The Huong Can packaged cake cooperative always has a stable market for its products. Photo: HPN Kim Tra

Farmers help each other overcome difficulties.

Despite facing numerous impacts from natural disasters and epidemics, the movement to excel in production and business, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction within the Kim Tra Ward Farmers' Association has maintained its momentum and yielded many remarkable results.

Since the beginning of the year, the Association has mobilized 1,335 members to register for the "Excellent Production and Business" emulation campaign, creating momentum for a shift in farming mindset, applying technological advancements to production, and increasing productivity and product value. Many members have proactively participated in production linkage models, cooperatives, and livestock farming groups, as well as those involved in forestry, fruit tree cultivation, and safe vegetable production. This has created stable jobs and increased income.

Training and skills development programs continued to expand. During the year, 57 officials and members participated in training courses on production techniques and technology application; 76 members studied production models following VietGAP standards; and 1,645 farmer households signed commitments to ensure food safety. Improving knowledge and skills, promoting trade, advertising products, and supporting the consumption of agricultural products directly helped many local specialties such as onions, shallots, vegetables, cage-farmed fish, and guava to have stable outlets; and encouraged many farmers to boldly improve techniques, expand production scale, and minimize losses due to natural disasters and diseases.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan, Chairman of the Kim Tra Ward Farmers' Association, said that identifying production support capital as a practical solution for poor households, the Farmers' Support Fund has provided loans to 41 households this year, totaling over 1.7 billion VND, to implement projects such as breeding cattle, cage fish farming, and VietGAP guava cultivation. Credit from the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction, entrusted through the Social Policy Bank, continues to play a core role, with 1,038 households currently borrowing, totaling over 75 billion VND in outstanding loans. The proper and effective use of loan capital has helped improve income, develop production, and create sustainable livelihoods.

A solid foundation

While the Farmers' Association is the cornerstone of production, the Women's Union of Kim Tra ward serves as a solid support system, both spiritually and financially, for nearly 4,600 members across 27 branches. Since the beginning of the year, the Union has developed a plan to help six women's households escape poverty based on multidimensional criteria, while maintaining various support models such as the "Connecting Love Club," "Zero-Cost Bread Cabinet," and "Piggy Bank." The "Godmother" model alone has supported 42 orphaned children, thereby mobilizing additional social resources to help women feel confident and stable in their lives.

In the field of economic development, the Kim Tra Ward Women's Union has extensively implemented Project 939 on supporting women's entrepreneurship. Each year, two women receive support to start businesses, and the Union submits proposals for support for six startup projects. Notably, the Ward Women's Union has also become an effective "credit bridge" for its members. Through entrusted channels with the Social Policy Bank and Lien Viet Commercial Joint Stock Bank (now Loc Phat Vietnam Commercial Joint Stock Bank), the total outstanding loan balance currently exceeds 77 billion VND with 1,359 members borrowing capital from 32 groups. Thanks to this, hundreds of women have confidently invested in economic development, such as opening small shops, livestock farming, bakery production, and service businesses.

By continuing to maintain local-specific livelihood models such as the "Huong Can Wrapped Cake Cooperative," the "Livestock Enthusiasts Club," and the "Introducing and Connecting Agricultural Product Consumption" Livestream program, as well as participating in fairs and displaying products at major cultural events, many products of Kim Tra women have stable outlets, expanding access to the digital market and increasing sustainable income.

“During this term, activities supporting women in poverty reduction have helped 30 women escape poverty, gradually narrowing the income gap between different groups of women, and creating suitable livelihoods according to family conditions and residential areas. This is a truly significant number, reflecting the persistent efforts and sense of responsibility between the organization and each member,” shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, President of the Women's Union of Kim Tra Ward.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, some branches have mobilized well-off members to support disadvantaged members with production materials, while others have provided labor, shared technical knowledge, and introduced seasonal jobs…

Thanks to a combination of financial support, preferential credit from the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction through the Social Policy Bank, livelihood models, entrepreneurship, vocational training, and job counseling, the Women's Union of Kim Tra Ward is gradually forming a comprehensive ecosystem to support poor women and enhance their status in the family and community, actively contributing to the common goal of building a smart city and sustainable development.

TRANG LE

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/giup-hoi-vien-vuot-kho-161072.html