Customers shop for products from Efarm É Tòng Ecological Agricultural Cooperative, Thuận Châu district.

End of the year2021The District Agricultural Service Center implemented a model of raising over 3,000 native black chickens using biosafety practices in É Tòng commune, with 6 households participating. After 4 months, the flock developed well, but the supply was insufficient to meet customer demand. Based on this initial success, in February 2022, Ms. Lò Thị Bưởi, one of the 6 participating households, encouraged other families to form the Efarm É Tòng Ecological Agricultural Cooperative to expand the scale of farming. Currently, the cooperative has 7 members and is linked with 13 households in the commune, raising over 6,000 black chickens. The cooperative's black chicken and black chicken egg products received 170 million VND in support from the district to build a product traceability system, obtain VietGAP certification, and support product packaging printing.

Ms. Lo Thi Buoi, Director of the Cooperative, shared: "Black chickens are raised on agricultural by-products, so they develop well, their meat is firm, and the quality is much better than other chicken breeds, making them popular with customers. Currently, chickens are sold whole or pre-slaughtered and vacuum-packed, at prices ranging from 150,000 to 180,000 VND/kg. Black chicken eggs are sold in boxes of 20 eggs for 140,000 VND/box. All products are labeled with traceability tags and packaged properly. Since its establishment, the Cooperative has sold more than 10,000 black chickens, earning over 2.2 billion VND."

In addition, the cooperative also planted 2 hectares of Codonopsis pilosula and purchased it from local farmers, linking with traders in Dien Bien province to sell the product; they also planted 2 hectares of peanuts, mung beans, and soybeans to increase income. Expanding the market, the cooperative introduced and sold its black chickens, black chicken eggs, Codonopsis pilosula, and various types of beans to customers in Son La city; offered them for sale on social media, at organic food stores in Hanoi and some other provinces. As a result, the average income of member households reached 80-200 million VND/year. Furthermore, members of the cooperative raised 100 native pigs, selling them at prices ranging from 70,000-120,000 VND/kg of live pig meat. The cooperative is continuing to expand its livestock farming scale and link with households in the commune and traders to purchase agricultural products from its members and the local community.

As a member of the cooperative, Lo Thi Thinh's family is raising 200 laying hens, 300 chicks, and 20 black pigs. Their total annual income from livestock farming reaches 120 million VND. Ms. Thinh shared: "Since joining the cooperative, my family has received support with breeding stock, guidance on care techniques, and disease prevention. We've also invested in building sturdy barns, which has helped our livestock thrive and provided a stable income."

Understanding the consumer's preference for clean agricultural products, the Efarm É Tòng Ecological Agricultural Cooperative has helped its member households develop efficient production and increase their income. At the same time, it guarantees the purchase of local agricultural products, ensuring a stable market and helping farmers feel secure in their production, enabling them to escape poverty.

Text and photos: Huyen Trang