The journey of Hmong youth overcoming poverty in the highlands of Northwest Vietnam.

TPO - Starting with just three goats, Hờ A Sềnh (Yên Bình village, Chiềng Sung commune, Sơn La province) has written his own story of escaping poverty. His journey is clear evidence of the willpower and determination of young Hmong people, who refuse to accept poverty but always strive to improve their lives.

Escaping poverty with three goats

Born in 1991, Hờ A Sềnh grew up in poverty like many other families in the village. The family's livelihood depended solely on a few plots of land where they grew corn and cassava. The barren land, uncertain harvests, and fluctuating agricultural prices meant that even after years of hard work, they still couldn't make ends meet. Despite the young couple's diligent work from early morning until late at night, poverty persisted.

Many nights, Sềnh tossed and turned, wondering, "If I keep relying on my corn and cassava fields, when will I ever escape poverty? What kind of future will my children have?" These questions became the driving force that compelled him to find a new path.

In 2015, realizing that the hilly terrain of his hometown was suitable for livestock farming, especially goats, he decided to try raising his first three goats. Without experience or any formal training, Sềnh taught himself by reading books, asking veterinary officers, and learning from other farmers. He learned from experience day by day, hoping this would be a promising direction for his family.

Fortunately, the first herd of goats yielded good results; the goats grew quickly, were healthy, and reproduced well. For the first time in many years, his family had some extra money thanks to selling a few goats for meat. This initial success gave him more confidence in his choice.

A Sềnh's wife was delighted that the goat herd was thriving, helping the family to have a better life.

Dare to think, dare to act.

At the end of 2018, Sềnh boldly borrowed 30 million VND from the Social Policy Bank to expand his herd. Holding the largest sum of money in his life, he was both happy and worried: happy because he had capital to start a business, worried because he feared failure would lead to debt. But he told himself: "If I don't dare to do it, I'll remain poor forever. I have to try once and see what happens."

He bought 10 more breeding goats and started taking better care of them. During the day, he would go to the fields and cut grass, and at night he would use a flashlight to check the pens. He observed each goat carefully. He jokingly said, "In the beginning, when I was raising goats, I even dreamt about them while I slept."

Thanks to good care, the goat herd grew quickly and reproduced regularly. By 2021, his family officially escaped poverty and repaid all their bank loans. From just a few goats initially, his family now has a stable herd of over 70 goats, including 30 breeding goats. Each year, the goat herd brings in an income of over 100 million VND, a figure that he and his wife never dared to dream of before.

To ensure his goats thrive, Sềnh chose a semi-intensive farming method. During the planting season, he keeps the goats confined to prevent them from damaging crops, while preparing feed consisting of cornmeal mixed with elephant grass, nutritious grass, and supplemented with minerals. During the dry season or after the harvest, he lets the goats graze on the hillsides to take advantage of natural food sources. Thanks to their ample exercise, the goat meat is firm, easy to sell, and favored by traders.

According to his calculations, each mother goat gives birth to an average of 2 litters per year, with 2 kids per litter. His 30 female goats alone produce over 50 kids annually. Goats aged 8-10 months reach 25-35 kg and sell for around 130,000 VND/kg. Each year, he sells 30-40 goats for meat. Thanks to this stable income, his family's finances are more secure, his children receive an education, and his house has been renovated.

Looking back on his journey, Sềnh couldn't hide his joy: "Not only did I escape poverty, but I also proved that people in the highlands, if they find the right way and work hard, can completely change their lives right here in their homeland." He plans to continue developing his goat herd and try to build a new house next year.

The village Party Secretary, Mr. Ho A Cha, shared that Senh is a young man with strong willpower and diligence, overcoming his circumstances. From a life of poverty, living alone in a roadside hut, he now owns a herd of hundreds of goats, earning a good income and achieving sustainable poverty alleviation. “Senh was the first person in the village to raise goats. After his success, many households came to learn from his experience. To date, several households have built up herds of dozens of goats and are gradually escaping poverty,” Mr. Cha said.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hanh-trinh-vuot-ngheo-kho-cua-thanh-nien-nguoi-mong-noi-reo-cao-tay-bac-post1803475.tpo