Bui
Thi Hiep, President of the communal Vietnam Farmers’ Association said the
association has 674 members in 12 groups. In recent years, the association has
launched three emulation movements, encouraging members to boost production and
business, help each other get rich and reduce poverty sustainably; and getting
farmers to join the new-style rural area building campaign and in ensuring
local security and defence. The movement on stimulating production and business
was the focus of work and so far has brought about practical outcomes.
With farmers’ enthusiasm and preferential loans
from the assistance fund for farmers, numerous economic models have
been developed in accordance with the strength of each hamlet.
In Dai hamlet, over 70 percent of the farmer
households raise buffaloes to take advantage of the abundant food supply from
the cultivation of corn and sugarcane and local pastures. The model has
generated stable income for many households in the hamlet, including Bui Van
Toan with 12 buffaloes, Bui Van Tuyen with eight, Dinh Van Binh and Ha Van Bi
with seven each, and many others with 3-5 buffaloes.
"Most households in Dai hamlet raise buffaloes,
which helps improve their living condition significantly. Besides, we also grow
some other crops, particularly citrus plants. Animal farming gives fertilisers
for our crops”, Ha
Van Bi from the hamlet said.
Buffalo raising has also been popular in Bay
hamlet. Local farmers also grow citrus trees.
Meanwhile, in Cong 2 hamlet, locals raise hybrid
cows; and those in other hamlets on higher land have planted sugarcane trees
for many years with good profit. Incomes for farmers have continuously
increased, reaching 22 million VND (1,000 USD) per capita in 2016. As a result,
the rate of poverty among households according to multi-dimensional standards
fell to 12 percent.
The president of the communal Farmers’
Association took us to the two-hectare pumpkin garden of Quach Van Hoa in Bay
hamlet. The new model fits well with the flat terrains in the commune.
Pumpkin growing is a promising way to help members of the farmers’ association of Quy Hau commune, Tan Lac district increase incomes. In the photo: A 2-hectare pumpkin garden of Quach Van Hoa, (first left) in Bay hamlet.
"We used to plant acacia trees, then sugarcane on the land, earning
about 300 million VND (13,000 USD) per year. We thought the land would be
suitable for pumpkin crops, so we switched to it. The plant grows well and
produces about 15 tonnes per hectare. At the price of 10,000 VND per
kilogramme, we earn a lot from the pumpkin garden. We will continue growing
pumpkins,” Hoa said.
Many other farmers have invested in pumpkin
crops, including Bui Van Don, from Tro hamlet with one hectare of pumpkin.
"In the coming time, the association will
encourage its members to switch from the cultivation of assorted trees in their
gardens to other suitable crops of higher economic value, while promoting
environmental protection, the building of new-style rural area building, and
establishing good life style among farmers”, Hiep said.
Viet
Dao