Small and fragmented production, together with weaknesses in control and management of output quality has been one of the difficulties and challenges which significantly impact on the connection between farmers and business. In order to increase the effectiveness of medicinal plants production linkage, besides contracting with the medicinal plants producing and trading companies, the key factors that determine the success and sustainability of this linkage is the establishment of cooperative production groups.

Within the framework of the project "Improving livelihood opportunities for poor and near poor households in two communes of Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province through the medicinal plants management and development following value chain orientation " funded by Manos, from 10 to 19 September 2018, the Center for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) has combined with Quang Nam Agricultural Extension Center to establish cooperative groups on medicinal plants production in Tam Thai commune and Tam Loc commune of Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province. At present, more than 60 farmers participated in 3 cooperative groups of producing medicinal plants in 02 project communes, the number of farmers joining the cooperative group is expected to increase considerably in this year. With this approach, the project hopes to improve the production of medicinal plants in a sustainable manner, contributing to increase income and improve livelihoods for people in rural areas of Phu Ninh district.

Initial meeting to establish the cooperative groups to produce medicinal plants