In recent years, agricultural production in Can Tho City has seen many positive changes. Previously, farmers mainly cultivated based on experience and on a small scale, but now they are gradually participating in supply chains organized by cooperatives. Through the support of relevant agencies, many agricultural cooperatives have accessed and applied advanced production processes such as VietGAP, Global GAP, and organic farming, thereby improving product quality and meeting the stringent standards of the market.

Furthermore, agricultural cooperatives are gradually playing a pivotal role, organizing production in a synchronized and standardized manner from seed selection and cultivation techniques to harvesting and consumption. The cooperatives' role as the central point not only helps control product quality but also creates an advantage in negotiating and signing forward contracts with businesses. This helps farmers reduce their dependence on middlemen, mitigate the problem of "bumper harvest, low prices," and gradually stabilize their income.

A typical example is the Truong Trung A Agricultural Cooperative in Phong Dien commune. Under the cooperative's guidance, over 60 member households have jointly cultivated high-quality durian on a total area of ​​over 32 hectares, meeting the requirements of purchasing businesses. Mr. Ly Van Tinh, Director of the Truong Trung A Agricultural Cooperative, said: "The cooperative identifies quality as the decisive factor. Therefore, in addition to helping farmers cultivate safely, the cooperative also guides members in applying techniques to stagger durian fruiting, ensuring a stable supply year-round and avoiding oversupply during peak season. The cooperative proactively links with suppliers to reduce input costs and establishes planting area codes to serve export needs." Thanks to this systematic approach, the cooperative's durian is currently contracted for purchase by businesses, who come directly to the orchards to buy at stable prices. The average income of each cooperative member reaches 300-500 million VND per year, depending on the area of ​​land they own.

In the rice production sector, agricultural cooperatives are also playing a pivotal role in production linkages. A notable example is the Thinh Phat Cooperative in Thanh Quoi commune. Starting with 24 members, the cooperative now collaborates with over 100 farmers, organizing high-quality rice production on 1,500 hectares. To meet market demand, the cooperative focuses on producing high-quality rice varieties such as Dai Thom 8, OM 5451, and OM 34 according to strict technical procedures. Mr. Nguyen Van Phan, Director of the Thinh Phat Cooperative, stated: "When joining the cooperative, farmers receive technical guidance and produce rice according to quality and safety standards. As a result, the cooperative's rice is always purchased by businesses and traders at prices higher than the market rate, giving farmers peace of mind."

In addition, Thinh Phat Cooperative effectively organizes input and output services for its members. From land preparation, sowing, irrigation, and pesticide spraying to harvesting, everything is done using modern machinery, helping farmers reduce production costs and labor, and increase productivity and product quality. Mr. Nguyen Quang Thanh, a member of Thinh Phat Cooperative, shared: "Before, rice farming was a worry-inducing task, from lack of capital to pests and diseases, and then worrying about traders forcing down prices. Now, with the cooperative, all services are readily available, and farmers only have to pay for supplies after harvesting, so the pressure of initial investment is gone. It is estimated that with a rice cultivation area of ​​3-5 hectares and 3 harvests per year, farmers will have a stable income of 200-600 million VND per household."

Besides helping farmers get rich, cooperatives also play a crucial role in supporting farmers to change their farming practices, moving towards green, sustainable, and responsible production. However, to further enhance the leading role of agricultural cooperatives, the city's authorities need to continue promoting policies supporting preferential loans, training young human resources, and linking them with the requirements of digital transformation for cooperatives; strengthening trade promotion activities and expanding the network of linkages with businesses… With the support of the city government and the responsiveness of new-style cooperatives, the collective economy and cooperatives in Can Tho will continue to break through, affirming their leading role, helping to elevate the value of agricultural products and the lives of farmers, contributing to promoting local socio-economic development.