Building a livelihood by staying rooted in the land.

Returning to civilian life after leaving the battlefield, many veterans in An Giang continue to "fight" on the economic front. With willpower and resilience, they have become wealthy on their homeland's soil.

Mr. Cao Van Khanh (on the right) next to his family's snake farm. Photo: DANG LINH

These days, the atmosphere on the 3 hectares of shrimp-rice fields of Mr. Cao Van Khanh (73 years old), residing in Thanh Phung Dong hamlet, An Minh commune, is always bustling with activity. The veteran, though his hair is gray, still moves nimbly as he checks the water levels and instructs the villagers on how to release the fish fry. Few know that more than half a century ago, he was a brave 15-year-old boy who ran away from home to join the army in the fierce resistance war. “That night, I heard about the revolution and it sounded so good, I ran away too. I never imagined I would be gone until the day of liberation when I would be reunited with my family,” Mr. Khanh recalled.

In harsh conditions with limited resources and rudimentary weapons, Mr. Khanh simultaneously learned to read and write while training for combat. In 1972, he and his comrades participated in many battles against enemy outposts, eliminating numerous soldiers, including the outpost commander and village chief who had a history of bloodshed against the revolution.

The war was fierce, B52 bombs rained down heavily on his hometown, but the young guerrilla fighter remained steadfast. Throughout those years, his family was a constant source of longing. His father was a disabled veteran (category 3/4) who had been captured and imprisoned by the enemy. During the resistance years, his mother single-handedly raised her children and participated in supplying the revolution.

After peace was restored, Mr. Khanh was assigned to be the hamlet's militia leader, then the Vice Chairman of Vinh Phong commune. In 1989, he moved to Thanh Phung Dong hamlet, beginning his entrepreneurial journey. He bought 30 acres of land, mostly reeds, and spent more than a decade improving it before rice yielded a good harvest in 2000. Undeterred by the difficulties, he switched to a combined shrimp-rice farming model, and then boldly learned and experimented with raising snakehead fish. From a few acres of land initially, he gradually accumulated, at one point owning up to 90 acres. Each shrimp-rice crop provided his family with a stable income; the fish, water snake, and civet farming models alone yielded high returns, bringing in hundreds of millions of dong annually.

Besides focusing on developing his family's economy , Mr. Khanh is also the head of the Veterans' Association in the hamlet, always at the forefront of local movements. He encouraged villagers to plant flowers, display portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, build rural lighting, and participate in the shrimp-rice cooperative. The model of raising snakehead fish and whiteleg shrimp, which he pioneered, has been replicated in about 15 households, helping many families escape poverty. "Learning and following President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, I both save money and encourage my fellow villagers to develop together," Mr. Khanh said.

For his contributions to economic development and the veterans' movement, Mr. Khanh was awarded a certificate of commendation by the Provincial People's Committee. But perhaps the greatest reward for him is seeing his homeland prosper and the lives of its people improve.

In Chau Thanh commune, veteran Chung Van Liep has chosen to dedicate himself to rice milling, continuing his life's journey through diligent labor. At over 70 years old, he still regularly works at his family's milling facility, meticulously attending to each step as if it were an indispensable habit. This down-to-earth farmer was once a military officer, holding the rank of lieutenant, working at the Army Officer School II and serving in the Rach Gia Provincial Military Supply Department during the fierce years of war.

Leaving the military in 1979 due to family circumstances, Mr. Liếp returned home with nothing but his bare hands, but he didn't give up. From buying and transporting rice, he carefully saved every penny to invest in machinery and open a rice milling facility. Through many years of perseverance, his business gradually stabilized, providing a decent income for his family. Even now, despite his advanced age, he still manages everything himself, from operating the machinery to receiving and delivering goods, never shying away from hard work.

Starting from nothing, Mr. Liếp's family accumulated over 3 hectares of land for production, achieving a stable life. Not stopping there, he actively participated in local social work. As the head of the Savings and Loan Group of the Social Policy Bank, he helped many households access preferential loans and escape poverty. For many years, the group under his leadership has not incurred any bad debts, becoming a shining example in the movement. In addition, he participated in maintaining security and order in the hamlet and actively contributed to the activities of the veterans' association. For him, the responsibility of a soldier doesn't end in war but continues in every aspect of everyday life in peacetime. Mr. Liếp said: "After leaving the army, I only hope to earn an honest living, raise my children well, and live a useful life for the village; that would be fulfilling my duty as a soldier."

DANG LINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/bam-dat-lam-nen-co-nghiep-a484132.html