Customers shop for products of Efarm E Tong Ecological Agricultural Cooperative, Thuan Chau district.

End of the year2021, The District Agricultural Service Center has implemented a model of raising over 3,000 native black chickens in a biosafety direction in E Tong commune, with 6 households participating. After 4 months, the chickens have grown well, but are not enough to supply products according to customer demand. From the initial effectiveness, in February 2022, Ms. Lo Thi Buoi, one of the 6 households participating in the model, mobilized families to join together to establish the Efarm E Tong Ecological Agricultural Cooperative to expand the scale of farming. Currently, the Cooperative has 7 members and has linked up with 13 households in the commune to raise more than 6,000 black chickens. The Cooperative's black chicken and black chicken egg products are supported by the district with 170 million VND to build a product traceability system, VietGAP certification, and support for printing product packaging.

Ms. Lo Thi Buoi, Director of the Cooperative, shared: Black chickens are raised with agricultural by-products so they grow well, have firm meat, and are more delicious than other chicken breeds and are favored by customers. Currently, chickens are sold whole, or pre-cut and vacuum-packed, with prices ranging from 150,000 - 180,000 VND/kg. Black chicken eggs are packed in boxes of 20, priced at 140,000 VND/box. The products are labeled with traceability labels and packaged. Since its establishment, the Cooperative has sold more than 10,000 black chickens, earning more than 2.2 billion VND.

In addition, the cooperative also planted 2 hectares of ginseng and purchased ginseng from local people, linked with traders in Dien Bien province to consume the products; planted 2 hectares of peanuts, green beans, and soybeans to increase income. Expanding the consumption market, the cooperative introduced and sold black chicken products, black chicken eggs, ginseng, and various beans to customers in Son La city; offered on social networks, clean food stores in Hanoi and some other provinces. Thanks to that, the average income of member households reached 80-200 million VND/year. In addition, members of the cooperative raised 100 more native pigs, with a selling price of 70,000-120,000 VND/kg of live pigs. The cooperative is continuing to expand the scale of livestock farming and linking with households in the commune and traders to purchase agricultural products for members and people in the commune.

As a member of the cooperative, Lo Thi Thinh's family is raising 200 egg-laying hens, 300 chicks and 20 black pigs. The total annual income from livestock farming is 120 million VND. Ms. Thinh shared: Since joining the cooperative, my family has been supported with breeding stock, guidance on care techniques and disease prevention. The family also invested in building solid barns, thanks to which the livestock has developed well and has a stable income.

Understanding the psychology of consumers who prefer clean agricultural products, Efarm E Tong Ecological Agricultural Cooperative has helped member households develop effective production and increase income. At the same time, it consumes local agricultural products, ensuring a stable consumption market, helping people feel secure in production and escape poverty.

Article and photos: Huyen Trang