Women-led cooperatives have played a role in improving women farmers’ technical know-how, leadership capacities, business skills, and advocacy skills. Women members of Yen Duong Cooperative in Vietnam were trained in agroforestry production, handicrafts making, and tourism and actively participated in advocacy and policy-making activities in their locality. They have successfully convinced local officials to invest in the construction of a 5 kilometers village road and forest road which helped them access markets for their products and will help boost forest tourism and agritourism.
Yen Duong Cooperative, established in June 2018 with 7 members, was formed on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, autonomy, democracy, and operating in accordance with the national law. Its formation was catalyzed by the Vietnam Farmers’ Union with support from Forest and Farm Facility hosted by FAO. The cooperative has established a charter, operating regulations, and a basis for compliance and management to improve efficiency and economic outcomes. The number of members has gradually increased, with 25 members in 2019 and then 35 members in 2020. In 2021, the cooperative has 45 official members and 230 associated farming households (non-members but are engaged in the activities of the cooperative), in which women account for 80% of the total members. Ninety percent of members are from various ethnic minorities – Tay and Dzao groups. These mountain communities differ from one another in terms of their way of living and family life, including customs and beliefs related to building a home, traditional clothing, culinary culture, and marriage customs.
Read the case study here: Case study_Yen Duong_Vietnam
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