Ho Ma strives to rise out of poverty.

Implementing the policy of transforming crop and livestock production to suit local conditions, while simultaneously strengthening the application of science and technology in production, in recent years, many ethnic minority households in Huong Hoa district have found new ways to escape poverty and achieve prosperity right on their homeland. Mr. Ho Ma, a Van Kieu ethnic minority member in Chenh Venh village, Huong Phung commune, is a typical example.

Mr. Ho Ma takes care of his family's coffee plantation - Photo: ML

Recently, he was nominated by the local authorities to receive a commendation from the Prime Minister for his outstanding achievements in the "For the Poor - Leaving No One Behind" emulation movement, 2021-2025.

Like many people in the ethnic minority areas of western Quang Tri province, Ho Ma was born into a large family whose economy depended entirely on farming. When he reached marriageable age and moved out to live independently, he and his wife began a new life filled with countless difficulties, remaining classified as a poor or near-poor household for many years.

Recognizing the great potential for agricultural development in his homeland, Mr. Mà was determined to research through books, newspapers, and other models in the region, and actively participated in local science and technology training courses. He decided to invest in and sustainably cultivate Catimo Arabica coffee.

Through credit guarantees from associations and organizations, he borrowed 100 million VND to invest in replanting coffee trees. On the land inherited from his parents, he cleared more than 1 hectare and planted over 6,000 new Catimo Arabica coffee trees, while also caring for the coffee trees that had been left fallow for a long time due to aging and low productivity.

To make the most of their family's farmland, especially the rather arid areas, and seeing that jackfruit coffee was drought-resistant, required little care, and had stable prices, the couple continued to invest in planting jackfruit coffee with over 1,000 trees.

Following the principle of using short-term gains to support long-term growth and gradually building a diversified agricultural model, his family planted an additional 1 hectare of cassava and raised livestock. With support from the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction in early 2023, including two breeding cows worth 30 million VND, his family focused on caring for them to gradually expand the herd, while also raising goats, sometimes reaching nearly 30 animals.

Mr. Ho Ma said: “Although we faced many difficulties in the initial stages of economic development, recognizing the potential of the land and the suitable weather, we boldly borrowed capital to develop a diversified economic model. From this success, we gradually invested to expand production in a multi-crop and multi-livestock direction, with coffee as the main crop, determined to rise up and legitimately become wealthy in our own village.”

Thanks to the application of scientific and technical knowledge to farming and livestock breeding, diligent research, learning, and hard work, after more than 5 years of implementation, Mr. Mà's family's integrated economic model has initially yielded positive results. Crops and livestock are developing well and are not affected by diseases. Catimo coffee yields quite high productivity, with over 20 tons of fresh fruit harvested each season; jackfruit coffee is also developing well, promising to bring a significant income to the family.

The cattle and goats gradually multiplied. On average, after deducting expenses, his family earns over 200 million VND per year. In addition, during the off-season, he also takes on construction projects in the local area and, together with his wife, maintains the traditional weaving craft of their ethnic group to supplement the family's income. In 2024, his family officially escaped poverty, built a spacious new house worth nearly 400 million VND, bought a motorbike, a television, and other basic household items, and provided for their children's education.

Besides striving to overcome difficulties and escape poverty sustainably through a diversified economic model, he also actively participates in community work; regularly encourages people to comply with all Party guidelines, State policies and laws, contributing to maintaining order and security, preserving a green, clean and beautiful environment; and at the same time, providing mutual support and assistance to neighbors in need, fostering solidarity, friendliness, and sincerity.

Minh Long

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/ho-ma-no-luc-vuon-len-thoat-ngheo-193619.htm