Entering the cooperative, rural workers have additional income outside of rice fields

From disjointed hiring to having teamwork

In many agricultural production areas in Can Tho City, participating in cooperatives not only helps farmers reorganize production but also opens up more job opportunities, increasing income for rural workers. For those who only have a few hectares of rice fields or work for hire seasonally, cooperatives are gradually becoming a "support" to help them have more stable jobs during the year.

Mr. Le Minh Chi - Head of the 30/4 Cooperative Group, Ho Dac Kien Commune (Can Tho City) said that the loading and unloading union of the cooperative is divided into many groups, each group has about 20 people, working closely with the rice production cycle.

"From sowing time to harvesting time, there is everything. During the harvest, we work continuously, with an organization, so we should avoid the situation where everyone is looking for a job," said Mr. Chi.

According to Mr. Chi, the salary is calculated quite clearly at 70,000 VND/cong (1300m2) for loading goods when sowing rice and 70,000 VND/ton if carrying rice. With a production area of nearly 2,000 hectares, on peak days, each worker can earn nearly 1 million VND/day, at least a few hundred thousand VND.

"Although the work is seasonal, it helps workers cover living expenses, take care of their families and be more proactive during the dry months. Some work in groups, while others work in fields. During the harvest, I try to work hard to save money, and when the harvest is over, I still have money to spend at home, taking care of my children's education. Compared to before when I was a freelancer, such an income is much better, Mr. Chi shared.

For many members, participating in cooperatives means having more income from outside of production on the family's small-scale fields.

Mr. Tran Ut - a member of Tin Phat Agricultural Cooperative, Ke Sach Commune (Can Tho City) said that he works 6 hours of rice fields for hire, and his income from the fields is just enough to cover his living expenses. Thanks to participating in the cooperative, during the harvest, he was called to pick up, transfer fertilizer, medicine, and rice seeds, earning about 10 million VND per month.

According to Mr. Ut, the work is seasonal, but thanks to the cooperative organizing it, the brothers in the group have more jobs than before. Although there is not every day, the amount of money of a few hundred thousand VND per day during the crop season also helps workers stabilize their lives, limiting them from having to leave their hometown to work far away.

"Only if there is a cooperative will there be a stable job"

Not only are they carried out seasonally, some members are also given the opportunity by the cooperative to participate in many different stages in the production chain.

Mr. Bui Thanh Hai, a member of Tin Phat Agricultural Cooperative for more than 10 years, said that thanks to working many jobs, his income is more stable than before. Mr. Hai is currently in the role of Deputy Director of the Cooperative, directly managing and participating in production with the company members.

"In addition to picking and transporting, I also deliver seeds and transport rice and fertilizers all year round. On average, the monthly income is about 10 million VND, and the cooperative takes care of the rice and water," said Mr. Hai.

Also participating in Tin Phat Cooperative since 2015, Mr. Tran Thanh Vu said that before, he only worked in the fields and worked for a small fee, and his income was very unstable. His family has 5 members, 3 children are in school, while he only has 2 rice fields, not enough to cover living expenses.

"Before joining the cooperative, I had to find a job outside, sometimes for a whole month without a job. Now that there are no cooperatives, when the crop comes, there are loading, phaning, and giving rice seeds. Each crop is about 1 month, with an income of 9 - 10 million VND, which is much better," said Mr. Vu.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dam - Director of Tin Phat Agricultural Cooperative, the cooperative is currently regularly using about 20 - 25 male workers to carry, transport, and harvest and 20 - 22 female workers to plant, grow, and gather rice in the warehouse. The average income of female workers is about 8 - 10 million VND/month, male workers is about 10 - 12 million VND/month.

"Although it is not possible to ensure year-round jobs for all workers, the cooperative tries to rotate work so that the brothers can have more income outside the rice fields," said Mr. Dam.

Read the original here