Life-changing transformation in Phu Luong

From the limestone slopes, where seemingly only wild plants and rocks grew, the people of Phu Luong commune have written a spectacular story of transformation. Not just stopping at spontaneous goat farming, Phu Luong today is turning these "goats" into brand ambassadors, transforming the strength of the mountains and forests into sustainable economic value.

People in Phu Luong commune are taking care of their family's goat herd.

The "fighters" of the jungle

In the last days of March, Phu Luong commune seemed even more vibrant thanks to the lingering effects of the goat fighting competition held in the center of the commune. The applause and cheers of the spectators, along with the resounding "be he" cries, echoed throughout this gateway to the province.

While stroking the goat that won first prize at the competition, Mr. Sam Van Binh, Director of Son Duong Goat Breeding Cooperative in Dung Giao village, proudly recounted: “To have such a courageous ‘fighter,’ the selection of breeds and the diet are very strict. The goats must be 4-5 years old, with strong muscles from climbing rocky mountains every day. In addition to forest leaves, we have to supplement their diet with corn kernels and various medicinal herbs.”

Behind those dramatic competitions lies a well-planned economic development strategy by the local government. Through the competition, co-organized by Good Neighbors International (GNI), outstanding livestock farmers are honored, valuable experiences in disease prevention and breeding techniques are widely shared, motivating families to boldly invest on a large scale.

The "clinking" sound at the foot of Mount Sáng

Leaving the competition stage, I followed Binh along a narrow, stony path to find the farms nestled deep in the valley at the foot of Mount Sang. The first sounds I heard were the cheerful tinkling of bells mixed with the echoing "be... be..." of the birds.

Meeting Mr. Tran Van Thi in Dung Giao village while he was herding his goats out of the cornfield, he chuckled and explained the strange sound: "Goats are very restless and unpredictable, so we have to attach bells to their necks so that when they run into the deep forest or rocky crevices, we know where to find them."

Goat farming in Phu Luong is different now than it used to be. Previously, Mr. Thi's family only raised 2-3 goats for their own consumption. In 2019, after joining a livelihood group, the herd increased by 20 female goats. Thanks to adhering to technical procedures, the herd has now grown to over 40 goats, and he earns a profit of over 80 million VND per year.

The key is knowing how to take advantage of the hilly, rocky terrain, where many types of natural forest leaves are found, giving the goat meat its characteristic aroma, firmness, and sweetness. Since 2021, Good Neighbors International (GNI) has supported the establishment of the Son Duong Goat Farming Cooperative. After more than 6 years of operation, goat farming has become a livelihood activity providing a primary source of income.

According to Mr. Binh, the cooperative currently has 11 households with over 900 goats. With breeding goats selling for 180,000 VND/kg and meat goats for 200,000 VND/kg, the average income per member ranges from 100 to 250 million VND per year. Goat products are in high demand from traders from all over, and sometimes there aren't enough goats to sell.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh from Dung Vy village took me to visit his herd of over 70 goats grazing peacefully. Mr. Thanh confided: “Before, I only raised a few goats for special occasions like ancestral worship ceremonies and holidays. Later, I realized goats are easy to raise, rarely get sick, and eat anything, so I joined a larger-scale farming model. It turns out that raising goats yields 3-4 times more income than growing corn, and it’s much less strenuous. I earn over 150 million VND a year!”

The challenge of sustainable livestock farming.

Currently, Phu Luong commune has a total goat population of nearly 3,500, with approximately 40 households raising goats on a large scale, concentrated in the villages of Dung Giao, Tran Kieng, Lao Nhieu, Dong Khuan, Dung Vy, etc. To prevent goat farming from falling into the trap of "bumper harvest, low prices," the commune government has identified a long-term plan.

Comrade Duong Anh Chung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Luong commune, shared: “We do not encourage mass development but focus on quality. The commune is promoting crossbreeding of local goat breeds with Boer goats (South Africa) to increase meat yield and shorten the breeding time. The highest goal is to build the brand "Phu Luong Mountain Goat" into a distinctive OCOP product of the locality.”

Walking along the concrete roads that stretch to every hamlet, and seeing the multi-story houses rising amidst the vast forest, I understood that goats have truly helped the people here "change their lives." However, the concerns of the commune chairman remain: How to process the goat meat further? How to produce smoked goat meat, Phu Luong goat milk, or integrate goat farming with experiential tourism ?

Comrade Duong Anh Chung affirmed: “In the coming time, the commune will focus on fundamental solutions regarding the supply chain. We will build more professional cooperatives, experiment with the model of raising goats with medicinal herbs, and link it with ecotourism. Goat fighting and racing competitions will not only be a playground, but will also be a ‘lever’ to promote tourism and attract tourists to Phu Luong.”

Notes: Ly Thu

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202604/doi-doi-o-phu-luong-3b628ce/