Representatives from various departments visited the livestock farming model of the group of households, along with Ms. Ho Thi Bi.

Following the delegation's visit to the pig farm of Ms. Ho Thi Bi's family group in Lam Dot, everyone was full of praise. Few would have expected such a bustling farm to exist on this barren hillside. This is an "initiative" of the Lam Dot Commune Party Committee's poverty reduction and community mobilization efforts. Accordingly, family groups pool their capital and work together to develop this economic model.

Following the local government's policy, Ho Thi Bi and her husband, Vien Xuan A Chai, discussed and chose a pig farming model in collaboration with two other households, Nguyen Thi Dom and Ho Van Phuc. At the end of 2023, the couple borrowed 50 million VND from the Social Policy Bank, and the group of families invested over 200 million VND in building pigpens. Initially, the group raised 7 sows, 1 boar, and 6 piglets, gradually increasing the number of animals. To create feed, the households also grew taro and vegetables, and utilized grasses and plants to make probiotics and yeast for animal feed. After two harvests, their estimated income is over 200 million VND per year.

Besides livestock farming, Ms. Bi's family also grows melaleuca trees and digs ponds to raise grass carp and common carp, increasing their income and improving their living standards. Ms. Bi shared: "With shared capital and effort, livestock farming is more efficient than before. We need more capital to invest in building more pens and buying more pigs. If the local authorities provide more technical support in livestock farming, it will be very favorable for developing the model in the future."

Also operating as a group of households, the VAC model of Mr. Le Hoa Doan and his son-in-law, who cultivate 5 hectares of melaleuca forest, have fish ponds, and raise pigs and cattle, is estimated to generate an income of over 200 million VND per year. After a period of monitoring, the initial effectiveness of the two aforementioned linked economic models shows that collective production can mobilize both human and material resources. Following a visit and high praise from the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Department and other relevant agencies, the commune's Party Committee and government held a meeting to discuss how to replicate the model.

Lam Dot is a border commune with over 800 households of Ka Tu, Ta Oi, and other ethnic groups; of which 480 are poor households and 391 are near-poor households. More than 500 people from this locality work elsewhere. Cattle farming is a long-standing traditional model, but not all households can implement it. To achieve the target of reducing 150 poor households by 2024, choosing a suitable economic model to alleviate poverty is crucial. Selecting a model that suits the needs and characteristics of the people is the first challenge. This economic model must be truly effective and outstanding to convince people to follow it.

The current problem is that many households want to develop their economy but lack access to loans. Under the direction of the Party Committee, each village in Lam Dot established a community mobilization team, with the Party branch secretary or village head serving as the team leader to monitor and report local needs, seek advice and support from higher levels. After selecting a suitable model, the Commune People's Committee requested the support of the 92nd Economic and National Defense Brigade and the Lam Dot Border Guard Post stationed in the area to provide labor to the families. The Lam Dot Commune government provided technical training, connected them with production loans, and implemented policies to encourage and motivate the people.

Lieutenant Colonel To Na Sen, Deputy Secretary of the Lam Dot Commune Party Committee, said: “In addition to the two pilot models, military units stationed in the area have organized many campaigns to donate livestock, essential goods, help people harvest rice, and support disadvantaged villages… Every year, the Commune Party Committee, the Lam Dot Border Gate Border Guard Station, and the 92nd Economic and National Defense Brigade hold meetings to review and evaluate the coordination efforts and draw lessons learned to better implement poverty reduction work in the future.”

Text and photos: LINH TUỆ