Innovation in agricultural cooperatives in Dak Lak province: Current conditions, obstacles, and policy implications

Abstract

The paper analyses the current state of innovation in agricultural cooperatives in Dak Lak province based on empirical survey results. The findings show that innovation activities have emerged in several aspects: products (wet-processed coffee, organic pepper, honey, fruit juice), processes (water-saving irrigation, new varieties), marketing (expanding distribution channels, brand building), and organisation (adoption of VietGAP and ISO standards). However, most cooperatives remain at the level of incremental improvements, while radical innovations are still limited, mainly concentrated in deep processing and brand development. The main barriers include high investment costs, limited access to information, shortage of skilled human resources, and fragmented policies. On this basis, the paper proposes several policy implications to enhance innovation capacity, such as improving financial mechanisms, promoting R&D, strengthening the “four-party” linkage, and developing high-quality human resources.