Small capital, big aspirations.

Thanks to modest loans from the Farmers' Support Fund, many farmer members in Thanh Hoa have boldly expanded production, introduced new techniques to their fields and livestock farms, and gradually become wealthy on their own land.

Officials from the Provincial Farmers' Association and local farmers' associations visited the economic model of Mr. Bui Van Bien's family in Nguyet An commune.

In reality, in many localities within the province, lending is not done in a uniform manner. The Provincial Farmers' Association, in coordination with local authorities, reviews the needs of each household, selects suitable models, and publicly announces the list and loan amounts. After disbursement, association officials monitor progress and remind borrowers to use the capital for its intended purpose. In many localities, technical training is integrated with connecting farmers to product consumption through cooperatives and businesses.

Previously, the family of Mr. Bui Van Bien in Nguyet An commune practiced traditional farming methods; crop cultivation depended on the weather, livestock farming was small-scale, and income was unstable. Recognizing the increasing market demand for clean agricultural products, and with support from the Farmers' Support Fund and other sources of capital, Mr. Bien invested in a model of growing yellow melons in greenhouses, combined with large-scale pig farming.

On his 3,200m2 plot, Mr. Bien invested in a greenhouse system to control temperature, humidity, and pests. Thanks to good management of cultivation conditions, the melons grow steadily and have consistent quality. Each melon crop brings in hundreds of millions of dong in revenue, helping to improve land use efficiency. Alongside farming, he also develops livestock farming on approximately 3 hectares, maintaining a herd of about 600 pigs. The barns are solidly built, ensuring environmental hygiene and disease safety. The farming process is well-organized, from breeding stock and feed to disease control.

Mr. Bien's family farm operates on a model that integrates crop cultivation and livestock farming. Agricultural by-products are utilized as animal feed, and livestock waste is processed for production, reducing costs and minimizing pollution. Thanks to this approach, the model generates approximately 2 billion VND in revenue annually, creating jobs for many local workers. Mr. Bien shared: “The effectiveness of the loan from the Farmers' Support Fund is clear. More importantly, after accessing the capital, I was able to participate in training courses organized by the Farmers' Association, mastering production and livestock farming techniques; receiving guidance on digital transformation and finding markets for my products… Thanks to this, my family farm has developed steadily.”

With a 100 million VND loan from the Provincial Farmers' Support Fund and his family's savings, Mr. Pham Tien Thu, from Trung Phu village, Hau Loc commune, invested in expanding his production. He dedicated a portion of his land to renovating three ponds for raising whiteleg shrimp, carp, and freshwater prawns. In addition, he maintains a herd of four breeding pairs of cows. Currently, this integrated economic model provides a stable income and has become a destination for farmers from within and outside the commune to visit and learn from.

The Provincial Farmers' Support Fund has just disbursed 500 million VND to 5 member households in Thach Binh commune to implement a project raising French pigeons under a household economic development model. The participating households have a total land and farm area of ​​approximately 7,550 m2, meeting the technical requirements for breeding, and possessing suitable experience and labor resources. With this capital, the households have the opportunity to expand their livestock, renovate their farms, and apply appropriate care techniques to reduce losses and increase income. The model also aims to establish a cooperative for raising French pigeons, gradually forming a professional farmers' association and developing production towards a commodity-based approach. Experience in many localities shows that while the loan capital may not be large, if it reaches the right households and the right model, it can create significant changes in production. The important thing is that the capital is invested wisely, monitored and guided by the association, helping borrowers develop sustainable economic activities.

Comrade Vu Tien Dung, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association and Head of the Fund's Management Board, stated: "In recent years, the implementation of loan disbursement has seen many positive changes. Associations at all levels have organized the selection of loan recipients, developed projects, guided procedures, and disbursed funds in accordance with regulations. The capital not only supports economic development but also promotes the movement of excellent production and business practices; expands production scale, develops industries, improves product quality, and contributes to strengthening association work and attracting a large number of members to participate."

It is known that the Provincial Farmers' Support Fund is currently managing over 54 billion VND and has supported nearly 1,000 members with loans to implement 547 projects related to crop cultivation, livestock farming, rural industries, food safety, and environmental protection. To continue supporting its members, the Provincial Farmers' Association is strengthening its efforts to promote awareness of the significance of the Farmers' Support Fund, identify eligible borrowers, develop projects that are appropriate to the local context, and replicate successful collective economic models along the value chain. The Association will also mobilize resources to increase the fund's scale, creating opportunities for more members in difficult circumstances to access loans for production development.

Text and photos: Xuan Minh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dong-von-nho-khat-vong-lon-286237.htm