(HBO) – From the start of this year, Mai Chau district of Hoa Binh has more than 3,000 poor households and policy beneficiaries eligible for preferential credits to improve their economic conditions.
The social policy credit programme has served as a ‘midwife’ for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation efforts in the mountainous district.
Photo: Staff at a transaction office of the Bank for Social Policy in Mai Chau district examine the use of preferential loan of a family in Hich 2 village of Mai Hich commune.
There is high demand for preferential credits as there are many disadvantaged villages and communes in Mai Chau.
The family of Ha Cong Song was among the poor ones in Hich 2 village of Mai Hich commune. Due to capital shortage, they could only make ends meet on maize and rice cultivation.
After receiving a preferential loan in 2010, Song was able to build stables for cattle. To date, the family has owned two buffaloes and five bulls, enjoying an income of more than 50 million VND (2,170 USD) a year. They successfully escaped poverty.
The social policy credit programme significantly contributes to Mai Chau’s poverty reduction work, with the rate of poor households dropping nearly 3 percent annually.
Director of the transaction office of the Bank for Social Policy in the district Vu Hoai Nam said despite the complicated developments of COVID-19, the bank has exerted efforts to basically complete set targets and timely disburse preferential credits to beneficiaries.
In the first 10 months of 2021, the district mobilised in excess of 30.5 billion VND from social sources, 8.2 percent higher than the target.
Entrusted capital in the locality rose to 741 million VND, meeting the plan.
Outstanding loans under the social policy programme increased by 19.7 billion VND compared to the same period last year, meeting 99.9 percent of the set target.
Total outstanding loans to date has exceeded 311 billion VND. The programme is viewed a leverage in hunger eradication and poverty reduction, as well as plays an important role in the implementation of the national target programme on building new-style rural areas.
For example, the transaction office of the Bank for Social Policy in Mai Chau has paid heed to preferential loans to carry out a programme on clean water and rural hygiene.
Thanks to the programme, nearly 1,000 new clean water works have been built in the district, and rural hygiene is improved.
Nam said that in the coming time, the bank will continue to study the local demand for preferential loans so as to devise appropriate plans. It will roll out efficient programmes for eligible beneficiaries and improve credit quality in the locality./.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.
