agricultural Services and Construction Cooperative. The AIN 8748 Project Management Board at the CCCSC Center also participated in the trip, ensuring a continuous connection between the learning activity and the practical implementation in the localities.

Through the study tour at Hiệp Thuận Cooperative, the cooperatives in the AIN 8748 Project gained access to valuable practical experiences, from building a sustainable linkage model and managing certified forests to organizing modern production, processing, and consumption. This is a crucial foundation for the cooperatives to flexibly apply these lessons in their own operations, contributing to enhanced competitiveness and the sustainable, efficient development of plantation products in line with the requirements of both domestic and international markets.

 

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