Page 75 - Agricultural innovation

spontaneous agricultural production and business groups in the province. The model of clubhouses
was marked by the establishment of Canh Tan Clubhouse in 2016. After that, the province issued
Official Letter No. 508 CV/TU dated January 25, 2018 of the Provincial Party Committee’s Standing
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Committee on development of clushouses in Dong Thap province. Agencies in the political system
of the province, district and grassroots are interested in mobilizing many members to join the
clubhouses, set up a clubhouse in eligible places, and at the same time pay attention to the meeting
place. After only 3 years (as of June 2021), the whole province had 111 clubhouses established and put
into operation, of which 27 cooperatives were formed from 28 models of clubhouses. The model has
shown its role as a center connecting farmers with each other, and between farmers and scientists, with
party organizations and authorities at all levels.
The establishment of the clubhouses in Dong Thap province first comes from the needs of the
people, and then from the interest of the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee at all levels, the
government, the Fatherland Front and other organizations from the province to the grassroots level,
scientists and entrepreneurs support and create favorable conditions in the process of forming and
operating the clubhouses. The scale of operation is mostly at the commune level, but there are a number
of associations operating between villages and hamlets. The structure of members participating in
the clubhouses is very diverse, including farmers, officials, party members, etc., without distinction
of occupation or position, as long as they have the same interest in their profession. All members of
the clubhouses are considered equally. For example, the “I love purple” clubhouse in Sa Dec city is
simply an association of purple lovers with the same passion for developing and preserving new flower
varieties, contributing to the construction of famous flower roads in the Mekong Delta.
The activities of the clubhouses are relatively diverse. If the first clubhouse is a collection of farmers
growing longan, then there are associations in the field of agriculture such as rice, mango, lemon, orange,
bamboo, partnership in agricultural production... then up to now, the activities of the clubhouses have
been interested in other fields such as industry, tourism services or linking different fields such as
the Flour Making Clubhouse, Ornamental Flower Clubhouse; Clubhouse of Hotels/Guesthouse and
Tourism or Clubhouse “We do tourism together”, etc., which aim to connect farmers with other socio-
economic activities to earn more added value as well as connect the community.

Figure 18. Clubhouse “I love purple colour” in Sa Dec City
Source: Research Team 2022

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