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From 18 to 23 September 2025, seventy-four aquaculture farmers from four cooperatives in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, Tan Phat Loi, Hoa Nho A, Toan Thang, and Hoa De, came together for a transformative workshop series on strengthening member commitment.
Organized under the Making Aquaculture Cooperatives in the Mekong Delta Inclusive and Bankable (MACIB) project, these sessions centred on one powerful message: the cooperative belongs to its members.
For many participants, it was the first time they truly explored what it means to own a cooperative. Through open discussions and hands-on exercises, farmers reflected on how ownership, trust, and participation form the backbone of strong, sustainable cooperatives.
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“The workshop was very helpful, as I would not have been able to convey this topic to my members on my own,” shared Mr. Ngo Cong Luan, Chairman of Hoa Nho A Cooperative.
Supported by Agriterra, in partnership with the Ca Mau and Can Tho Cooperative Alliances, these workshops form part of ongoing efforts (2024–2026) to help aquaculture cooperatives in the region become more inclusive, self-sufficient, and bankable.
Already, the change is tangible. Board members highlight the workshops’ role in fostering unity, while members now see themselves not merely as beneficiaries, but as active owners shaping their cooperative’s future. This growing sense of belonging is inspiring confidence to expand membership, improve governance, and strengthen collective impact.
This renewed spirit goes hand in hand with Agriterra’s broader technical support, ranging from water quality testing and shrimp health checks to sustainable farming demonstrations, all designed to enhance cooperatives’ services and profitability.
As one facilitator noted, “Member commitment is not just an idea, it’s the heartbeat of every thriving cooperative.”
Through initiatives like MACIB, Agriterra continues to sow the seeds of change in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, empowering farmers to lead, own, and grow together.
